For the next interview we stop by the Oregon Cascades and talk with Matt Stouder. A Willamette Pass ski patroller by day and avid backcountry snowboarder by night. In this piece Matt talks about his love for a area covered with high alpine peaks and ancient Cascadian volcanoes.
His stomping grounds are a place near and dear to my heart and I can honestly say that he is living in a relatively undiscovered gem.
Name: Matt Stouder
Primary Location: Willamette Valley
Home Range: Oregon Cascades
Age: 32
Primary Solid Board: Burton Custom X 160
Primary Split Board: Voile Mojo 161 (soon to be a Jones Solution 164)
Preferred Binding System: Spark R & D
Boot: Burton Driver X
How Many Years have you been Snowboarding Professionally? I wouldn’t exactly call it semi-professional, but I’ve been snowboarding for 15 years.
How Long Have You Been Splitboarding? 5 years
What Compelled You to Begin Splitboarding? I got tired of the mob scene at the resorts and started venturing into the backcountry to explore Oregon’s volcanoes. I hooked up with my backcountry ski partner who teles and it was difficult keeping up with him on snowshoes. As we started accessing the bigger peaks with longer approaches, I needed a different tool for the job and wanted to get my board off my back. I bought my first split and haven’t looked back since.
Most Memorable Glacier Travel: The Fryingpan Glacier on Mt Rainier in July 2009. My buddy and I camped overnight at Summerland and rode the glacier early the next day. Conditions were epic corn and the views were excellent. 3000 vertical feet later, we rode by 35 mountain goats on the lower parts of the snowfield. Mt. Rainier is gorgeous and I really need to get back there. A close second would have to be the Eliot Glacier on Mt. Hood’s north side (Oregon’s largest glacier).
Where has Split Boarding taken you? Most of the splitboarding I’ve done has been in Oregon (there’s so much terrain to explore here between the Cascades and the Wallowas). It’s also taken me to Washington & British Columbia.
Gnarliest or most Extensive Approach for a Single Line: Most approaches in Oregon can be done in a day. I guess doing the South Sister (of the Three Sisters) via the Green Lakes approach would be one of the more extensive. That approach requires about 4-5 miles of skinning and 1000 vertical to get to camp, and then another 4000 feet to the top.
Ideal Backcountry Day: I had a few last season. Temps in the low teens, several inches of fresh on top of a nice stable pack, sunshine and blue skies, 1500 foot runs in the alpine, a few people to share it with, and then a short skin back to the yurt, followed by micro brews, a sauna, and some night time photography. The trip I’m describing was to Tam McArthur Rim with the yurts operated by Three Sisters Backcountry Access. A TR can be found here:
Lifetime Goal or Objective, a Line You’ve Been Eyeing for a While, or What Would Be your Dream Trip? I’ve got too many objectives to list and they keep changing. I’ve been eyeing a few lines on Steens Mountain in desert of SE Oregon. Very few people have ever ridden down there, access is difficult and they are miles from nowhere. However,3000 – 4000 foot lines are possible and the possibilities are endless.
Favorite Backcountry Meal: It’s pretty pathetic really, but I could live on Mountain House freeze dried Sweet & Sour Pork.
Favorite Piece of Gear (and Why): Voile Mini-Tele Pro Shovel – use it to dig a pit, dig a place to sleep and hopefully not to dig out your friend.
Favorite Place You’ve Travelled: The Alps – Southern Germany specifically. I did some snowboarding there while in college (not splitboarding). The scenery and terrain is amazing, the people were awesome, and the culture of snow sports there is unbelievable. That, and the beer and food is excellent too! I actually briefly considered moving there.
Sponsors: None really – Berg’s Ski & Snowboard Shop has given me a few things here and there.
Local Causes You’re Passionate About: Protecting and preserving wild lands, habitat and the backcountry.
Other Stuff You Do (music, volunteerism, art, school, etc.): Willamette Pass Ski Patrol. I also enjoy my family, dabbling with photography, rock climbing and backcountry bowhunting.
Website/Blog: www.splitboardoregon.com
