The societal pressures to have a legendary New Years Eve and begin January 1st on a perfect note can be overwhelming. However, the trickle down of that pressure is deeply engrained and undeniable, and year after year I look to do something great as a way to celebrate life. But when bottle service and cocaine fail to ignite your soul's sense of purpose, you look for something else.

Fortunately, many of the people I surround myself with would rather climb mountains or head to the desert if given the opportunity. With the eve of the eve upon us, Amanda Hankison, Zeppelin Zeerip and I hatched a nice plan to ski Mt. Raymond. Mt. Raymond was a special objective because I'd stared at it countless times when driving home from Brighton Resort. It towers about the road, as beautiful as any Wasatch peak. Previous trip planning discussions demanded the removal of Raymond due to its long approach and short steeps. But we weren't in it for the sustained vertical drop; we just wanted to take a nice walk and soak it all in.

It was worth it.

After several days of waiting for the avy danger to come down, the skin track was pretty slick. Amanda finds herself in the Gully of Doom after a misstep. — After several days of waiting for the avy danger to come down, the skin track was pretty slick. Amanda finds herself in the *Gully of Doom* after a misstep.