Too Much Pow

Loop Road Powder Fest

February 26th, 2011

You know it's gonna be a day, when your tracks across Granier Meadows look like this.

My plan was to leave from Bruces and head up to Christina Lake somewhere. With over foot of new snow reported on SNOTEL and probably another foot that fell earlier in the week-- allon top of hard wind pack, ice or suncrust surfaces, I figured I'd stick to low angle, tree shots. The avi danger was probably going to be high. Well, I quickly learned that Christina Lake via the Fiddlers lake trail was gonna be an option. Last week I broke trail all the way in that way in 6 -12 inches of pow... but you could still make out the trail. As soon as I pulled off the loop road and headed into the campground towards the Fiddler's lake trail it was over the hood. I had fun playing in the meadow... but no one had tried to go up the trail-- so I left it alone.

I figured I'd go the long way to Granier Meadows and see if the that trail had been punched in. Conditions were really windy too, making for some very interesting drifting. Trails closed up almost as soon as you opened them. Just the conditions in Granier meadow alone, when I got there, led me to think that I might have to adjust my plans a bit-- maybe Souix Pass or maybe even some shorter shots above Louis Lake. I tried going up the trail, but probably about a mile in, things were just ridiculous. My machine was doing awesome- but it was pushing alot of snow and the belt slipped a little going over a crest of a small hill. After that I realized it probably wouldn't be smart to try to go all the way in. The way the wind was blowing, even if I made it in, I'd have break trail all the way out too. Probably more than the machine or I could handle. I turned around and decided to try some new shots above Louis Lake. I've always been curious about them anyway. Looked like today was the day to try them.

Tracks across the meadow at Fiddlers.

Granier Meadows- was definitley getting turns in. Ha!

The trail to Christina Lake, just out of Granier Meadows.

No way was I going to get away with 10 miles of this.

Crazy! See the trail markers (lookers left).

It's almost always nearly bare ground right here. Not today.

This is as far as I went, this is where I turned around. See how fast the wind filled in my tracks... I figured, no way.

Finally off the machine, skinning up the hill above Louis Lake.

Looking across the way a little peak with some old avi action on it.

The bottom part of one of my first runs.

Good stuff!

I found at least one good huck too!

Click to enlarge, and you can see some of my lines- the were about 500 ft. shots.

Had to drive around avalanche debris on the way out. This was the other area I was thinking about skiing, but chose not to, because it's prone to sliding, and today conditions were prime.

Just a little one- but right next to bigger slopes. This area if it goes big (which it can) coudl shut the road/ trail down. Haven't seen enough snow for this to occur in years.

Almost home, feelin' frisky, I decided to try high marking. Not enough snow here to worry about avis. The skidoo chomped it right up.

A little bit later, I got a little too brave. Looks worse than it was. Didn't even need to get the shovel out.

Great sledding conditions!

President's Day

Gustave Lake Pow

February 21st, 2011

Video TR: "Shad" ow skiing!

Had plans for a long day in the backcountry on President's Day. I had the day off from work, and the latest storm cycle cooperated- nearly a foot of fresh pow and bluebird conditions. Woke up to very cold temps though- below zero. My ol' Subaru's battery finally died, and since my wife picked this day to get her oil changed- she was depending on my car. Which meant an extra 2 hrs of me running around fixing crap. Oh well. Finally made it up the road to Bruces around 10am. I was still the first sled in the parking lot. Snowmachiners are a lazy bunch I guess. Ha! Anyhoo, I soon discovered some pretty killer sledding conditions. Nobody had touched the trail for Fiddlers Lake to Christina lake since the last storm. I got to break trail through a foot of pow all the way in. It was pretty fun! Was hoping to get further that Gustave, but since I was by myself, I figured it would be the safest option. Conditions were ripe for 10 inch plus soft or wind slab avis.

Pretty much what the trail looked like for near five miles. Hard to find in places.

Looking back on my way in, fresh tracks- even before I got off the sled.

After a 45 minute sled ride, I was skinning up the hill.

Headed up.

First look at a pristine powder field. Mouth watering at this point.

Mmm, mmm, good!

My first few turns- best pow I've had for near a month!

Good stuff! Gustave Lake below.

A few runs later (got seven laps/ 4hrs in all total)

Just a little wind effected up top- not bad at all though, and it just got better all the way down.

One of many interesting little hucks that were ripe.

Looking back- click to enlarge- you can see some of my lines.

The end of another fantastic powder day in the Winds!

Life on Skis

Yesterday we headed up to Sioux Pass, before the storm... hoping to get some pow.

S & M Video (Shad and Mandy)

Weeehoo!

Uurrrrch!!

Mandy finds the goods- and shreds it!

Need to practice that whole side stepping thing. Much less work.

Back at the sleds... "Whew!" she survived!

Last weekend XC skiing with Tammy, Rob, Hailey and Hatcher... and Tally and Seamus.

Seamus goes classic!

Trouble.

Whole lotta trouble.

Tally jams out to Pearl Jam on TV. You know you're getting old when your favorite bands start playing on PBS- Austin City Limits.

The kids loved it!

Atlantic Peak Couloir

First Descent? : Atlantic Peak Couloir

Atlantic Canyon, Popo Agie Wilderness Area, Southern Wind River Range

February 12th, 2011

Looking into Atlantic Canyon from Christina Lake

Seems like at least once a year I try a stab at going up Atlantic Canyon. You can see lots of cool terrain in there from the lake. It's a longer ways in there than it looks though. So far all of my attempts have been high traverses. I've never just dropped into the canyon I tried going up. The problem with the high traverses is that you end up going in and out of drainages... and you often come across good looking lines that are too tempting to drop.

Today I tried the lower road. It was nice and clear (super strong, gusty west winds) so I figured a tour would be about as good as anything. I was a few days late for the good pow. I've been eyeing what looked like a couloir that went on the more north side of the canyon for quite a few years now. After only an hour of skinning I was well with in range of it- so I went for it. Wasn't quite sure it was a couliour that went until I got right up to it. Hard to see from the angle of approach I was taking. It turned out to be good though. Nice and wide, not wide enough for big slabs though. The snow was, well... not pow, but also not ice. Nice chalky, smooth, and consistent. Prime schralpin' snow! I decided to go for it.

Video Trip Report

A look at the coulior from one of the Atlantic creek meadows, along the trail driving in.

Wolf Nipple Peak (skied many times in previous years). This was about as far as I'd get on previous tour into Atlantic Canyon. Not today though!


Going through the gap below Wolf Nipple peak... the target comes into view- still hard to see though, from this angle.

Pretty damn clear now though.

Going up!

A third of the way up I took a break and transitioned to boots and ice axe mode.

Time to hike!

Making progress.

The top was getting closer.

A look back from half way up.

Looking down from closer to the top.

Almost there.

Whooohoo! Made it.

Now for the terrifying part.

Going down.

If you click and enlarge- you can make out my nice, wide schralping turns. I kept them nice and wide near the top, testing snow conditions as I went. The snow was actually bomber and really very consistent schralping conditions- no crud, chunks or slabs- and not icey either. I found it easier to ski than the coulior we did last week in Jules Bowl actually.

All done!

Oh yea! Schralpin' coolies in the Winds! Livin' to tell about it!

Next up... maybe- actually I did have time, if I wanted to make it a long day. I figured I couldv'e been at the base of this in an hour or less. Since I was solo, I decided not press my luck though. 3 miles up a canyon, in the wilderness, away from my sled was far enough. I soaked in the view then headed back.

Looking back at Atlantic Peak Couloir from further up the canyon.

I played around on my way out, traversing/ climb high and dropping various lines here and there.

More big lines on the way out... stellar schralping conditions.

It felt good to see Christina Lake agian.

Got some more good turns back down to the sled.

The last couple turns.

Back a the sled. Getting ready for the 20 plus mile ride home (was parked at Bruces in Sinks Canyon).

Looking back. Click to enlarge. My approx route is in red. It was about a 3 mile skin in there, lots of up and down. I left the sled at 9:15am and got the base of the couloir around 11:00am. Was at the top around noon. Made it back to the sled just after 2:30pm. Quite a tour, definitely would have been time to explore some more up there, or do Atlantic peak. Click on the below to see a mapped route.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/28225238

The last look back... motoring off into the sunset.

Ofcourse, the day wouldn't have been complete if I hadn't done something stupid. So... I decided to get my sled stuck. Figured my upper body needed a work out. I actually got it unstuck in about 20 minutes or so... the first time. Less than a minute later- I got it stuck again. This time a guy named Adam came by and helped yank it out. I quit playing around after that... and just pointed down the road- went home.

Back at home, it warmed up. Grillin' weather!

Hard to beat grilled elk steaks after a good tour in the Winds.

Yummy!