Wyoming > 09

Wyoming > January 09

I'll have a story and more pictures up later. It was a great trip with much powder. Found a couple mountains for later snowboarding trips. Have a good week-end... later.

Wyoming This Week: Backcountry Snowmobiling

Leaving tonight at 11:30PM, making the drive overnight. 8 of us. Destination Wyoming. Major storm this week-end, the National weather Service is saying up to 24" by Monday morning.

Should be another awesome powderfest. This trip will be on the snowmobiles, although I'm bringing the snowboard, ya never know. Pictures and story when I can. Have a great week.

January 9 - 12, 2009: Northern Colorado Sled Adventure

This was a backcountry sled trip in northern Colorado that we experienced some awesome snow conditions. The group included 6 other riders and myself. This was my first adventure with this group, a very seasoned group that enjoys the challenges of exploring new terrain. This group makes its own trails. They ride up out of West Yellowstone on most of their trips. This was new territory for them.

I rode and explored this area back in December 08' on my first trip of the season. The game plan of this adventure was to go to the best snow out west. The Snowies in Wyoming was the original destination, but as I tracked the storms and conditions during the week, it seemed as though the biggest snow was going to be south or north of Snowy Mt. Range, in Wyoming. On the drive out we decided, so Colorado it was.

It did not disappoint, as a storm dropped 20 inches the 2 days before we arrived, and it snowed the second day and dumped overnight on Sunday with another 14-18 inches. It was that powdery light snow that made for some incredible conditions. Each day we explored a different area of the mountains. We had some great lunch fires roasting sausage and hot dogs. We all nicked a few trees boonedocking. Some harder then others. Our goal was accomplished, we found awesome powder snow, great riding in the trees and everyone made it back safe.

Powder!

Taking a break deep in the trees.

A lunch fire. This was deep in a ravine that we dropped into. The challenge was the climb out along a steep ridge through the trees after lunch. It was a great 1st day.

The 2nd day brought more snow. We spent this day in some steep terrain in very deep snow. We all worked our way up which included guys getting stuck, digging out, climbing higher. We were able to climb to an opening in the trees on a mountain-side with a great view of the valley. Several of the group continued on up traversing back and forth through the trees attempting to gain the top of the mountain. We were in deep forest, so it was no easy task. One of our group did make it up to the top, to the rocks. This day my front bumper did meet a tree on one climb through the trees. On the throttle uphill and I zigged instead of zagged and boom, broke the bumper but nothing else. I think most of us nicked a tree or two this day.

Lunch fire the 2nd day.

This looked bad, but all turned out OK. A frozen stuck throttle and sled meets tree without rider, knocks snow out of tree.

Da Moose!

Da trail opener! This was our path in to the trailhead on day 3, we followed him in. We had all the powder to ourselves this morning.

Da rig! Seven men and seven sleds

Cresting a mountain. It was wind blown and we were hitting rocks in the shallow snow.

Back in the powder on the south side of the mountain. We were in awesome untracked powder the rest of the day. Many miles from the truck.

So deep it took two sleds to pull one out of the powder.

Yours Truly, enjoying another adventure in the mountains... GOOD TIMES!!

RIDE HARD

Just Got Back From Colorado

Five day trip with the sleds. Up in northern, Colorado. I'll get some pics and story soon.

Colorado, 10th Mountain Division Hut Trip: Dec. 2008: 3 Day Snowshoe, Snowboard Backcountry Adventure @ 11,000 Ft.

This was an adventure that took place in the mountains south of Eagle, Colorado. There were 8 of us involved, the Minnesota 4 and the Colorado 4. Six were on skis and Weez and I were on snowshoes with our snowboards on our packs. We were keeping our eyes on the avalanche reports and weather. A man and woman had died in avalanches the Sunday before, one in Utah and one in Colorado. So we had some good discussions about the risk factor and terrain we would encounter. We dug snow pits to check for snow stability while on the mountain.

Check out avalanche info, check out the avalanche link on my page, it will give you all the latest info in North America. Check out USA weather at, the National Weather Map link on my page.

This segment was to last 3 days with a hike / ski up on Friday. The route we traveled was 4.5 miles and it gained about 2100 feet in elevation to reach the hut which sat at over 11,000 ft. Our group broke trail through fresh snow for most of the distance, we had some strong skiers up front and made the climb in 6 hours. Saturday was the day to snowboard some slopes and hike back up. We did 3 descents and hikes. Sunday was the snowshoe / ski out to the trailhead, pack the cars and head for home.

The Minnesota 4, Weez, Steve, Jay and I planned to do the whole drive back to Minnesota overnight. Sunday afternoon to Monday morning meant constant travel, we had to travel about 1070 miles. We arrived back in Minnesota by 7:30 AM Monday to -13 F temps and much fresh snow.

A bit of freeze dry food for the trip up to the hut. Never used it before, it turned out OK. But after snowshoeing 5 1/2 hours on Friday to arrive at the hut, any hot filling meal would taste good. I would use freeze dry food again, it is so easy to fix, open pouch, pour boiling water in, let sit 9 minutes. Serve. Eat.

Friday morning, gearing up at the trailhead. Ya gatta pack everything you need for the next 3 days in the backcountry. Food, extra clothes, first aid supplies, fire kits, sleeping bag, water filters, headlamps and odds and ends.

These were the views we were greeted to as we entered the deeper forest. The fresh snow and cold temps made for an enchanted forest.

A rest to hydrate, snack and readjust the packs.

Looking under the deck of the hut.

Inside the hut, still a little chilly when we first arrived. We had to heat the cabin with a wood burning stove. With temps in the single digits and below 0 F all week-end, the fire was always burning. The stove is also where we melted snow for drinking water, in a large pot.

Sometimes ya just use body heat. Brad, Krista and Brian.

The view of the outhouse in the dark at -5 F. Once back in the cabin it was time to stoke the fire.

Saturday morning looking out the front window after some freshies during the night.

Traversing a slope so we aren't so exposed to unstable snow.

In the woods hiking back up.

Eric, Steve and Brad. Preparing for a skin up the mountain for another powder run.

Jay.

We both used the Atlas Backcountry Snowshoe. They worked great, they have a heel lift that helps with climbing and there is more crampon surface than a typical snowshoe. I tend to use a shorter snowshoe with more climbing and descending.

The wind at the top of the exposed mountain was roaring and with the temp around zero it was raw. There is something wild about the mountain winds that is captivating.

We ducked behind some trees to make the transition from snowshoes to board. It is all worth it for the ride down. I'm riding a Burton 166 Malolo and Weez is riding her Burton 156 Fish, both excellent powder boards.

Weez ripping it up.

Brad diving into the trees.

Brad and Eric after a run, getting ready to gear up for the skin back up. We took this last run on Saturday at dusk so we mounted the helmet lights to prepare for the hike in the dark.

Deep

Using all the daylight and returning in the dark is a great feeling. Add the snowfall, it's the best. Last week on the sled, this week on the snowshoes, this is living!!

A couple views Sunday morning before the hike out. Ya hate to leave. The snow was surreal this trip.

We had 2 slopes collapase on the snowshoe hike back to the traihead, a person has to be aware always. They were both on low angle slopes, so no slides, but it takes your breath away.

It was a great adventure, everybody in our group got off the mountain safe, we all pushed our limits and found powder. GOOD TIMES!! We had a great group.