We reached Smithbrook Road around 8 and started skinning. Or I started skinning, because my extremities were already MIA and why be uncomfortable when you can start walking and just… not be uncomfortable? Usually it’s only a problem ice climbing or rock climbing in the cold, but this winter I have found myself very prone to the “screaming barfies,” even at silly places like ski resorts and trailheads. The screamin’ barfies are when your hands are numb and the circulation finally returns (which is why it’s common ice climbing) and it’s nauseatingly painful, so you want to scream and barf simultaneously and maybe cry a bit too. So I am slowly trying to figure out how to mediate that. For what it’s worth, I have yet to actually vomit.

We knew we had a lovely 2.7ish miles of road (ughhhhh) before the turn off. I figured since snow was so consolidated, we’d get to the hairpin turn where you take off for Lake Valhalla/Mt McCausland and head straight up through the trees to hit the ridge to Union. The alternative, a more mellow but longer route, is to follow the road to the hairpin on the east end, and gain the ridge from there, effectively paralleling the road all the way back to that first switchback where we left.

Once in the trees, it was apparent pretty quickly that we’d be faster and happier booting it instead of trying to skin what was basically ice. We made quick work up to the ridge (honestly the toughest part of the whole day), snow getting softer as soon as we broke into the sun. We had snacks and met up with Kristen and Robert, who decided they’d chill on Union Peak while JT and I ran over to Jove. I mean, look at that south face. Bulletproof snowpack, plenty of time, and an estimated 1,400ft of vertical on a mostly open slope that would hopefully be spring corn by the time we reached it.

So we turned on some music (sorry WHC, but no one else was up there so… something about a tree falling and no one being there to hear it so did it even actually make noise?) and followed the broad, mellow ridge to the true summit of Union, where we skied some low angle runnels, which was good practice for me. Unfortunately we had not quite made it to the ridge, and we could either walk back up to the summit to go further west or downclimb a steep frozen gully. We started downclimbing until I realized we were making this unnecessarily difficult, so we bailed on the gulley and walked up and over Union and found the correct ridge, which is a very mellow easy walk. We quickly dropped down to saddle and started regaining elevation up the ridge up to Jove’s summit.

The ridge is forested on the west but open on the southeast, so you get little glimpses of the terrain around you as you weave through the trees and we got more and more excited with every step towards the top. I freaking love these days. It’s a playground for adults and there I was chasing JT up through the trees so we could play in the snow and work doesn’t matter and money doesn’t matter and whatever was stressing you out was left at the parking lot because the only thing that matters is right now and look where we are. I started debating whether I’d try to ski the south face or not. On one hand, it doesn’t look that steep. On the other hand, it’s not worth wiping out here. I could just boot back town the ridge and meet JT at the saddle. But that’s lame, and then you carried these skis here for nothing. As usual. Fuck it, let’s just try it. Worst case you pop em off and walk to where you can ski again. And spring corn is basically a groomer. You’ll be fine.