The Last 2006 Powder Run in the Winds

Blue Bird Powder Day in the Winds
Christina Lake Area
Shoshone NF
December 30, 2006

Finally got enough snow to justify a run into the Winds. Nice to be able to ride in your backyard. Need more snow though... the trail was rough and thin. So was the snow. We found some pretty good stuff, but it took some work to get to it. Probably only dissapointing because we know how good it will get. It's not quite there yet. It was great fun anyway!

Chuck skins up a promising slope.

And then drops it. The upper parts of the slopes were wind crusted and scralpy, but it didn't take long before you were riding powder.

Chuck starts to get into the powder.

One of two splitboarders to score the last powder runs on this mountain in the year 2006. Hopefully we'll be some of the first to break it in for 2007 too.

Shad enters the good stuff on his second run.

How deep was it? Pretty deep in the trees at least.

Chucks slides through the cream.

And tears up the rest!

This was the mountain we rode. Pretty much the only one around right now with enough snow. Hopefully that will change soon. Colorado got their's, now it's our turn.

Back Yard Skiing

Extreme Cross Country Skiing
Lander Golf Course, Lander WY
December 30, 2006

The turns.

Extreme XCer #1

Mandy and Tallulah tear it up above Lander.

Lander got puked on pretty good the night we drove home from our Jackson/ Granite Hot Springs/ Pinedale road trip. After running errands, feeding Llamas and all Friday, we headed up to the golf course to play in the some local pow.

Extreme XCer #2, pulling extreme XCer #3

Slicing the fresh pow. Mmmmm. Yummy!

#2 and #3 rack up the turns!

#1 adding her turns to the pile!

Time to head home.

Nice lines. Fun way to kill a day.

Granite Hot Springs

Granite Hot Springs
December 27, 2006

After skiing the Cache Creek trail and staying the night in Jackson, we got up early and headed over to Granite Hot Springs. We had our snow machines, and our AT gear (skis). It was snowing so hard though that conditions for exploring new ski terrain were not safe. So, we just rode the snow machine and played in Hot Springs. Great fun! Since Mandy and I really didn't feel like driving, we turned the wheel over to Tallulah. She's a little pokey, but she got us there in one piece.

Tallulah takes the wheel.

Tally shifts into gear. The great thing about automatic transmissions, is that they're fairly easy to use for younger drivers. With short legs though, it's kinda hard to go very fast... or stop.

Tally manages to stop though, using the car in front of her. Smart kid. Didn't even leave a mark!

Tallulah bundled up for the 9 mile snow machine ride into Granite Hot Springs.

Mom and Tally garbed in their sno-go gear near Granite Hot Springs. It was only about a 15 minute ride in. Lots of people and dog sleds along the way.

Mom and Tallulah pose for some more pics before taking a dip.

Tallulah tries out her very first hot springs.

Pretty cool stuff!

Tallulah loved it. A giant bath tub, filled with people- outside even. Haa, haa, haa!

The hot springs and the area really was amazing country. It was snowing really hard the whole time we were up there, so we could only get taste of what surrounded us. It was enough though, to understand there was some serious ski terrain around.

Check out this mountain. I guess I'll just have to go back sometime, when the weather is better.

Cache Creek

Cache Creek Cross Country Ski Trail
Jackson Hole
December 26th, 2006

Tallulah prepares for a good ski.

After Christmas dinner at my folks place we headed out on a Tally style ski/ road trip. First stop- Jackson Hole. We got there in time to get a good XC ski in before dark on the Cache Creek trail. Lots of people, lots of snow, but fun!

The view from my rear view mirror. Mandy tags along behind us going up the trail.

Time to head back. Two miles- all down hill. Mandy slicks up her skis speed racer style.

Off to the races! Mandy and Tallulah go full throttle down Cache Creek.

Vvvrrrrrooooommmm!!!

Back down at the trailhead, dad rescues Tally from zippy the mom. Ha!

Snow White and the Five Dwarves

Cross Country Skiing the Bonneville Pass Road
Absaroka Range, Shoshone NF
December 23rd, 2006

Doc (aka Granny Hammy), Happy, Bashful, and Sneezy(clockwise) pose for a "Yea, we survived!" photo!

Garbed in winter dwarf attire, we headed up Togwotee to score some pre-Christmas cross country skiing. Conditions were terrific! Lots of "Snow White" and a good track to follow through it.

Happy and Doc lead the way!

Happy waits for the rest of the crew to catch up.

While gliding up the trail, I gotta peek at something on my Christmas list. Seems to be filling in. I was half way up this couloir earlier this year. I'm hoping it will give me another chance sometime soon.

Happy, Doc and Bashful slide up the trail.

Happy, Doc and Bashful cruise down into the Bonneville Pass trailhead.

We went a bit further then the trailhead, but eventually our track ran out and the snow got too deep. Happy and Doc turn around and begin the glide back.

Dopey and Sneezy play in the "Snow White" on the way back.

Dopey and Sneezy try for face shots!

Bashful zips down the trail!

Zip, zip, zippity do-dah!
All the way back.

Happy holds on as Doc buries the throttle- and rockets all the way home!