Exploring new lines in GTNP

  Yesterday I got back on my skis for the first time in 3 days. It's been freakishly cold for the past few days and I've used that as a good excuse to take a break from skiing and do some bouldering at the gym. Max, Bill and I left town around 8, planning on poking around some north facing shots in the Park.

  The skinning went quickly and it even warmed up enough for me to shed a layer and go glove-less. Skies were partly cloudy and the high peaks took on that majestic, mystical aura as they moved in and out of sight.

 Once on top, Max scoped the line that he had been eyeing from another peak. He said he was 95% sure it went through, but that 95% of the lines on that side DIDN'T go through. Hmmm. We dropped in and skied gladed trees into a Granite Canyon-style chute for about a 1000 feet. Unbelievable! Perfect pitch, perfect snow, no tracks...

  ..Aaand then the chute rolled over steeply. We could see small trees going down a hundred feet or so , but it went around a corner and under a rock outcropping and we couldn't get eyes on it. We'd left our ropes and harnesses at the house, so we decided to boot back up and ski another line that DID go through. Well that was fun while it lasted.

  Max took the honors and the booting was easy along the ridge. A couple of 4th class moves on some rock made things interesting. Even got a bomber hand jam in at one point. Soon enough we were back on our skis and skiing gladed powder to another chute. Although SUPER tight getting in, this one went through. Untracked powder was promptly skied all the way to Avalanche Canyone.

  A second lap was discussed but declined, and we opted for a pitcher of beer and Moose Bread at Dornan's instead. Another fun day in the Tetons. Next time, I'll bring the ropes.\


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January 9, 2013

 Cruised up Disappointment Peak to Surprise Lake with Will. Warm temps, sticky snow on the way up. Stayed North of East on the way down. Very fun powder turns. It's about to dump.

A Farewell Ski in GTNP...

   Yesterday I got the chance to say goodbye to a friend in a very fitting fashion. The friend was JR Jenkins, the fashion was skiing the Sentinel Couloir in Grand Teton National Park.

    Noah picked me up at a casual 8am. JR was dropping a friend's car at the airport, so we picked him up on the way. We got skinning around 9:15 AM and were at The Meadows in Garnet Canyon in around 2 hours. Upon gaining the flat ground at meadows, the wind increased significantly. Snowfall had increased as well.

   We basically followed the summer trail lookers right of Spalding Falls. Where the trail would normally cross the drainage to the Petzoldt Caves, we tossed our skis on our backs and started booting up to the base of the "South" Sentinel Couloir. The booting was easy enough, although a breakable crust was slightly annoying. Stopping every so often share our thoughts on the situation, we made our way up the chute. While turning around was of course an option, none of us wanted to ski a nasty breakable crust in blowing snow and high winds. Our hopes hinged on decreased wind and increased visibilty once we dropped into the Sentinel Couloir proper.

  Once we gained the top and crossed onto the north side of the couloir, the winds decreased and visibility increased a little. The snow seemed wind affected but very skiable. None of the breakable crust that the south side had. Noah dropped in first, then me, then JR. We skied it to the moraine above Delta Lake, then got some nice powder turns down to the lake itself. After crossing the lake, we traversed skiers right to the East Face of Disappointment  We were surprised to get some AWESOME pow turns down the face until we had to traverse right again to Bradley Lake.

  After the standard kick in the nuts skin/sidestep back to the car, cold beers were enjoyed and tired, clumsy high fives were given. A good end to another good day in Jackson Hole. Claaassic Jackson. Take it easy out west, JR.

VIDEO HERE:  Skiing the Sentinel


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IT'S A TERRAIN TRAP!

   Been SO damn cold lately. Did a couple of laps on The King on Thursday (1/3/13). Skinned up to the top of the S-chutes to check things out. Mainly just for something to do. Then went back up and hit Scotty's Ridge on a second lap. Mainly just to get out and enjoy the awesome sunset. Tried out some Volkl Shiros at the Village yesterday. Went up Taylor this morning with Thomas. East Face. F'ing terrible. There about a 2 inch breakable crust right now. Things got creamier with any northerly aspect. Hopefully the crust doesn't stay and this little bit of snow we're supposed to get on Monday with bond nicely. Stay on Northerly aspects. Getting the itch to get back in the park. Soon.


   In my boredom, I created this Star Wars dork backcountry skiing meme. I thought it was funny.



   Get it??


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Taylor, Taylor and Taylor. And New Year's on Taylor.

December 27: South Face of Taylor in blower powder

 December 30: East Face of Taylor in fast-as-you-want powder

 December 31: East Face of Taylor in fast-as-you-want powder

 January 1: My 27th trip around the sun, and another Taylor lap. South Face birthday bash. It's been pretty good.

 Between skiing everyday and Christmas week at the restaurant, I'm in desperate need of these next 3 days off. 2012 was pretty incredible. I'll recap that year at another time. Here's some pics from recent trips up Taylor Mountain.

Will negotiates the crux of the skin track.

All smiles back at the parking lot.

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