Sunday, December 11, 2011

Pre Holiday Fun!


Teton Pass provides some amazing hike and skin accessed backcountry terrain. Mt. Glory has a very nicely set boot-pack, with just over 1650’ elevation gain and about 45 minutes for most. Those with non-human lung capacity crush it in 30 minutes, we will see where I stand come April. Been skiing a lot with Jeff Byl lately, Michigan transplant, co-worker and all around awesome guy. 

We skied the East Fork of Coal Creek, a westerly aspect with pretty thin snow and mellow terrain, but nice enough snow I was still able to milk a few faceshots. The luge track out provides some fun as well. After skiing the upper section, the path winds along Coal Creek until reaching the trailhead, where you hitch back up. We got picked up by a 30’ commercial delivery truck, which has to be the coolest rig I’ve gotten a ride in. Guy drove from Bozeman to deliver two windows and a door to some construction site. Welcome to Jackson!

View from Teton Pass

Awesome hut at the top of Glory, great for those windy days

Jeff enjoys sub zero temps + wind chill

Looking north up the Teton Range




Had a failed attempt to ski Taylor Mountain yeseterday, where we had to bail about halfway up the skin on the SE ridge. With a 35° temperature inversion, we were definitely in the 40s when we called it, and higher elevations would have been even warmer. Obviously the aspect didn’t help with the warmth, but with all the high pressure lately, this was the first day with such high temps and that extreme of an inversion. Sadly I think this line will have to wait until springtime, but I'm super excited to get back to it.

Also, I'm working on getting more action shots! My photography is a work in progress.
                                                            Skinning up

More terrain across Highway 22

Jeff really, really likes Alpine Trekkers. Makes me wish I still had mine :)

This skin-track thankfully had some grip, it would be impossible when slick


More to ski


Gully out



Jeff loves sweating in December

1 comment:

  1. Looks like you are having some good adventures Erik! I'm pretty jealous about the delivery truck ride (obviously). Loving the pictures!!

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