Southern Wind Mountain Biking

High Plains Cruisin'
South Pass City Gold Rush Days
July 12th, 2009

Mandy pedals west, the Oregon Buttes in the background.

High Prairie Pedal Porn

Takin' a breather.

Rockin' before rolling!

Earlier in the week, I took a nifty spill off my road bike while powering around a corner. This is what it did to my helmet. A great reason to wear one!

(click to enlarge)

This is what it did to me, even with a helmet on. Lots of road rash, even on the inside of lips. Sucked! The bike came out okay though- just some dings on the shifters.

Fairfield Hill Loop- MTB Ride
July 13th, 2009

Had a great ride Monday, after getting off South Pass. Did the classic Fairfield loop from my house in Lander. Great ride- beautiful country!

Profile of ride (click to enlarge and read). It's a lung buster!

The view after the first major climb.

A look into the Leg Lake cirque part way up the last climb.

Me, getting ready to drop a couloir on the Kona, Windriver Peak in the background.

Another angle on the couloir.

Looking down at the rest of the trail.

4000 vertical feet of climbing in 16 miles took about two hours. I was happy with that.

MT Biking at Grand Targhee

MTB Riding at Grand Targhee Resort
Grand Targhee National Forest
July 4th and 5th, 2009

A view of the tetons from the top of of the resort.

Headed up to Grand Targhee for the WYDAHO MTB race (http://www.grandtarghee.com/summer/mountain-biking/WYDAHO-Mtn-Bike-Race.php) on July 4th. We decided to stay up there over the fourth and ride a bit more as well. I did okay in the race, despite a 20+ mph crash and burn, I still managed to shave a minute off my time from last year. However, everyone else road much faster this year. A time that landed me mid heap in the expert category last year, only kept me a few riders away from last place this year. Short fast races are not my strength- but it sure was fun. Absolutely beautiful riding. I reccomend the race to anyone. The 24 hour race they do in August is great too!

Mandy's Dirt Queen Flick

Mandy didn't race, but she pre-rode the course with me on the morning of the 4th. This first climb is a doozy!

Sucking it up and riding the last bit.

Super Grover likes single track for breakfast!

Awful purdy country!

Mandy feeds her Kona an extra helping of yum yum!

Miles of groomed wahooo!

Wild flowers and wild riders in full force!

The road to the top of the mountain (resort).

Sunday, the morning after the race I got up and decided to ride the 3 miles of 2000 vertical feet up to the top of the mountain. It took me just under an hour (5o minutes). Had to walk a couple of short ups (probably could have cleared them had I been fresh). It was a great climb! Stunning views on top, with nothign but stellar single track to ride all the way down. Not any picture of the single track- I just couldn't bring my self to stop and take any it was so tasty!

Nearing the top.

Looking back down the road aways.

A panoramic view looking down the road from the top.

Beartooths

Riding the Gardner Wall
Beartooth Mountains in Wyoming
May 25th, 2009

The Gardner Lake head wall.

While visiting good friends in Cody over Memorial Day weekend, I figured since I was in the neighborhood, I might as take a quick run over into the Beartooths for some classic spring skiing. I got up early Sunday and found myself up on the pass looking at the Gardner wall, just as the sun was starting to illuminate it.

Video Panoramic

Saddled up, ready to ride!

The routes I skied for the day (click to enlarge).
I did it all the old fashioned way- hiking. No help from vehicles this time.

A look down the ridge as I approached my first run.

Looking back up at my first few turns. The photo doesn't do them justice- that first rollover was way steep! Plus the snow was still a little cold.

A view from the bottom of my first run.

Looking back up towards the top of runs 2 and 3.

The hike back up (four times for me). Note how many people there are. It was pretty much a steady stream of folks all day- popular place.

Gardner Lake Couloir- time to try it on my board.

Board view at the top looking into the Gardner Lake Couloir.

Dropping in.

The view from about half way down the couloir.

Steep!

Looking back up. The snow was prefect for big steep turns.

Wearin' the grin... in May! Gotta love it!

A final look back.

Sioux Pass Powder

Sioux Pass Powder
Southern Wind River Range
April 25th, 2009

Mandy skins above Sioux Pass.

Mandy and Shad Powder Flick

Mandy leaves the sled in search of pow pow.

The latest storm cycles seem to be working our pretty well for skiing the Winds above Lander. Though temps in Lander for most of the week were in the 70s. Friday it started snowing again. It's getting trickier to get the sleds up high to the good powder- all the trails down low are melting out. It can be done still though. We did it. Dunno how many more times we'll have the chance. Judging by the weather today, as I write, it's looks like maybe I guy might get away with a run in May next weekend. Again though- it was a lot of work getting the machine in there and out. Great day though- I'll take it!

Perched on top of a good looking run.

Time to ride!

First turns initiated an interesting little new snow slough slide.

Enjoying the view as I transition for another run.

"Look out! They're everywhere! They're everywhere!"
Little green Mandys kept gobbling up the pow. I couldn't keep up!

Looking back on Mandy's first run.

I do a quick boot pack up to the top of a good looking little shot.

A look back at a couple of runs.

Mandy tears it up!

Skiing off into the trees near the bottom of the run.

Mandy enjoys the tree skiing back to the sled.

Back at the sled, packing up for the ride out.

My thoughts on the day...
before I tipped the Polaris over and got it stuck three or four times on the way back.

Tried to dig out a trail for the Polaris on a side hill. It didn't work. I cussed alot.

Turned out that getting back to the truck was much harder than I had anticipate. We were only about 10 or 15 miles away, but the snow had warmed, and I was punching through it whenever I got off the main trail. There hadn't been any traffic on it either- probably for at least most of the week. The side hill above gave me lots fits too. I didn't have to deal with it on the way in- I was able to go straight over the hill. The way over the hill on the way out is much steeper, and the Polaris with all of our crap on it couldn't do it. I had to try the road instead. I ended up getting suck down off the road in the bottom, where the snow was soft. We pretty much had to dig pack and build a road for the polaris out of the bottom and back onto the main road. Only took about an hour or so. Long story short- it took just under an hour to get to where we skied. It took us over 3 hours to get out. My arms are rocked from lifting that heavy machine and shoveling my brains out. It was fun though! Glad we got out. We were late picking up the kids- but not as late as I thought maybe we would have been at one point. Several times I figured we'd be waiting till dark for the snow to firm up as the temperate dropped, before we'd be able to get out. Glad we didn't have to do that. Mandy was thrilled too. Always and adventure!

Spring in the Winds

Southern Wind River Range

April 19th, 2009



Matt skis the Southern Winds

On top of The Notch

Left Lander early thinking maybe conditions would be similar to the conditions I had on Big Mountain a week earlier, especially since it snow another foot or so the day before. It was a little different this time. Eventually the weather cleared and we got some classic warm pow spring snow. When we first got up there though, it was snowing and winds were strong and out of the North. Which took me a while to figure out. After a long tour and traverse, some of our first runs were on south facing slopes protected and loaded from the wind. It was good. Eventually the weather cleared though and things warmed up, the southern slopes got too warm, but other aspects turned from the wind crust into great soft spring snow. Before it was over we racked up nearly 6000 vertical feet of skiing in around eight hours. Great day!

Matt traverses his way across the Winds above Christina Lake

Climbing up The Notch.

Looking up the Range towards Big Mountain and Atlantic Peak.

A profile of our first lines, Christina Lake in the background.

Looking down on Matt's line through the bottom.

Carvin' it up!

Matt cruises in for a break after good run down the peak in the background.

A better look at some of our lines (click to enlarge).

Going up for more.

Matt prepares to drop The Notch.

One of my favorite shots yet, in the Winds this year.

Matt series in The Notch.

Weeehoo!

Pausing for a quick look back.

The last few turns of a 1000 ft run.

Not done yet!

Matt poses on another little peak.

Matt shows off his custom Tele/ AT bindings in Tele mode.

Looking a back on some of our earlier lines, later in the day (click to enlarge).

Looking back on the last hill of the day.

A look back into the canyon/ drainage we were skiing.

A look back at The Notch Mountain as the sun begins to set.

Another view of The Notch from across the lake.

Shad Teaser


A final look back on much of the range and terrain around Christina Lake- red arrows indicate places we skied from.
(click to enlarge and read labels)

Big Mountain Powder

Big Mountain
Christina Lake Area, Southern Wind River Range
April 10th, 2009

Big Mountain

Wouldn't be a complete ski season without a run from the top of Big Mountain. After another small storm looked to have dumped about 6 inches of fresh snow in the Winds (without much wind) I figured conditions might be ripe for Big Mountain with powder. I figured right. It was definitely a Good Friday!

Looking at the mountains I'd be skiing, from about 2o miles away.

Yup, I'd say the new snow as of late sure has improved the coverage on the trails.

Looking back as I make may way up through the tree toward Big Mountain.

Flying solo this time.

Making progress.

Looking back about an hour later (click to enlarge).

Hooeee! This Mountain's alot of work- especially when it's loaded with fresh pow.

The summit is in sight.

Looking back down the ridge line as I make my way to the top.

Almost there!

Oh yea!! Powder all the way up!

Rockin' on the summit!

Looking down across my boot pack. Boy the snow looked good!

Scoping out the line.

Time to ride!

Rock on! The best conditions I think I've ever dropped from the top in.

Awesome!

Big lines, on Big Mountain.

Another look a the run from a different angle.

Yet, another view (click to enlarge).

Looking down towards the bottom of my run as I make my way up for more.

Big Mountain profile.

Conditions were getting pretty warm, so I decided to play on aspects that were a little less exposed to the sun...

The snow was still great!

Bottom half of the run was good too.

While climbing up for yet some more, the weather started to get a bit more over cast. Lighting on the open slopes was tricky, so I began to ride the treed pow more and work my way be back to the sled.

Looking back on Big Mountain shrouded by clouds, from across Christina Lake.

The bigger picture.

Back at the truck, celebrating a Good Friday!

Popo Agie Pow Pow

Backyard Powder Fest

Sinks Canyon (Switchbacks on Loop Road)
April 4th, 2009

An over fed powder pig resting at the bottom of some 600 foot blower powder shots, just past the first switchback on the Loop Road in Sinks Canyon.

Popo Agie Pow Pow!

Unbelievable! Planned on skiing this day no matter what- made day care arrangement for the kiddos. Didn't figure it'd be one of the best powder days in the Winds all season, and only a few miles outside of town. Incredible! South Pass was closed so Sink Canyon was our only local option. We headed up. We made it as far as the cattle guard by the climber's area parking lot before the snow was too deep to drive in. Plus some dude had their truck stuck in the middle of the road. Indicator number one that it was going to be an epic powder day. Mandy was thrilled!

We parked and dumped the sleds at the pull-our near the cattle guard- after a snow plow clear it for us. I knew right where I want to go. I've tried the ski the run a few times- never with the right gear or conditions though. The snowmobiling in was sick. Just sick. Over the top, but nearly impossible to get stuck. Hero pow for the sleds for sure! Wow!

After the mechanical powder pigs got a good wallowing, it their riders let them rest and make ready for their own feast.

The cleanest my face would be all day!

Mandy works for pow.

The grin. We all had it!

Karla climbs through the pow covered forest.

Chuck and Karl skirt around a cliff band above some good runs, being careful about avi conditions. The new snow was sloughing in steep terrain- over foot sometimes.

Yummy!

No words for the rest...

Mandy Series:

Still got the grin!

Chuck Series:

"Mama!"

Karla Series:

"Faceshots!"

Looking back...

(click to enlarge and see the wiggles)

It was snowing so hard many of first tracks were nearly filled in. I could have skied until it got dark. Mandy was happy we had to get the kids by 5pm though. We saddled up the pigs for the ride down about 4pm. I had nearly as much fun wallowing in pow all the way back to the truck.

You know it's a good pow day in Sinks Canyon when you get your sled stuck on a guard rail.

The last major event of the day!


The Day After:

The next day I had an awesome ski with the kiddos, we stopped to admire the previous day's work.


Tally's reaction: "Oh maaan!"