Words: Tawnya Schultz / Pics: Pancho

Legendary. One word with immense meaning and the only word to properly describe Mt. Baker this past week during Kamp K2. Although I’m sure you’ve heard the term associated with Baker before, experiencing everything that I did the past four days has placed Baker and K2 for that matter forever on a higher podium. Imagine this: Private access at Mt. Baker for three glorious days, camping in a RV with a fleet of others lined across the parking lot in front of the lodge, and non-stop drinking and entertainment provided by K2. It sounded great to me on paper but others were semi difficult to convince.

I met Pancho to pick up the RV outside of Seattle and the first words out of his mouth were “I don’t know how I got talked into this.” It was after all April 7th and the possibility of prime snow this time of year is often slim.

As we made our way through Bellingham and up the windy highway to Baker, rain turned to snow and soon enough Pancho was smiling and I was jumping out of my seat in great anticipation of fresh pow the next day…at Baker, in April, with no public access. Are you kidding me? We were greeted by a K2 rep at the bottom gate to make sure we were on “the list” to get in. Now that’s what I call V.I.P. We parked the RV next to the many other Cruise America RV’s and checked in to receive credentials, our PBR beer cards, and a complimentary limited Kamp K2 snowboard. No biggie.

Kamp K2 is an event bringing together shop employees who bust their asses selling K2 product all year, a crew of invited media heads, and the entire K2 staff for an end of the year, one-of-a-kind celebration. What a cool concept, eh? After the process of paperwork signage and checking out the displays in the lodge, it was soon dinner time and the posse of 400 peeps congregated upstairs to the lodge for a salmon and red potatoes feast.

Gretchen's Claw Money designed collabo.

K2 Chopper.

Welcoming announcements were made and backcountry issues addressed stoking everyone out for the next day’s shred sesh. It was then time to start the week off right. Seriously—with fifty PBR kegs it was go time.

The place to be at night was the circus tent set up in the parking lot complete with a PBR bar, tons of lounge room, a stage for musical performances, and even a sweet mini ramp. The skate sesh was on and the majority of us kicked back guzzling beers, making new friends, and watching the action.

K2 also brought out the majority of its team including Gretchen Bleiler, Eero Niemela, Shaun McKay, Jordan Mendenhall, Robbie Walker, Kalyn Lepre, and Louie Fountain. Everyone was split into groups with the pros acting as the Team Leaders, ready to take on events throughout the week such as the Shuksan Scavenge, the SNOWBOARD Mag sponsored Beer Pong, the PBR Flip Cup Challenge and many more...all of which involved drinking massive amounts of beer of course. Leanne Pelosi soon showed up too all smiles ready to party and also ready to take on the mini ramp in her UGG boots. Clearly she gave us all some additional entertainment.

Leanne gettin' skatey.

DJ Mullet presented by PBR.

Mechanical bull riding was the first event of the night and everyone busted a move. Then basically everyone just got wasted. It was only night one but if this was any indication of the next few days we were gong to be in for a week to remember.

The snow continued through the night waking us normally not so early risers up and at 'em at 7:30, suited, breakfast in hand, and in the life line by 8:55a.m. Weather-wise we hit Baker, from what all the locals kept telling us, at the perfect time.

It had snowed about a foot, the visibility was clear, and the temp was a comfortable 30 degrees. Pristine to say the least.

For myself Baker has always been one mountain I have always wanted to visit and for it to work out how it did I was in serious euphoria the entire week. It was also dope because everyone there were such sick shredders and I was shown the mountain by people who call Baker home which was even more of a bonus.

John Laing lovin' it.

Chair 5 was all ours.

Super loc Pat McCarthy.

There were endless lines and the powder was insanely perfect. I could go on forever but it was basically a treat to ride Baker how it should be ridden in the spring time thinking I wasn‘t going to ride powder again 'til next season with tons of cool people. Thank you K2.

Me and Heidi Ring.

Heidi gettin' some.

It kept dumping on and off all day long.

I found some freshies too!

So did Pancho.

Misty tree lines were super fun.

In the lodge at the end of the day, we found Shaun McKay who took it a little too far on the first night. I think everyone felt like he did, and after an intense day of the best shredding a nap was calling in order to properly hang with the night full of events. A rail jam, a mini banked slalom and pretty much any other beer drinking game concept was on the agenda.

“Rocker” was the theme of the night and many dressed in full getups fully taking advantage of the opportunity. Coincidentally K2 designs boards with Rocker technology meaning many of its boards have reverse camber making riding in powder easier and more floaty. Therefore rocker was a consistent theme throughout the week.

Tedore, Eva, a black-haired Gretchen and Leanne.

Performances by The All Nighters and the ACDC all girls cover band from Seattle, Hell’s Belles, got the crowd moshing and drunker than ever—note the beer bong pics.

Danny Larson was not in costume...those are his regular clothes.

He was drinkin' though.

Robbie Walker and Nic Dirks.

Fill 'er up!

Even Gretchen got in on the action, after much coaxing by Leanne.

It kept going...

and going.

When ya got 50 Kegs to go through...you gotta do it somehow! At 1:30 a.m. the place was still bumping but tomorrow called for another powder day and that meant much needed shut eye for the following day’s adventures.

The sound of avalanche bombs woke me right out of bed not to mention the partially sunny skies which is again unheard of at Baker. The lifts were even less crowded then the day before. Maybe a few people on every tenth to twentieth chair. You would look in front and behind and no one was in sight. It was almost weird. I think everyone was too hung over or already done from the day before to rally and shred another full day.

Pancho on the other hand was on a mission. “We are going to hike the arm.” We mounted up our fresh Kamp K2 Limited Edition boards and headed out. The arm is this out of bounds area that resembles a mini Alaska. It’s breathtaking to look at and about a forty-five minute hike up and along a ridge. Well worth it however, for our very own fresh lines which awaited us. I hate hiking so it was a little intense and I had to take a couple breaks before we finally made it up. It was an experience to remember however and the feeling of dropping into a never-ending powder bowl was one I will live to tell about. Once again thank you Baker and thank you K2.

Pancho's Turbo Dream with Rocker Tech.

After making it down and taking a few more laps my legs were throbbing and the infamous salmon chowder bread bowl was calling my name.

Pancho opted for the Chili Version, either way it's delicious. I contemplated going back up but everyone was so dead and my legs were about to fall off. I rested up for the last night of fun. A Chinese downhill and several more drinking games ensued, and the Beer Pong got things underway.

The action was intense.

We even had Kamp K2 X SNOWBOARD ping pong balls specially made.

Beer Pong Champion with a DaKine X SNOWBOARD Backpack.

A Rock Band contest kicked off the awards being handed out and the keg trophy was filled with more PBR of course for a victory lap.

It was madness.

Tight and bright was the final night’s theme and the site of it was a little frightening mixed with a lot of laughs as the pics will prove. The dance party was on.

With Vitamin D on the turntables a large group of us formed a circle and kept it going til we were literally shut down.

Bong-a-thon.

World Wide Weapon.

Yoshida and Eero.

Hot Pants!

Danielle and her A-Team.

Tedore thinks skiers suck.

You be the judge.

Tight and bright indeed.

It was all about going big or going home and Pancho definitely took the ladder as did many others. “Too much PBR,” he said the next morning as he became a little nauseous driving down the hill. All in all K2 and Mt. Baker did an amazing job. Thanks to K2 marketing gem Danielle Hambleton for the invite and the rest of the K2 staff for their hard work and many memories. Only one word can describe Kamp K2 2008: Simply, "Legendary." For more info, check out:

K2snowboards.com
Kamp K2
Mt. Baker