Day 2 / Wyoming Backcountry Snowmobile Trip

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The Big Cat was feeling mighty frisky today...Feasting on pure Wyoming Powder!!

It's late I'm going to bed, finished my beer and rest up for more Powder tomorrow...Good Times! Good Night!

Day 1 / Wyoming Backcountry Snowmobile Trip

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A 24 hour day in the life of a backcountry snowmobiler...1010 mile drive overnight, sleep in the truck as we keep on driving. Eat a quick breakfast at daylight. drive the final 90 miles. Drive up the mountain and get dressed at the trailhead. Ride the snowmobiles for 6 hours in powder. Then drive down off the mountain and grab a hamburger for supper...Have a couple of beers before bed. Call it a day, yeah!!

A few pictures of the first day on the sleds.

 Mitch

 Larry

Day 4 Bozeman / Bridger Bowl Snowboard Trip

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After hiking up to the ridge the day before, we took 1 run in the resort and prepared for the hike up to the top of the Ridge.

The Ridge is within the boundaries of Bridger Bowl. The requirements are that you must have an avalanche transceiver on, a shovel and a partner to climb to the top. It is another 600 feet of elevation above the top ski lifts. There are 2 gates to access the ridge and then you are on your own. When one descends from the top there are many challenges. The top of the mountain is full of cliffs, steep chutes and you have to be aware of what is below you so that you don't get trapped. This area received over 4 feet of snow the week before so there was good coverage in the chutes.

Here are a few pictures of our final day at Bridger Bowl. It was a very good day on the snowboards. With the high winds and a bit of new snow overnight, there was good snow on the north facing chutes and in the trees. 

 We hiked to the top and strapped into the boards. I dropped in first and got some good turns, then waited for Weez to snowboard down.

 Weez went past me and hunkered down behind some trees. Then I dropped down the chute.

 Weez dropped into a bowl to finish the snowboard run from the top.

 After a lunch break, it was into the trees we go. The trees on the south end of Bridger are spaced apart and are at a good steepness so that it is a blast to weave through them at speed. With the high winds from the night before, there was a nice layer of fresh snow.

Fun to whip through the trees.

 With the sun setting in the west and the winds kicking up, it was a great visual of the ridge line. The sun was lighting up the blowing snow. It gave the effect of fire and smoke above the mountain.

It was a rewarding trip to Montana. Several hikes up above the lifts toward the Ridge and some challenging steep snowboarding. Bridger Bowl is a resort with many challenges. Steeps, cliffs, trees and much natural terrain.

It is always...Good Times!!

Day 3 Bozeman / Bridger Bowl Snowboarding Trip

Day 2 Snowboarding @ Bridger Bowl, Montana

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Tearing down the mountain at Bridger Bowl.

 Riding the edge of the bowl having fun.

Weez giving me the eye for chasing her down the mountain.

Day 1 of Bozeman, Montana Snowboard / Snowmobile Trip --> Load Em Up...

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Sled in the box with the snowboard rack mounted.

 Looking at the top rack.

2 snowboard carrier rack. Rocket Box filled with 2 snowboards, 2 sets of snowshoes and Black Diamond ski poles. On the far right is the snowmobile ramp to load the snowmobile into the box of the truck.

It was a tight fit for everything up top, now I have it set up for future trips. The rack was put to the test with 1000 miles overnight in a snow storm with 30-40 mph headwinds and speeds up to 85 mph. Set it up right and you eliminate problems on the road.

 8:00 pm, everything loaded as the snow fell and and ready to take-off on a 1000 mile overnight trip to Bozeman, Montana.

 This is a shot of the truck at a wayside rest stop in the middle of North Dakota. Temp was -10 degrees. Caught a 2 hour nap at 5:00 am in the truck and then continued on. Snow and sub-zero temps with 30-40 mph winds made the travel challenging.

 Shortly after daylight in North Dakota with cold temps snow and wind.

 More Snow and wind.

Then the temps started to rise and the roads really started to ice up and became totally snow and ice covered. Shortly after we traveled through North Dakota, the Highway Patrol closed part of I-94. The highways became solid ice and numerous cars in the ditch.

We were able to keep moving and arrived in Bozeman, Montana in the afternoon. Snowboarding tomorrow at Bridger Bowl. Snow conditions should be very good with over 3 feet of new snow last week.