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    Backcountry Skiing

    Confessions of a Dawn Patrol Addict

    Kendall CardBy Kendall CardFebruary 18, 2005No Comments2 Mins Read

    My name is Kendall Card and I am an addict. There I said it, I am an addict. The addiction is taking over my life. To my knowledge there isn’t a 12 step program and I don’t know of a cure.

    The strangest thing is that I’m not really a morning person. Ask my wife, she’ll tell you I loath getting up. As my employer, he’s never seen me in my desk at 8am.

    It’s all that powder out there and the thought of me in here.  The juggle of giving “the man” his and my family “theirs” with the inability to let go of the dream of skiing untracked powder when I want and how much I want leads me to do the irrational. That of waking up at the insane hour of 4, 3 or even 2 am to go climb some peak and ski down when the sun comes up.

    The resorts don’t cut it.  9am opening time?  Who can manage a career and still get fresh tracks?

    In one short year I went from my first dawn patrol to near exclusively dawn patrol.

    I realized this morning that indeed I am looney, crazy, out there, gone.

    Argument:

    This past week I’ve dawn patrolled 4 mornings. 3 of them were solo and 3 of them were to one of my favorite stashes on Mount Aire in Parley’s Canyon. Friends I dawn patrol with one day are not ready to roll the next day. Fact of the matter is neither am I but like the coke addict, I just cannot say no to the powder. My wife thinks I’ve lost it.

    This morning my dawn patrol partner didn’t show. He overslept (we’re even now). So I was sitting there in my car, it was 10 degrees outside, pitch black, overcast, 6 am, and I’m a mere 15 minutes from a warm bed with the love of my life…BUT I CAN’T START THE CAR. I know that although my body needs the rest, there are turns to be had, powder to be slayed. So out into the dark I go, climbing up by headlamp while “normal” people are fast asleep.

    Is it me, or does anyone see a dramatic change? Yea, I thought so.

    Helplessly addicted,

    Kendall

    Kendall Card
    • Website

    Kendall has long been known for his passion of the outdoors. In the past 10 years his love for skiing, particularly backcountry skiing, has defined his pursuits. He's also been active in trail running, mountain climbing, rock climbing, ski mountaineering, cycling and has recently taken up backcountry bow hunting. Aside from writing reviews on FeedTheHabit.com he also reviews products on Gear.com and is co-founder of Camofire.com

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