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.