This is a short video that briefly discusses the controversy of using reclaimed-water for snow-making at Arizona Snowbowl. The Kachina Peaks cinematography is the best I have seen.

The Sacred Peaks from Kent Wagner on Vimeo.

Looking back at my snow diaries, I remember that the past four Decembers have included good snow. By good snow, I mean good boarding/skiing without hitting too many rocks (this IS Arizona). Here’s a sample.

Dec. 2007

Dec. 2008

Dec. 2009

Dec. 2010

And Dec. 2011 makes it five Decembers of good snow.

Just like much of the western US, we have a shallow and weak snow-pack.

Head’s up! Use your head and make it home alive. There are people that need you. Here’s mine.

I had the distinct pleasure of accompanying Brian Siebert on a late summer scout-trip into the Little Colorado River (LCR) Gorge. Siebert is a longtime friend and guide for Four Season Guides. I had always wanted to see the LCR and Brian needed to scout it out for a bigger trip later in the fall – so when he asked me if I wanted to accompany him on the scout trip, I made it happen.
First we picked up our permits from the Navajo Reservation then made our way to the top of the Hopi Salt Trail. Because it was raining and our route took us to where George Mancuso and Linda Brehmer were killed by a flash flood, we set up our first camp near the rim and waited for the the weather to pass. In the afternoon there was a clear spell, so we took a little hike and found some nice petroglyphs.

On day two the storm was letting up so we made our way down the Hopi Salt Trail – an old route that the Hopi use to collect salt in mines near the Colorado River. The route had some decent cliff exposure.

And pictographs.

We left the route for some bush-whacking up the Little Colorado River shore.

We made camp high out of the main flood-plain of Big Canyon. Thanks to Four Seasons, I scored a new tent – really looking forward to using this in the snow…

Even though the water of Big Canyon was brown and cool, Siebert convinced me that a skinny dip was in order. Glad he did.

The next day the LCR was a big muddy flow with all the storm’s water making it down off the rim.

On the hike out Siebert got all jiggy and I was treated to some Led Zeppelin melodies.

Brian and is wife, Ryanne are expecting a little baby any day now!

I think it is going to snow on the birthday…