Fall is in full effect

I swung through Silverton, Colorado and the Bonnie Belle Cabin last week to sip on some whiskey, chop some fire wood, stain the deck and generally clean up and prepare for winter, which is not too far away.  It actually has already snowed up there since I left.  Preparations are being made to install our new solar system which has been purchased and just needs to be installed.  Hopefully we can get it done before the snow really starts to fly.  Right now it is looking good though as we are having a great Indian summer here in Colorado with temps into the 70's during the day, and that trend looks to continue.  Book your trip today for this winter.  Spaces are filling up quickly!!





Working Outta My Second Home

Yes, even though I don't have a first home I do somehow have a second home.  After Idaho I drove straight down to my Cabin to link up with Pashley and his crew of misfits, Scotty Arnold, Zach Siebert, El Doug and Tom Pelly of Australia.  Our plan was to spend a week at the Bonnie Bell cabin, compile enough shots for a Feature in "Australia and NZ Snowboarding Magazine", while of course stacking shots for Snowboarder Magazine, my first priority.  It was a successful week to say the least.  Good times with good friends, and about half way through the week a storm rolled in and dumped over a foot of fresh.  It was such a blizzard all we could do was take laps all day.  Not a bad "day off" and a real boost for the crew to get the stoke on.  Not that anyone was bummed, it was just a nice change of pace to put the cameras away and remember why we all do this thing called snowboarding anyways.  It was the best turns of the year for me easily.  Hasn't been the best year in that department, but non the less it was some epic riding right out the front door.  It was good to finally experience my spot in some really good conditions too.  It still blows my mind that this is "my spot".  I couldn't be happier with my purchase.  Private Property is the future.  By the time it was all said and done, no one was ready to leave and Scotty had already assured me that he would come back and live here if I would allow him to.  Sorry bud, nice try, get your own damn spot!  That was that.  Another week of my winter done.  Where to go next?

So we just have to get up there.....


Yup right up there on that ridge....

I miss it already....



Headed up to "The Circus"



Good steez Pashley.  Are those Ugg Boots?


From one woodsman to the other Scotty, "you're doing that all wrong."

Snow day.  Lets take the day off and shred pow.  Sounds good to me!

Just a few days in paradise....

So, if you read my previous post from Monday I was heading back up to the Bonnie Bell Cabin for a few days of snow, beer, whisky and shredding. Well the shredding didn't really happen as much as I would have liked but that'll come soon enough. The real goal was to test our new snowcat (which passed with flying colors) drink some whiskey, watch the snow fall, and maybe even get some turns in. So stoked on the new cat. Well it was actually built in 1964, but its new to us, and it absolutely kills it, especially since we got it for free. It rallied up the steep road with supplies and about 7 or so people no problem, and it had to break trail, in the dark, in a snow storm. SO STOKED! The next day we ventured out a bit but only to find avalanches everywhere. We managed to kick a few off our self's too. Mostly small slides in the sense that they weren't traveling very far, but some of them sporting 4-5' crowns, so in the same respect, the mountains demanded respect. Finally, by Wednesday the skies cleared, and everyone eventually trickled back to society. Skylar and I decided to stay an extra day to take care of some repairs on the cat as well as the cabin. I managed to take a late afternoon solo tour to make some turns. Its nice to pick a line from your living room, skin to it, and shred down back to your living room. This will never get old. Dusk fell, and more whiskey was consumed. Sleep, then breakfast, and then work on getting Skylar's sled working which had some frozen fuel lines. Even with a nice sunny day, things happen slowly at 12,000 feet. Finally after damn near pulling 1/2 the sled apart, standing it up on its side, shaking it, we got it started. It too was time for us to head back to civilization. Leaving this place is the hardest thing to do. I can't describe what this place means to me. I feel very, very lucky to own such a property. I Can't really describe it, so until next time, enjoy some video and more photos and stay tuned for more.....


The beast from 1964



Check some footage of the cat in action...



So cold even the Wolf wants in.



Love this f'n place...



Cup-O-Joe



Home....home on the range



Misty right?



Sunset



Breakfast....

The view from breakfast

Interior Designs


The interior has come together at the Bonnie Bell Cabin and we are pretty much ready for business. A few more legal things to take care of, then we'll be offering this lovely shred hut for your renting pleasure. We also got the plumbing in place with a working toilet, gas lines installed for the stove, and beds or futons to sleep about 21 people. As soon as the website is up, I will post the info here. Stay tuned

Done Deal

After 7 months of tracking down owners, dealing with lawyers, finding the right partners, funds, blah, blah, blah.....It's ours. We signed the papers for the Bonnie Bell Cabin on Friday and have been working to get it ready for the winter since. What am I talking about you may ask yourself? Well I worked on a story for SNOWBOARDER Magazine about Silverton, Colorado last winter. The story is actually out in the September issue right now so go pick it up! Anyways while working on this story I was told about this cabin that was potentially for sale. After falling in love with the area in which the cabin sits, I knew I had to make it happen. Skylar Holgate, Silverton Mountain Guide and Chris Harrell, an old time Durango friend and business man extrodanaire are my two partners on this venture. Our concept is to eventually have a backcountry ski area complete with multiple cabins to stay overnight, snowcats for access, and snowmobiles to use once you are out there. There is also probably going to be some heli options for those with the cash. Off course when I say "Ski Area" it is not in the typical form. Our own personal interest will be looked out for first. Stay tuned for more to come.


This is what I call the front door lines. Just some off the options right out the front door


It was low tide when we were in town for the Magazine story, but you wouldn't really be able to tell if you go pick up the September issue of SNOWBOARDER Magazine. A closer look at the Front Door Lines


This is the living room. Lots of finish work to be done. Some day we will have flat screen TV's powered by wind and solar.


Propane Range and Refrigerater.


4th of July picnic. We hadn't signed the papers yet, but we cruised up early to reconfirm why we needed this property.


Working on a sick deck right now. The views are amazing...


This truck came with the property. I'm not going to lie. I'm a little scared to drive this thing down the road. Not sure the actual grade but it's steep as shit!


Stan and Max's snowcat (Treasure Mountain Hut). They have a cabin about 300 yards to the north of ours and already have a solid business in place. We will be working together to make the best of an already good situation.