Last March on the way back to Calgary from a bike trip in Moab I talked my wife into hitting Jackson Hole for a few days. The snow was awesome and the terrain and backcountry looked ridiculous but I never got to hit any backcountry as my wife isn't too into that.
Solution: Head back this year with a friend and a car full of gear
We weren't sure how the conditions would be and brought almost the full quiver to deal with any type of snow. The plan was to spend most of our time in the Backcountry and we were sort of expecting spring conditions, but man were we wrong.
Day 1: Teton Pass
After picking up a hitchhiker we started up the bootpack. We're used to longer tours into terrain and had relatively heavy packs as if we were heading out for full day. We quickly learned we didn't need all of that stuff as we could stop for lunch at the car.
Special thanks to Steve-O, a carpenter from Driggs, who showed us around up top and gave us the lay of the land and pointed out possible routes. No pics for the way down as we were busy trying to keep up. He also gave us a lift back to car so there was no need to hitch. Thanks again Steve-O
We then headed out with the skins on the south side of the pass just to check things out. We couldn't get over how accessible everything is.
Day 2: Avalanche Canyon
Figured we better hit the park and have a look around and check out some possible lines for the rest of the week if it didn't snow. We found a little north facing couloir and skied that. The terrain in the park is awesome.
Boot packing up the little couloir. We called it MCL. Fowler tore his MCL a couple months ago and it was giving him a little trouble on the way up.
Fowler on his way up, dealing with knee issues
Time to head down
Fowler making his way down
It was a fun day checking out the terrain and skiing a little bit of dust on crust.
Day 3: Taylor Mountian
Steve-O told us we had to get up Taylor and this day was looking to be the best time for us. Poop Chute was what we were after. Thanks to the locals we met on the way down that directed us skiers left through the trees instead of down the main gully, which we were told by someone else was the exit out of there.
Fowler touring up the ridge
Me sweating
Fowler in Poop
My turn
Refueling with some Super Nachos at the Mangy Moose
Day 4: Rest Day..or it was supposed to be but awesome snow pushed us to do a couple laps on Glory
Me pumped to be at the Pass parking lot while it's dumping
The Glory Bootpack
Fowler in the Pow
My turn
A little bit of video from my point and shoot camera on Glory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZDyErXaEZw
Day 5: After a solid day on Glory it continued to dump. There was essentially no snow on the ground the day before but now things were looking pretty good.
Car at 7am
After waiting 2 hours in line we got on the second tram of the day. Man it was hilarious in line. It was pretty cool vibe and fun to be a part of.
After a crazy start to the morning the sun came out it was pretty much bluebird. No pics of the skiing, we were too busy skiing. Once things started to get pounded down we stopped for some tourist shots.
Around 2:30 it was time for some beers in the sun at the Village Cafe
Day 6: Finally viz was looking good and we decided to hit the park again hoping to see the Grand. The plan was to hit the Turkey Chute
We got some bad info and took the wrong trail out of the parking lot and actually broke trail up the NE gully to the top of 25 short. We were pretty bagged by the time we got to the top. Wind was coming directly up the TC so we decided to head down the way we had come. All was not lost we got some excellent turns with a few face shots in the shade in the NE gully.
We packed up the rig and headed for home, but had to stop in Dillon Montana at the Patagonia Outlet for some cheap gear.
This whole trip was Awesome. We stayed at the Cowboy Village and have nothing but good things to say about the place and the staff. It was awesome. Thanks to the locals we met along the way who pointed us in the right direction. We had a wicked time and are already planning on coming back.[url][/url]
