northwestrigs:

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Joule, Fremont, Seattle WA

Do you like sweet rides? If so, you should follow Brian’s foray into Tumblr - so now instead of pointing out all of the TOTALLY HARDCORE OFF-ROAD VEHICLES to me, he can share them with the other TOTALLY HARDCORE OFF-ROAD VEHICLE lovers of the internet.

Snow Fall: The Avalanche at Tunnel Creek

In case you haven’t read this masterpiece of digital storytelling and modern journalism, take an hour and take in every detail. This one hit really close to home for several reasons, but no matter your proximity to Seattle or your experience with snow sports, give this a read.

Avalanches are new territory for me. After a Texas youth spent doing duck and cover drills, escaping trees hurled through buildings in straight-line winds, and eagerly exploring enormous post-thunderstorm hail in the backyard, I’m fascinated by weather more than I am afraid of it. This article is a reminder that no matter what, Mother Nature will always be stronger. 

One of the victims of this avalanche was Chris Rudolph, the Stevens Pass Director of Marketing, who I followed on Twitter. While I didn’t know him personally, in the day and age of internet overshares, one who you don’t know can easily feel like an acquaintance or friend. As a fellow marketer and Stevens patron, I enjoyed keeping up with both his marketing hijinxs and his snow adventures.

A couple days before the Tunnel Creek avalanche, Brian and I were at Stevens for a special season pass holder event that Chris had organized - a Head and the Heart Concert at the bar at the base of the slopes, the Foggy Goggle. We skipped out of work early and celebrated Valentine’s Day with burgers from Zeke’s Drive-In on the way up to fresh snow and an intimate show from one of our favorite bands. We had an amazing evening with our friends Steve and Laura, and watched as the Stevens community drank PBR and sang their hearts out. What a special place, we thought, where we could experience all of our favorite things: nature, friends, beer, and harmonies. 

To those who were involved in the avalanche - those who were lost, those who rode along, those who searched and recovered, those who maintain safety in the mountains so that we may all experience this beautiful, cold bliss - may you find joy and solace in song:

rivers and roads
rivers and roads
rivers and roads
‘till I meet you 

Video: The Head and the Heart, Rivers and Roads (from my view on the stairs at Stevens Pass, February 2012)