3/27/12

Obsidian

A hard, dark, glasslike volcanic rock formed by the rapid solidification of lava 
without crystallization.



I'm out East.  Spending time with my folks.
But I saw this arrowhead on my dresser and it reminded me of a ski tour I did a couple years ago.  
From the Birdhouse, over Daisy Pass, and down to Woodbine (via the Mighty Stillwater!)

I found this arrowhead doing trail work about eight years ago,
within a stones throw of where I saw these goats chillin.
(between Goose and Glacier Creeks)


I think there was even talk of putting a railroad through there.  About 120 years ago.

3/25/12

Many Fish in the Sea

Skied west Glacier with Allen to start.  In mint conditions.



This is the Becky route.

We parted ways and the the winds went gale (survival style).  
Very close to digging an emergency snow hole.

But you would not have known it the next day.


Also skied Mt. Peal for the first time.!  

Other than that, lots of grizzly, goat and moose tracks.
Though my favorite wildlife sighting of the trip was watching a coyote cross Rainbow Lake on a Thin veil of ice. ;)

Yep.


3/22/12

A couple more from Yellowstone Park, today.



3/21/12

keeping the Big Picture in mind

Ahhhhh, the AB!
Trying to keep things in perspective around here.  :)

Today in YNP

(a two hour skin from my front porch)


whitebark-White room.

3/20/12

10,000 feet on the Equinox

It snowed about 18" yesterday.  Then got cold...
Nice long walk today!

3/16/12

Sheep Eater Hunting Strategy

Bighorn Sheep were once so prolific in the greater Yellowstone, that in 1836, trapper Osborne Russell wrote that they encountered “thousands of mountain sheep.. all very fat so that this could be called no other than high living..”


Been reading about the Mountain Shoshone, Tukudika, or Sheep Eaters; those native to the mountains of the greater Yellowstone.  Fascinating folks.  Currently delving into their hunting strategy.  Specifically the way they utilized their dogs- hunting as a pack; and their use of blinds, and ‘catch pens’.  Also find it incredibly cool that would make hunting bows from bighorn curls (they’d soften them by soaking them in geyers ;)

3/15/12

Mt. Hornaday

Classic day of adventure skiing in the Park…

Heaps of wildlife, crazy volcanic spires, fun/ intricate route-finding, a new summit for me; 
pretty good pow skiing too.




3/14/12

Morocco

Major pooling effect out there today..
(manageable?  less so than we like)

Thwarted my morning objective.  
but salvaged the afternoon with a Guinness and this line after lunch.
photo by Zach Hilditch

3/13/12

styrofoam

Back in Cooke.  Things are well.   

Aside from the big W (you'd think we were in Livingston).


Styrofoam on the mid and upper elevation norths!
(read:  primo conditions for steep skiing)

3/12/12

ricochet

photo by Chris Lundy

Spent the weekend in the Sawtooths.  A spring break of sorts.

Got terribly ill.  Slept for 22 of 24 hrs upon arrival.
But conditions were in, so I managed to pull it together and make the most.

Here’s a couple from our north Heyburn to Sickle link-up…







photo by Ben Zavora

3/9/12

Hog roast tonight


I'm out of town though...  So here's one from the archives.  (It's the Bear's Tooth)

3/6/12

storm skiing today


The panda's diet is 99% bamboo.



Point Forecast: Cooke City MT
 45.02°N 109.94°W (Elev. 7833 ft)
Mobile Weather Information | En EspaƱol
Last Update: 3:19 pm MST Mar 6, 2012
Forecast Valid: 6pm MST Mar 6, 2012-6pm MDT Mar 13, 2012
Forecast at a Glance
Tonight
Snow Likely Chance for Measurable Precipitation 70%
Snow
Likely
Lo 3 °F
Wednesday
Mostly Sunny
Mostly
Sunny
Hi 31 °F
Wednesday
Night

Mostly Clear
Mostly
Clear
Lo 6 °F
Thursday
Sunny
Sunny

Hi 36 °F
Thursday
Night

Mostly Clear
Mostly
Clear
Lo 15 °F
Friday
Mostly Sunny
Mostly
Sunny
Hi 45 °F
Friday
Night

Mostly Clear
Mostly
Clear
Lo 19 °F
Saturday
Sunny
Sunny

Hi 41 °F
Saturday
Night

Mostly Clear
Mostly
Clear
Lo 17 °F