Mt. Moran – Skillet Glacier

The day after we left Garnet Canyon, Kyle, Adam, Chris, and I set out looking to ski the Skillet Glacier off Mt. Moran. Back in Jackson we asked a few people what they thought was the best way to approach the Skillet and everyone said the same thing, “get a boat.” Since getting a boat was both going to be difficult and potentially costly we decided that walking in couldn’t be that bad, especially if we did it as an over night. Starting out late in the afternoon, we made our way North from the Leigh Lake trailhead. We eventually made it to I believe just past the Bearpaw Lake, where we ate some dinner and took a nap for a while before waking up early in the morning to bushwhack our way up to the Skillet. The Bushwhacking turned out to be much easier than expected and we had our skins on heading up the Skillet in no time.

The climbing up the Skillet was pretty easy, except for the last 1000 feet or so, which seemed to drag on for longer than expected. We got a great sunrise on the way up, but unfortunately clouds rolled in as made our way to the top. Sitting in the clouds isn’t very enjoyable, so after a quick stroll to the summit we clicked in and began making turns down the Skillet. Though very runnelled up top the skiing was pretty good and consistant all the way down. Unfortunately for me my ski broke on my second turn off the top, which forced me to ski the entire Skillet on one ski. Needless to say I would have enjoyed skiing this on two skis, it was fun and goofy getting down on one ski as I tried to link as many turns as I could. While it sucked my ski broke, this was still a good way to spend our last day in the Tetons, and I know we all look forward to coming back and doing some good skiing next season.

Our Teton quiver.

Not something you see everyday. Adam on the walk in.

Adam looking ridiculous with Mt. Moran in the background.

We all found different ways to rest after dinner.

Here’s Adam reading a book.

Kyle wasting no time getting to sleep.

And Chris preparing gear. I obviously was taking photos.

Sunrise the next morning was pretty spectacular. We skied the Skillet May 10th, one year since our friend Tucker passed away. I like to think he’s responsible for this.

Thanks de la.

Chris and Kyle nearing the top.

Adam making his way up the final headwall.

Adam, per usual thumbs up on the mandatory summit shot.

Chris and Kyle in the clouds.

Adam dropping in. About 30 seconds later I broke my ski and tumbled for a ways down the upper skillet. Fun way to finish off the ski season.

Grand Teton – Ford Stettner Descent

For our third and last day of skiing in Garney Canyon we decided to give the Ford Stettner route on the Grand Teton a try. After two days of good skiing on the South and Middle Teton’s we were satisfied that conditions in the Ford would be reasonable for skiing and the Stettner was looking at least easily climbable. The only real question was the Chevy couloir, as we could never really get a good view of it. Leaving camp early in the morning we made it to the Teepee Pillar col just as the sun was starting to come over the horizon. Realizing we were a bit ahead of schedule we were able to take our time climbing the Stettner and Chevy couloirs. We climbed in two rope teams, Adam and Kyle, and Chris and Me. The Stettner was fun, but the Chevy made for some great climbing with enough fun ice bulges to keep things interesting. From the Chevy we all booted the Ford and across the upper face to the summit.

Still a little early we hung around the top for a while and enjoyed the spectacular views from the top of the Grand. Turns were good along the upper face and down through the Ford. From the bottom of the Ford we made several double rope rappels through the Chevy and Stettner, before a little downclimbing and traversing back over to the Teepee col. We caught some great corn skiing down the Teepee glacier and back to camp. After a short break we broke down camp and made the somewhat awkward march out of Garnet back to the parking lot. Skiing the Grand was something I think all of us have wanted to do for a while and we were all stoked to finally be able to get up there and make some turns off an awesome peak. I know both Adam and I can’t wait to go back and see what more we can do off the Grand Teton. Unfortunately I was slacking a little with my camera in this ski, and left a lot of the documentation up to the other guys with the point and shoots. Hopefully I can get some of Kyle and Adam’s photos, as I know they got some great ones from this day.

Teepee Pillar as the sun starts to rise.

Middle Teton from the Stettner Couloir.

Adam and Kyle in the Chevy.

Chis at the bottom of the Ford.

Mandatory summit shot.

Adam and Tucker on the Summit of the Grand. It’s been a full year since Tucker passed away and I don’t think there has been a single day when Tucker’s spirit has not been an inspiration for me and Adam in the mountains.

Adam in the Ford with Kyle taking pictures from below.

Chris making turns in the Ford.

The guys on the pack out.

Sun setting behind the Grand Teton after a great few days.

Middle Teton – Glacier Route

For our second day up in Garnet Canyon Kyle, Chris, Adam, and I headed up to ski the Glacier Route off the Middle Teton. The Glacier Route is a classic line, and we were all really excited to get a chance to climb and ski it. With not a cloud in the sky the sun was warming things up fast, and with a layer of fresh snow we all made quick work of the climb. Once on the col above the Ellingwood Couloir we thought the South Summit looked more appealing for a ski descent as it presented some steep turns off the top. Once on top we had great views of the Grand Teton, Ford and Stettner Couloirs; encouraging views for the next days outing. Since the sun was heating things up quickly we transitioned fast (only taking a few moments for mandatory summit shot) and made some great steep turns down the South Summit. The snow on the lower part of the Glacier Route was way better than expected and made for the best skiing of the week. So good that I forgot to take pictures for the rest of the day. Powder snow made way to corn on the ski down to camp. Once back to the tent we straight kicked it and tried to keep out of the sun before getting to bed early. We figured weather permitting, we’d be heading for the Grand in the morning.

Adam and Chris below the Glacier Route.

Steep face of the Middle Teton’s South Summit.

Kyle and Chris on the climb.

The Grand Teton.

Mandatory summit shot.

Kyle a few turns in.

Chris getting the goods.

South Teton and West Hourglass Couloir

Last week Adam and I met up with two friends from Colorado, Kyle Davis and Chris Erickson, to do some skiing in the Tetons. Our plan was to spend a few days up in Garnet Canyon skiing what we could, and then potentially head elsewhere depending on the conditions. As we hiked in and set up camp we were all pretty excited to see it snowing hard and the temperatures staying cold. The next morning skies were clear as we made our way up the South Fork of Garnet with intentions of skiing the Ellingwood and Chouinard Couloirs. However, with some concern over stability we decided to head over to the South Teton and ski the NE Face. Climbing was easy and the skiing was better than expected with the new snow. After a break for some food we came to the quick realization that it was already to warm to ski any more so we called if for a least a few hours. Sitting around camp all day gets boring, so with nothing else to do we all agreed to eat an early dinner and go try and catch the West Hourglass Couloir on the refreeze. Climbing again was as easy as can be up the West Hourglass and Adam was actually able to skin all the way to the top. It was fun skiing as the sun set and the snow was again much better than expected. Back at camp we figured the Glacier Route on the Middle Teton would be good to the next day.

Heavy packs on the skin track.

Camp, early morning.

Kyle and Chris stop to enjoy the scenery as Adam charges on forward.

Kyle making his way down onto the lower apron of the South Teton’s NE Face.

Adam enjoying fresh snow on the South Teton.

Chris, South Teton.

South Fork of Garnet Canyon.

Afternoon skinner up the West Hourglass.

The guys on top of the West Hourglass off of Nez Perce with the Grand in the background. I think this photo sums up the group pretty well.

Adam making turns down the West Hourglass.

Kyle making his way down the apron in pretty ideal snow.

Timpanogos Easter Couloir

Adam and I were lucky enough to get a call from our friend Andy Dorais the other day about skiing a seldom skied line off the North Summit of Timpanogos. Not sure of the name (if there is any), so seeing as it was Easter morning for now we’ll all call it the Easter Couloir. Meeting Andy at the Pleasant Grove trailhead at 3:30 am the three of us laced up our sneakers and headed up in the dark. The snow line was a little higher than Andy had expected but not a problem as we were skiing a little after 7:00 am with a beautiful sunrise on our backs. The snow was very firm and chattery but the terrain was awesome, and skiing high above the Salt Lake Valley is always an experience. Andy had to run to get back to work (he’s a doctor), while Adman and I ate a few sandwiches contemplating whether to go back up for another. Sitting in the cold shade didn’t quite give us the motivation we were hoping for so we ended up calling it for the day. Again great to ski with Andy, and always fun to do something new and see some different terrain.

Here’s a link to Andy’s recap of the morning: New Line on Timp (for me)

Here is a photo of the line taken from the Great Western Trail.

Andy and I making our way to the top.

De La was with us too.

Looking South down the Timp. ridge line.

Andy stoked. Thanks for letting us tag along for this one.

I wish I had brought my camera as the colors were pretty awesome over the Valley.

Andy skiing on what Adam refers to as midgit sticks. Skiing these kind of conditions on skis such as that is not easy even, though Andy is turning here with ease.

Certainly not poooooder, but fun none the less.

Adam on his way down the trail, ready for a breakfast that we never found.

4/7/12 – Reed and Benson Ridge Trifecta

The Big/Little Cottonwood backcountry got absolutely hammered yesterday, but luckily for us most people stayed close to the ridge line allowing us to get some fresh tracks down some classic lines. Adam, Tyler, Walker and I were surprised to find the Hallway Couloir untracked later in the morning. Lower angle was skiing best and the turns out the lower pipe were as good as it gets. After the Hallway we made our way down and over to the Old Growth Couloir (Reed and Benson Couloir) which wasn’t skiing as good, but still a fun run. With a little more time before we had to be back at work, Tyler, Adam and I made our way back up the Old Growth and found more untracked in Banan Days. Always a good day when you can ski three classic Wasatch lines in between your breakfast and dinner shift.

Adam stoked as usual.

Tyler first down the Hallway.

Walker.

The guys gang skiing the pipe in pretty perfect conditions.

Old Growth looking inviting from below, as Adam sets a skinner.

Adam doing his best Easter Bunny hop.

Banana Days, so good.

Wyatt Couloir

This morning Ty and I met up early and got out to ski the Wyatt Couloir off Cardiac. Pretty straight forward day with a tour into Mineral Fork and a fun booter straight up the Wyatt. I measure the angle at the top to be somewhere around 57 degrees. Crappy snow at the top and the loose rock wall made a top out rather difficult and unnecessary so we just skied from right under the cornice at the top. First 20 feet was a side step as a result of the bad snow but once in it the firm snow made for some steep free falling hop turns. While the Wyatt was fun, the best part of the day was hitting Little Superior on the way back in perfect corn. As always a treat to get some steep turns in, especially this year, but nothing beats a good corn run to end the day.

Colorful sunrise to start the day.

Cardiac Ridge and the Wyatt from a distance. Wyatt is the straight couloir right in the middle of the photo.

Tyler on the booter.

Nice view from the top.

Ty making his way down to better snow for some steep turns.

Little Superior corn.

Ty laying it over.

Powder Keg 2012

A few weeks ago Adam, Tyler, and I all did the Powder Keg at Brighton. Here’s a video from the race with Adam making an appearance around the 1:09 mark demonstrating proper transitioning technique, and then again around 2:13 showing great enthusiasm on the booter. Definitely a fun event, and one I look forward to doing again next year.

3/24/12

I usually finish up my breakfast shift around 10 am. Lately there hasn’t been much for me to go ski with a 10 am start, so I figured Heart of Darkness would be a fun little outing before I had to be back to work at 3. I met up with Tyler and we climbed Superior to find some fun turns off the backside of Monte Cristo enroute to HOD. Ty brought a rope so we rapped, but the entrance is very much downclimbable right now. Snow wasn’t great but hop turns were fun down the HOD and the apron provided an opportunity for some fun skiing. With a little bit of time left we decided to skin up to the top of the bowl below Sky Ramp. The bowl made for the best turns of the day, and the ski out of Mill B was easy and uneventful. All in all a fun day, and a pretty convenient ski out the Lake Blanche trail which only required about 10 minutes of walking on the way out.

Tyler making his way up the East Ridge. Except for a 20 foot boot Superior is still skinnable to the top.

HOD.

Adam and I skied this last year in waist deep powder. A little different today.

Ty making his way in.

Tyler hoping around in HOD.

This is definitely more of a scenic tour than an epic ski descent, but if nothing else a great way to access Mill B from Alta.

Ty in upper Mill B.

North facing is still great skiing.

Here’s a cool shot I took on my Iphone from the top of Superior. I got this app that takes pretty decent panorama photos. I’m going to have a lot of fun with this.

Pfeifferhorn North Couloir

It’s been a while since my last post, but not for lack of trying or skiing. After being sick for two weeks it was nice to get back out and do some skiing again. Today Adam, Tyler, and I went and skied the North Couloir off the Pfeifferhorn, which turned out to be pretty fun and good skiing. Even with a later start after working this morning the snow was still soft and not much sun affected. Steep turns giving way to a fun apron always makes for a good ski descent. Skiing out back to White Pine was a little wet but not bad considering it was over 50 degrees in Alta today.

Adam where’d we ski?

North Couloir.

Ty and Adam in upper Maybird.

We were able to skin 50 feet from the ridge.

Tyler and me on the boot.

Adam’s new touring gear, hoodie and skinny pants.

Snow was real fun all the way out.

Adam taking it out onto the apron.

Ty. I think Adam measured the angle in the top around 48 degrees.

Ty again taking it out.

A look back.