May 24, 2002, Church Mountain (West Summit)

Set out alone at 9am from B'ham under nice blue sky. Reached the turn-off from Canyon Cr. Road and drove to mile marker 4, where trees blocked the road. Cut a few out of the way, then decided to start walking, thinking it would be faster....who knows if it was....reached skinable snow before the roads end, then turned up a steep snow gully just before the clear-cut (roads end) to start the climb....a couple thousand later on this quickly melting south exposure brought me to open slopes below the west summit of Church... Enjoyed summit views with my shirt off, watched snowmobilers in the Bear Paw bowls, then set off down the beautiful bounty of near perfect corn snow. Trended skiers right through 5 pitches to regain the western side of the clear-cut. (Came out perfectly, nice when you're alone).....skied the sticky road down to the last dregs, and walked to my truck. 3.5 hrs RT.

toby tortorelli