Big Mountain

Big Mountain
Christina Lake Area, Shoshone NF, Southern Wind River Range
March 6th, 2010

Documentary

Big Mountain

After a warm, wet, 6 inch dump the day before in Lander, figured conditions would perfect for powder on Big Mountain. We headed up to Christina Lake with Big Mountain on the mind. Conditions seemed perfect the closer we got. Six inches or more of fresh powder, no wind, and warm conditions- but not too warm. I bet I've climbed, summited, and skied this mountain ten times or more over the last five years. Chuck and Karla have made it up there a few times with me. I've clobbered with a couple of other folks too. I don't know anyone though who has skied powder from the summit of Big Mountain without me. Hard to say for sure, but I think I can claim many first descents (split board and skis) on this hill. Good to get up on it again... in powder conditions at that!

Karla reaches the pass that opens into the bowl beneath Big Mountain- kind of a half way point on the climb in (we park the machines down near the lake).

Shad on the pass, with Big Mountain in the background.

Chuck breaks trail, headed towards Big Mt.

Look back at Karla and our skin track.

Approaching the last pitch.

Chuck and Karla climb up the boot pack to the summit.

Chuck on the summit of Big Mt!

Karla makes it!

Getting ready for the descent.

Lounging in the sun on a 12,000 ft. peak, I issued my opinion on the situation.

Looking back on our lines from the top.

The same lines from another perspective.

At the bottom, getting ready to head up for some more.

Heading back up into the clouds.

Reaching the launch pad for our third run of the day.

Looking back on the last half (really) of our run. All runs kind of converge onto this one.

Chuck begins the trek back, climbing back up out of the bowl.

One last look back. After we started droppin lines, clouds came in- making it hard to see them.
If you click and zoom in, you can see some of them.

Click and zoom to scope out our tracks and some long lines.

Routes are approximate. Chuck's altimeter registered 6,200 vertical feet by the time we were done. That's a day! A great day!

The end of a perfect day! Seamus greets me at the door.