Southern Wind River Winter Adventures: Jules Bowl: The Bottleneck and Dog Leg Reverse

Jules Bowl: The Bottleneck Classic and Chockstone Dog Leg Reverse

Shoshone NF, Absaroka Range; Dunoir Special Management Area
March 25th, 2007

Jules Bowl, the BNC Reverse Couloir and the CDL Reverse Couloir

After a few attempts earlier in the season, the Abby gods finally gave me a pass to Jules Bowl. It was awesome!! Dino and I left Lander around 5:00am. We had the machines parked at the base of the couloirs around 8am. With the recent lack of snow and warm temps, the trail into the bowl was an easy go. I might be getting better at driving sleds too, dunno. Ha!

Our objectives for the day were pretty clear; ski couloirs- at least two, the ones we parked by. Ha!

A view across the bowl, towards Austin Peak.

Dino unloads, heartbroken that he won't get to try out his new skins.

We started our boot pack from the sleds.

As warm as it had been I didn't expect to find much powder. Amazingly enough though, that's what we found. The north facing aspects up high where we were was still a dry snow pack. Very cool!

Dino prepares to enter his first Absaroka couloir.

Here's a look.

I lead the way. We went from safe spot to spot in this couloir. It was pretty steep and narrow, and I didn't trust the snow pack entirely quite yet. Though, it felt pretty good. 2 to 5 inches of powder on top of a very firm base.

A look down at Dino as he grunts his way up. I think he was happy I had an extra ice axe he could borrow.

Going up the Bottleneck Classic Reverse Couloir.

I'm calling these couloirs "reverse" couloirs because on the other side of them, the original couloirs with these names drop off the Pinnacle Buttes. Some of them you can see from the highway. Now you know what's on the other side. I skied the Bottleneck Classic last May, if you want to go back in the TRs and see what it looks like. That trip gave me my first peek down this couloir. It's been on my list ever since.

Dino nears the top.

Dino summits the BNC Couloir.

We did take a look down the other side at the Bottleneck Classic. What's scary is that it's not near as full as it was last year, and that was in May. We need some weather pretty bad, or it'll be ugly this summer.

Dino drops the Bottleneck Classic Reverse.

Tele-Dino, carvin' up the couloirs!

My turn...

Weeehooo!

Good Stuff! Better have another...

Dino breaks trail up the second couloir for the day.

Shad follows.

A look North through the gap at the top of the Chockstone Dog Leg.

We climbed to the top and peeked down the Chockstone Dog Leg Couloir. It had been baked, and was pretty icey. Looked like it could be good if it warmed up, but around 11:00am when we were looking at it, it was pretty "Dog" gone hard still. Very glad we had the Reverse waiting for us below.

There was a cool spot for an early lunch (11:30am) on top of this couloir- almost cave like. Eventually we got back to skiing though. I had first dibs on this one.

I picked a steep little chute to enter to couloir from.

Ooooeeee! Pucker factor was in effect.

Whew! Hard part over. Nothin' but turns now!

Here comes Dino!

Down he goes!

A look back on my line, top to bottom.

You can see Dino about half way up, the dark speck marking up my lines. Ha! Great skiing!

Out of the couloir and on to the apron.

Powder?

Dino makes the hike back up to the machines, the Jules Castle in the background.

Since Dino had to make the cruise back to Casper, we were under orders to keep it a two couloir day. It was tempting to knock off another one or two- they were everywhere!