Out of Bounds

Opening Day at JHMR

Greenriver Bowl, Twin Pines and Pinedale Canyon

November 27th, 2010

Matt Lloyd

November Pow Flick

I didn't really intend on skiing in the Tetons this weekend. I sent out an email for anyone interested in getting out Saturday. No one answered except for Matt, who said he intended to hit the resort opening day. The forecast looked to be promising. For the first time since 1966, the resort was going to have all of it's lifts and runs open. The snowpack was already exceeding records... nothing like it since 1974. If there was ever a day to get wound up about hitting the resort on opening day, I figured this was it. I called up Matt, who moved over to the Tetons this summer, and told him that I'd meet him up there Saturday- if he could stand it. Promised I'd try not to slow him down too much. Figured it'd be better than hitting the backcountry by myself. Turned out to be well worth the trip. Thanks Matt!

Rippin' the Teton pow. You know it's good when I get out my goggles.




Matt drops in.

Weehoo!

Charge!

Poofff!

Good stuff!

Launching!

Matt scopes out a bigger huck from the top. Refer to the video to see how it went.

Conditions were actually very good for hucking little powder pillows, ledges, bumps and boulders. We hit as many as we could, and stuck most of them... or Matt did. I actually did too. My technique isn't as pretty though. Looks like I had ski lessons from Gumby or something. Ha! No matter what it looks like though, I get er' done... and have a heck of a lot of fun doing it.

Gumby launches!

Airborne!

... And we have lift off!

What a day! The three hour drive was worth it. Unbelievable conditions for November. In some respects, better than two years ago in March when I skiied some of the same areas with Matt. It was really good to be skiing with Matt again too. Ridin' pow and not avalanches this time. I'll miss him this season now that he's moved to Tetons. Figure it'll give me some motivation to visit that country a bit more I guess.

Cold Powder

Two Ocean Deep, Cold Pow

Togwotee Pass Area

November 23rd, 2010

Looking back towards Sublette Mt. on my way up Two Ocean.

Had Wednesday off. Mandy had to work, the kids were in daycare. Time to clobber the pow. There was plenty of it two. It snowed more Mon, and Tues since I skiied last. SNOTEL was showing almost a foot of new snow. No lie either- three was at least that. I had to break trail in it. It was also cold as hell. Never got much above 10 below zero. In the wind in the open areas it was probably 40 below.

Took me over an hour to get up top. I was able to find the same route I used Sunday, but it was buried. Cold as hell up there! Pretty though. I was the only on the mountain all day.

Mmm. Yummy! Left it alone though- by myself... didn't even want to chance it. Stuck to the trees.

This shot (click to enlarge) was tracked up pretty good last weekend. All filled in again today though.

Nearly too deep! Had to break out my goggles- every turn was a face shot. And it was cold arse snow too. Whewy it was cold- I could only must four runs. Glad I cut it off at that too, because when I got back to my car it barely started... an hour longer, and I'd have been screwed!

Here's a link/ button to a map site I use. This is a map of the Two Ocean and the route I use to climb it.

A short video summary of the day.

November Pow Pow

Classic Two Ocean Pow Pow

Two Ocean Mountain, Togwotee Pass

November 20th and 21st, 2010

The 2010-11 powder season starts now.

Click for pow!

Tara, back from CA, makes ready.

Tara leads the way.

Darran and Jeff on the up and up.

Jeff Stansbury takes his first split ride!

Tara, locked and loaded- ready to ride.

Surfs up! Wyo style!!

Free rangin'!

Organic snow, it's whats for lunch!

Yummy!

Darran Wells tears it up. First turns since the Silas Canyon Avi!

He's back!

Day two on Two Ocean.

This time it was just me flyin' solo. Thought I'd better get out the skis today.

Got up a little higher on the hill today.

Going up! A few more inches of powder since the day before.

First turns!

Good stuff- even a little pillow huck!

Great snow!

So good, I did it twice!

A nice shot through the trees.

A classic, steep run toward the bottom. All good too- no bones!

All in all it was a fabulous two days on the mountain. Great snow both days. Not bad for November at all. Saturday we got three laps in before folks had to head out. Sunday I managed five laps, and still made it home for dinner. Can't wait for more. Tis the season!