Attack of the Atomic Llamas: Day 1

Llama/ Ski Trip, Silas Canyon
Popo Agie Wilderness Area, Shoshone NF, Southern Windriver Mts.
July 1st, 2006

"Atomic" Llamas

I had so much fun the prior weekend up Silas Canyon that I decided it would be a great place to spend a few days with the whole family. I was lucky enough to acquire the services of a couple of my favorite Llamas for the journey- not sure it would have been possible without them. I'm strong, but skis and equipment for two, a 3 month year old and all of the provisions that go with her can get a bit weighty.

The plan was to pack 4 to 5 miles into Silas canyon and camp at the base of some couloirs around 10,000 feet, for a couple nights. I wanted to ski the couloir I'd left behind the last weekend I was there. This trip would also be Mandy's (my wife) first venture back into to the backcountry since Tallulah was born. It would be Tallulah's first ever backcountry experience, though at 3 months, I'm not sure she really cares too much. Ha!

Meet the "Atomic" Llamas...

Atlantic; a "hard core" professional packing Llama.

Pylon; well trained, experienced ski packing Llama.

Mandy leads Atlantic up the trail, on the way to our campsite.

Atlantic eyeing the grubs around the campsite I chose. The couloir to the left was my goal for tomorrow. The one on the right, which had melted out quite a bit, is the "Wishbone Couloir" I skied the week prior.

After unloading the Llamas and setting up camp, I had time to get a couple of runs in on the slopes right next to our camp. Turned out to be pretty good runs.

July turns in straw hat weather. Can't beat it!

The gear pile back at camp, with my lines in the background.

Mandy and the kiddo hangin' in the tent. Actually, I think it was Tally's bed time- her first night out in the wilderness. Awesome!

Pylon and Atlantic settle down for the night. Actually, for some reason, Atlantic decided to jump a small cliff and settle down right next to our tent. I'm not sure what he was thinking. I think he liked Tally.

Llamas, turns, and tents... always a good recipe. Later I had to move Atlantic though. Mandy said, although Atlantic might be better looking, she was already married to one wooly face and that was scary enough for her. Ha!

Tally bundled up and tucked in for the night. It's hard to find infant backcountry gear, we had to get creative. We found her stroller liner worked pretty good for a sleeping bag. It seemed to suit her. She sacked out pretty good for the night.

Attack of the Atomic Llamas: Day 2; The Mystery Meat Sandwich Couloir

Llama/ Ski Trip, Silas Canyon
Popo Agie Wilderness Area, Shoshone NF, Southern Windriver Mts.
July 2nd, 2006

Introducing the day's objective; the "Mystery Meat Sandwich Couloir"

Since my wife was along on this trip, I let her name this couloir. I'm not aware of any name for it, and I'm sure not aware of anyone that has ever skied it before. She thought since you couldn't really see the middle of this couloir until you were almost up in it, Mystery Meat Sandwich Couloir would be appropriate. Hhmmm. I guess.

Going solo again, only this time I brought the skinny boards and my crampons.

Approaching the Mystery Meat Sandwich couloir.

Finally I get up and around to the base and get my first view up the couloir. Because to the cirque this couloir drains into, it's literally impossible to look up it until you get to this point.
It looked much steeper and skinnier than I had hoped. It looked doable though.

A look down the couloir from the bottom third of it.

Looking up, the top starting to come into view.

Here's what it looked like from about 3/4ths of the way up the couloir, Upper Silas lake in the background on the right. I was just starting to get to the top point of the couloir that you could see from the bottom.

Whew! Finally, 2 hours later, I made it. Time to kick back and recover a bit. Island lake is below. Our camp was located in the island of trees surrounded by green in the lower right hand corner.

More views from the top. Island Lake and Upper Silas in the picture on the right.

Time to drop! Steep as bung! Glad to have my skis.

Looking down the "Mystery" part of the Mystery Meat Sandwich couloir. It's plenty steep and narrow. I was worried maybe that I might become the "meat" part of it. Yikes!

Down the mystery part a bit further. The snow was great. Hit it just right, I didn't get on it so early this time.

Finally approaching the end of the steep narrow stuff.

Nothing but classic corn squiggles now.

All done. I survived! First ski lines ever on the Mystery Meat Sandwich Couloir, mine to claim as far as I know.

One last look back at the Mystery Meat Sandwich Couloir, and the Wishbone to the looker's right.

Attack of the Atomic Llamas: The Rest of Day 2 and 3

Llama/ Ski Trip, Silas Canyon
Popo Agie Wilderness Area, Shoshone NF, Southern Windriver Mts.
July 2nd, and 3rd, 2006

When I got back to camp after skiing the Mystery Meat Sandwich couloir, I found Tally taking a snooze in the shade under her bug net. Mom was getting her ski boots on, rar'in to go. I guess she got the itch to harvest some July corn. So I packed Tally and my camera to the bottom of a slope close to camp, kicked back and watched the show.

Mandy, a.k.a "I ain't no soccer mom" Tinker, grinning for Tally as she gets ready to climb.

Mandy climbs and skis. A bit rusty, but it definitely qualifies as a harvest! Great work Mandy! Tally giggled the whole time. Ha!

Rock Star Extreme Skier Amanda Tinker... my wife, Tally's mom; the "Atomic" mom! Ha! Double Ha! Good stuff!! Thanks Mandy!

After a watching Mandy, I couldn't resist. My legs were fried from the couloir, but they were still strong enough for some fun runs, so I gobbled some up.


Looking at my tracks from yesterday as I make my way up the slope for my last tasty line.

Looking down on that same line, getting ready to drop it again. Our camp was on the left point of that island of trees in the grass below. If you click on the picture you might be able to make out the Llamas and out tent.

After a long day of harvesting corn and climbing couloirs I retired to the tent for a snooze with Tally.

The boys were content to do the same, pretty much all day.

The next morning Mandy and Tally hang out on rock and watched me strike camp and pack llamas.

Camp packed, llamas loaded, Tally fed and konked out... we're ready to roll.

Shad, Tally and Pylon take one last look at the Mystery Meat Sandwich couloir before hitting the trail home.

Shad, Tally pose on the way out, while the Atomic Llamas tank up. Ha! What a wonderful trip. All made possible by the Llamas... and Lander Llama Co. Thanks Scott!!