Monika Johnson missing near alpental....

To a safe recovery.

Holly and I are deeply saddened by this news.  Her spirit was so positive and inspirational.  Our thoughts go out to her family.  We love the pictures honoring her life.  Keep them coming.
In honor of Monika the top podium at Vertfest should be left blank.

Powder Kitty would make a fine stand in on the top podium.

Rogers Pass. Heading back up to the Asulkin Hut after the last run of the day. (In the dark of course).

There’s a profound sadness in my core as I read this thread …even though I never met her, Monika was certainly one of those rare individuals who lived, loved and loved living with unbridled joy. She touched lives in ways she didn’t even know.

My thoughts and prayers for her friends and family…

Thanks all, for the memorable photos.  In my sadness, I wanted to hear her words too:

it's so hard to lose a loved one suddenly without being able to say good bye.

We can get away with a fair amount luck sometimes in our choices.  I not only don't want to die doing what I love, I don't want to have a list of 1/2 a dozen serious injuries...

it is especially unsettling someone who was relatively conservative in this activity and with so much experience was involved in such a tragedy.

And more to the point:

In reply to Randonee's post about skiing with his daughter: "I started out the same at 5 with my red mini skis down the hill in the front yard.  It's about being outside in the beautifully snowy mountains, you don't have to be one of the guys (whatever that may or may not mean), just out there your own way."

About skiing on the banks of the Mississippi in Minnesota: "funny, that's right where I grew up.  made trips all winter by bike to that Columbia golf course for classic and skating and sliding since I was little."

October 29, 2005 Muir report:
"We've come here to call for a season of snow.
We have wishes and hopes, Let's do it, here we go!

Don't treat our spells like wishes so trite.
Make our season soft, fluffy and white

May the deepening snows not go to our head
Ensure that health stays, to continuously SHRED

Though stressors and craziness will all feel Bezerk-
We shall catch the POW days, and not have to work!

So with the wave of this wand and the sound of this CRY (you'd have to have been there)
Make the cold skies open up and let the snow FLY!!"


One man's trash is another woman's treasure?

Original plan was to get to Muir and maybe ski Nisqually Chute,... All climbers I passed as they came down about conditions and said this about the snowfield: 50mph+ winds, blue ice in spots, not soft etc etc.

Monika's story of the same day: "The wind was strong enough to blow you over above pan point and just above there we saw everyone else turning around.  I kept my ski crampons on to avoid getting blown and flown. But it was still sunny and warm and the wind helped (tail wind) nearly as much as it hindered.  About 800' higher it was much improved.  The Chute was smooth and punchy but not icy. big head wind skiing the middle of the chute. Skied the softer more east facing side.  The glacier down to the bridge was dreamy and no wind.  Caught a ride in 2 seconds."

And about Vertfest at Alpental:   Nice to see more women than I expected.   The connotations of "Rec" and "Race" i think deter folks from doing the 2 lap "race" category.  I like to think of it more as the "Long" and the "Short" Course.  If you're up there already, might as well do the 2 different laps to check things out.  and you get a longer work-out which isn't bad  

May 28, 2005 Spider Gap (posted by another Monika): "Monika's stellar attitude was as pleasant as the sunshine"

When we are skinning and sliding in the future, working hard on the uphill, seeing the sun sparkle on the snow, or riding down perfect powder, her spirit will be smiling with us.  And in our encounters with others, hopefully it will inspire us to be as cheerful, encouraging, and friendly as she.  

While we grieve our loss, yuki girl, thanks for giving us hugs.

thank you Silas
some how reading words once spoken helps a lot

Hang in there beautiful. We'll find you. I love you. We all love you. We'll find you......

I was holding it together until I read that. I didn't know Monika well but my heart breaks for those who did.