update on conditions

Well, Town Hill has more or less melted out.  Aside from the Main Gully, which was skiing phenomenal today.

Meanwhile, Raz has long since shut down the Saloon, and 87% of the locals seem to have flown the coup.  Mud season they say.  Ghost town Cooke City.  Meanwhile, the surrounding mountains are skiing about as good as they get.  (cold, stable powder and more daylight than you need to wear yourself out.)

So earlier this week, after a month of 'fine' warm weather, a few of us figured to try and put together a bigger project.  And where else to look, but the Beartooths.!  A short break from guiding commitments for the editor, and an A-grade crew gathered in town, so we all packed rucks for six days, and set off across Goose Lake and into the West Rosebud.   We had a shuttle lined up over in the Lake Fork (the crux) courtesy of the ever awesome Varney's.  Aim high they say.

The weather ended up turning on us, and we Plan B'd, with an exodus via blizzard.

Followed by some volcanic ski touring in Yellowstone Park.  :)

we sure do like couloirs around here!

there's some good ones out north of town too.  :)

There were many highlights on our tour before we decided to bail (which was great in and of itself), such as:  Catch-a-Fire, the Becky, a hidden ice cave adjacent camp, and exploring the long coveted Patriarch.!  

photo by Josh Varney

Aside from the landscapes we traveled though (which seem to be exponentially inspiring!), it sure was treat to get out in the hills for some some camping and alpine climbing, with such an awesome group of friends.  Big thank you to Josh, Noah, Pat and Kt for being such genuinely good people/ mountain partners.

Varney photo