Cooke City Chronicle

2012-02-24T19:47:00.001-07:00

Been out mapping the local/ recent avalanche history...

(and sneaking in a few of these. about 7k today ;)

So following the blizzard, and a meter of new snow,

I've probably observed 25 recent avalanches within 3 miles of town (quite a lot).

Many of them were relatively shallow (1-3' deep), and ran during the storm.

So they are not as obvious to detect. See below.

But many of them were monsters. Like these two observed today (mid elevation westerlies).

The double barrel on the right looks to be about 6' deep...

All running well over a thousand vert.

A neighbor and 40 year Silver Gate resident mentioned it being the biggest cycle on the 'back hill' in her recollection (at least 5 small slab avalanches).

Also might note that the Town Hill's main gully ran full-track. With feeling.

Nearly into some cabins.

Plenty of safe options though.

2012-02-23T19:21:00.001-07:00

just like riding a bike

2012-02-21T18:26:00.000-07:00

Drew Wagner, fresh up from North Carolina. on Town Hill today.

Zen in the Art of Archery

2012-02-20T20:50:00.000-07:00

Just finished reading Zen in the Art of Archery.

(here’s the first page) I’d recommend it.

Also ski toured up Sheep Creek today..

It was funny trying to keep my composure

with a mob of ‘beelers systematically circling me (no kidding)

up the valley with high marks and chain saws.

My hypothesis is that they were simply oblivious to the noise pollution.

And avalanche hazard. (or maybe they were Zen masters)

Park County Environmental Council

2012-02-19T18:58:00.002-07:00

Shadowed a few local gurus today...

Stay on your toes.!

roasting dogs on an eight foot stick

2012-02-18T19:53:00.001-07:00

big party in Cooke this weekend...

(today there were some drag-races, including a mid-day bonfire/ dog roast)

nice and quiet elsewhere though.

Ice Cubes in a Car

2012-02-17T15:31:00.001-07:00

Sensitive soft slabs out there today (from an easterly wind).

but manageable! with a little mitigation- cornice kicking.

Speedy Stitcher

2012-02-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

Just picked up a new sewing awl !

Which reminds me, if anyone ever needs a shuttle, to facilitate a cross country tour/ traverse,

I would be more than happy to help. (often the crux)

Silver Gate to Chico?! (via Monument Pk.)

for all you armchair anglers

2012-02-15T22:56:00.001-07:00

Brewer on the the inaugural cover of a new, local fly-fishing mag.

Check it out. Looks rad. http://mtflyfishmag.com/

krummholz

2012-02-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

caught up with The Good Doctor today...

spoke of 1000 yr. old whitebark pine, krummhotz, and 'passing the time between fishing'!

amazing to watch him climb up and down the mountain,

with young guns, less than half his age.

also interesting to watch how balanced and efficiently he walks.

just don't let him break trail (he has skinny skis ;)

X O X O

2012-02-14T18:01:00.002-07:00

because it is there

2012-02-13T22:06:00.001-07:00

and you never know until you go.

Got out with the 'powder technician' again today...

Getting ready to rig an airy rappel, we noticed a loose, washing-machine boulder,

precariously attached to our gendarme of an anchor.

So down she went.!

Unfortunately it washed out our line. With the weather turning simultaneously turbulent.

Salvaged a fine tour though.

green-house effect

2012-02-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

Why En P

with the upper left track belonging to a goat...

North Absaroka Wilderness

2012-02-11T19:15:00.001-07:00

Trenchtown today.

Powder days around here tend to start with a good round of lawn mowing (snow-blowing and shoveling). We have a big driveway, so it takes about an hour and fifteen.

Here's Rick, of the Hoosiers.

a classic Cooke City scene.

2012-02-10T18:50:00.003-07:00

Bart Henderson and Horn Miller.

(pioneers of the Cooke City region during the 1860's and 70's)

And deep powder technician, Ben Zavora.

(pioneering new projects)

2012-02-09T15:51:00.000-07:00

S, SE facing Sheep Creek about 9,200'.

2012-02-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

snowpits and powder skiing

2012-02-07T18:31:00.001-07:00

self portrait, today in YNP

Somehow this film had eluded me until today.

What does this have to do with Cooke City, backcountry skiing or the Absaroka Beartooth?
Maybe nothing. (but I could give 100 reasons).

And oh yeah, apparently Jay and a buddy sent Granite Peak last week.!
A remarkable idea. Good on ya fellas.
Wonder if they took their skis to the top?

As seen last May.

If any of you rope guns are keen to drag me up the mixed steps in that SW direct (for a ski descent) later this spring, I’d take a few photos…

A fresh perspective.

2012-02-06T18:19:00.000-07:00

Incredibly good to be back in Silver Gate.

What's new?!

Everything. And nothing.

Tour de Hyalite

2012-02-06T09:22:00.001-07:00

Super Bowl party up Hyalite yesterday.

Skied a rendition of the classic Hyalite Pk. to Mount Blackmore project.

Exquisite conditions. (read: stable snow ;)

Got into a few of these.

home stretch.!

Super fun outing. Lots of interesting route finding, with infinite options/ variations.

Highly recommended.

EKG

2012-02-04T17:51:00.001-07:00

As much as I appreciate the central Wasatch (and the AMGA ;)

they are nowhere near as cool as Cooke City, nor Silver Gate.

As Mingus (?) once said, ‘you gotta dig, to dig. ya dig?’

2012-01-30T23:14:00.001-07:00

please do not read this website for the next week.

(the editor is out of town ;)

one step sideways

2012-01-28T21:37:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you have to take one step backwards, in order to take two forward.

photo of my good friend Brad Makoff, taken today by another fantastic friend Todd Glew.

classic Cardiac Ridge

a horse that farts will never tire

2012-01-26T21:38:00.002-07:00

an old Indian proverb

Down here in Salt Lake... trying to regain my sanity (and sense of humor?).

Cooke City to Petropavlovsk

2012-01-23T22:20:00.000-07:00

Just hooked up on a ticket to Kamchatka!

off the grid

2012-01-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

Planning a short hiatus from the Chronicle,

whilst I participate in an AMGA Ski Guide Course down around Salt Lake City.

So if any of you locals are reading this, HOLd Down the Fort.!

And for the rest of you armchair idealists, you can keep current here.

Psyched to have Ben around this winter.

Or you can always consult The Good Doctor, preferably up Republic Creek,

and/or over a wee dram of Single Malt.

Last Call

2012-01-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

storm in a teacup

2012-01-18T17:31:00.002-07:00

Snowed in, here in Silver Gate.

Luckily we have one of the finest ranch hands left of Red Lodge.

2012-01-17T17:20:00.001-07:00

Been watching 50's Westerns. And 90's skate videos.

Big storm rolling in.

Exit Through the Gift Shop

2012-01-16T18:44:00.002-07:00

2012-01-16T17:02:00.000-07:00

Cooke Pk.

2012-01-14T23:25:00.003-07:00

Contrary to common logic,

I decided to head up Cooke Peak in gALE force winds today.

(my first time up there)

It was one of those Muir-up-a-giant-sequoia-in-a-thunderstorm sort of situations.

Just felt drawn.

Got a good look at sou-west Pilot Peak.

Sounds like a decent storm is on the way...

Sunday

Snow
Likely
Hi 23 °F

Sunday
Night

Snow

Lo -1 °F

M.L.King
Day

Snow

Hi 9 °F

Monday
Night

Chance
Snow
Lo 0 °F

Tuesday

Chance
Snow
Hi 12 °F

Tuesday
Night

Snow
Likely
Lo 5 °F

Wednesday

Snow
Likely
Hi 17 °F

Wednesday
Night

Snow
Likely

Free beer!

2012-01-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be in the neighborhood, I’ll be giving a basic 1-hr avalanche awareness presentation tonight at 5pm, at the Community Center. Admission is only 1 Rainier (just joking, it’s a free event).

Sponsored by the Friends of the Gallatin NF Avalanche Center.

gulo gulo

2012-01-12T20:43:00.002-07:00

Recently read a rad piece on the Wolverine.

Turns out, Mt. Wolverine was in today as well (outstanding snow ;)

Figured we’d link up 5 valleys, and about 8000’vert.

(a subtle tribute to you know who)

Propagation Saw Test (PST)

2012-01-11T18:41:00.004-07:00

Stability tests, powder skiing and cold temps...

Good to get a fresh, focused perspective on local snow stability..

Just another day in paradise.

Thai Food

2012-01-10T09:38:00.002-07:00

A Thai food feast, some top-secret projects,

and a couple runs off the moon.

2012-01-08T18:18:00.000-07:00

(this is my disclaimer for the season)

Republic

2012-01-07T18:14:00.000-07:00

Linked Mt. Republic with Republic Peak, for the first time, today.

here's a photo of the ridge separating the two...

Pretty wind effected above treeline (welded hard-slabs).

More concerned about these though..

Mid elevation slab avalanches that have been propagating much wider than we like.

(on the old snow surface. which was shallow, weak and faceted. i presume)

Art Opening

2012-01-06T22:08:00.002-07:00

Back to Silver Gate, after a quick trip to town. (Bozeman felt like Los Angeles).

Happened to catch an art opening, hang out with a bunch of pretty girls, and drink some tasty local brew. (FYI the 406 Scotch Ale rivals Cold Smoke)

The featured artist, Kelsey Dzintars, is the graphic designer for my favorite local newspaper, the Big Sky Weekly. Read it sometime.

Wintering in the country (up the Soda Butte), you really appreciate when you get a chance to soak up some city culture and commerce.

(two good ones in a row ;)

Dusk Patrol

2012-01-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

Stunning sunset this evening...

Reminded me of how much I appreciate nice light.

(well worth skiing back to town in the dark)

2012-01-03T18:30:00.001-07:00

Hayden Survey

2012-01-02T16:40:00.001-07:00

In 1871 the Hayden Geological Survey explored the region of northwestern Wyoming that was to become Yellowstone National Park a year later.

141 years thereafter (today), Karl, Doug, Ben and I investigated a fatal, skier-triggered avalanche in a valley named after Hayden.

2012-01-01T14:14:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year, from the Soda Butte.

Out like a Lion

2011-12-31T17:46:00.002-07:00

Two die in separate avalanches, today, in the mountains around Cooke City...

the Cat was let from the Bag

2011-12-30T15:52:00.000-07:00

Some might say the cat was let out of the bag today...

HIGH hazard

(and not quite manageable, as the lower photo would lead you to believe)

2011-12-29T12:20:00.001-07:00

drum stick

2011-12-27T23:02:00.002-07:00

a fifteen second exposure from the South Fork of the Shoshone today

(a route known as The Drumstick)

It's wild abseiling big, frozen waterfalls at night.

(which is standard operating procedure for folks into that sort of thing)

all is well on the Beartooth front

2011-12-26T11:22:00.001-07:00

especially when you can make synchronized eights with RD

in golden sunshine, on fresh 'roy

Deep and Dirty

2011-12-24T17:17:00.001-07:00

Not quite Cooke City... but a few of you might find it interesting.

(watch here for higher resolution)

roun the horn

2011-12-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

En route to Red Lodge for the week. Circumnavigating the Absaroka Beartooth.

Super psyched to have gotten the scoop on the wolves I've been tracking around town lately (followed one up Woody Creek yesterday).

Turns out they are the Lamar Pack (9 deep), probably pushed out of their namesake valley by the Molly Pack, which has 18 canines in the clan.

Photo from this morning, five minutes from Silver Gate.

Fantastic to watch them feast on an elk, and frolic in the Soda Butte steam (sub zero temps ;)

2011-12-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

tracking on the Solstice

2011-12-21T22:51:00.001-07:00

trust your intuition

2011-12-20T17:47:00.000-07:00

Took two pitons, a hammer, two dead men, a harness, a 40m rope, and a bunch of tat up the hill today.

Turned out it didn't seem safe to 'approach' my project.

It's often wise to listen to you instinct.

(I've never once regretted backing off a slope I wasn't comfortable traveling on.

But definitely regret a few I feel I've gotten away wtih.)

So if you find yourself in the mountains around Cooke City (or really anywhere for that matter)

study snow!

Here are two of my favorite books on the subject.

Doug and Karl (the consummate local snow gurus) recently revised and updated Snow Sense. The go to.

And zen master Bruce's book.

Worth re-reading ever year. And re-visiting often.

A nice educational complement to lots of time in the field.

10cm back

2011-12-19T18:37:00.000-07:00

Just got some new powder skis!

Accidentally skied them off Sunset Pk. straight away.

(in a crazy Trent Reznor headspace. kung fu style)

181 Walk Free's.

10cm back from true center.

If you haven't yet, please check out Surface Skis, of Salt Lake.

Very stoked to be collaborating with them. bright future.

(much more on this later).

Anders Beer Wilse

2011-12-18T08:44:00.003-07:00

Skied Mt. Wilse yesterday.

Fascinating Norwegian fellow.

How would you like to have 'Beer' as a middle name?!

He was one of the first to discover this Grasshopper Glacier.

And is reported to have described the magnitude of 'hoppers frozen in the ice to

"look like the skin of an elephant".

Would love to see more of his large format photographs,

of the Beartooths, from the early 1900's..!

(this one is not Wilse, but east Sheep. just liked it, so I thought I'd throw it in there)

56k

2011-12-15T20:18:00.000-07:00

Just landed a 56k dial-up modem for our place.!

(satellite service being the only other option here)

It's baller. We're stoked.

Northern Gallatin ski traverse

2011-12-14T11:23:00.001-07:00

Linked the P. Valley with Hyalite yesterday...

Terrific tour.

Eric Knoff, crushing it.

One of the most challenging parts was acquiring access to public land.

A huge thanks goes out to Dale at Timber Trails. And the Story family, for letting us ski through their spread. (we went up Fridley Cr.)

The wildlife was an undoubted highlight.

Things stared out when I saw a bighorn ram swim the ‘Stone. and never let up..

A slough of wolf tracks at the put in, a plethora of prints the WHole way up Hyalite Pk...

eventually wrapping up the trip with a good look at a LION!

(no shit, 50 feet from a cougar)

Doctor Jones was especially stoked on that last part.

one bite at a time

2011-12-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

2011-12-11T09:38:00.001-07:00

went for a nIce walk around Goose Lake yesterday.

deep space up there.

one of three zones we sessioned

and near another.

One Frame per Second

2011-12-09T15:33:00.001-07:00

Sent about 40 feet of cumulative air today...

(nice to have the intervalometer catch one once in awhile)

And this line in YNP, from yesterday...

Though it's not obvious in this image, there is a barrel in there somewhere!

(on the to-do list)

New Den Site

2011-12-08T19:31:00.000-07:00

Skied off Mt. Wolverine today.

Cut some wolverine tracks too!

Also, just moved down to Silver Gate! (2 ½ miles from Cooke)

So yeah, I’ll probably be skiing in the Park fairly often.

And you might see me on the Bannock a time or two…

Friendly folk down here.

Much more on this later..

Roundabout mid-day

2011-12-06T20:08:00.000-07:00

took a roundabout route today.

sensitive wind slabs give or take the ridgelines

2011-12-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

Wolves on the Bannock

2011-12-04T19:06:00.000-07:00

Skied down to Silver Gate this afternoon. Jay lent me his shop copy of Winter Dance, and 15 minutes later I was skiing back up the Bannock, quickly to realize I had been backtracked by a wolf.! (during those 15 minutes) Needless to say, my senses were fairly sharp on the return. A nice adrenaline rush even.

One of the many reasons why I choose to winter around these parts; the WILDlife.

Wonder why they are up so high? (Aside from the Bannock being THE corridor) A break from battling rival packs down in the Lamar? Perhaps hunting the cow moose I saw over by the Dude’s place? Would be interesting to hear Rick and his cohorts’ thoughts on the matter…

SNOTEL

2011-12-03T21:12:00.001-07:00

Hung out at Bbowl today, helping out with a GNFAC/ Friends/ ASMSU Avalanche Field Session...

another good turn out.

Got to talking with Lucas, a hydrologist for the NRCS, about the value of our SNOTEL program (and how many might not be aware of it's usefulness).

So, if you think water and climate are cool, keep tabs.

Kind of Blue

2011-12-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

About 4 inches of fresh snow in town, maybe 8 up high.

Nice day to be out.

Fewer natural slab avalanches than I anticipated. East Henderson shed a couple hard slabs (yesterday?). And this avalanche on Scotch Bonnet is very similar in aspect and elevation to the recent Crown Butte slide. Both SE-erly, and both avalanching PRior to yesterday’s snowfall.

Thomas Moran

2011-11-30T15:27:00.001-07:00

This image of Rainy Lake reminds me of a painter’s palette.

I suppose it gets its name from the geothermal activity below the lake's surface, which gives the impression of rain drops falling from the sky.

Saw an ermine! And skied over to Tower Falls today.

snowing!

Returning to Town!

2011-11-27T17:55:00.000-07:00

Looking back towards town, today.

And on into Yellowstone NP.

Fantanstic be back.

First thing I found was this elk leg, on my doorstep..

Strange coincidence being that mere minutes earlier someone had fractured their femur a couple miles north of town (hope they are all right).

Second thing I found was this fresh slab avalanche, north of Sunset Peak.

Actually it wasn’t anywhere near the second thing.. :)

Thank You

2011-05-10T22:59:00.001-06:00

Just wanted to thank you all for reading the Cooke City Chronicle this winter. (well over 10,000 views!) I've begun my seasonal migration over to the east side of the Beartooths... Read: green grass, flip flops, pretty girls.. giant couloirs in the East Bud. You get the picture.

So don't plan on any new media here until next winter.

Enjoy the spring monsoon! (skied two feet of fresh today at RLM ;)

And drop me a line if anyone is keen to collaborate.

murder of the impossible

2011-05-07T19:53:00.001-06:00

Not as Messner intended, but as an analogy for wrapping your mind around what you first find inconceivable.

photo of the Patriarch in March of 2007.

Perhaps THE ski mountaineering route in the Beartooths. ? (on par with the Hossack-MacGowan, for style, as far as I’m concerned).

I ponder this one often. (and had a laser eye on it two days ago ;) Looks reasonable in this photo too! I assure you though, it's all that and then some.

I’m not suggesting anyone rush out and battle dragons,

but when the time is right it’s reassuring to know that they are out there.

2011-05-07T09:12:00.001-06:00

Guess what? It's currently raining! cats and dogs in Cooke City (melting morale). I think I will probably go skiing anyway though. Stubborn as a mule.

Transitions are on the way though... as I got a good sample yesterday on 'Stone. An hour and a half of riverside trail running! a soak in the hot spring, and a fishing clinic from the good doctor...

cinco de Mayo

2011-05-05T22:06:00.019-06:00

Ahhh, the Beartooths...

a marvelous ski route on south Villard

followed by margaritas and carne asada elk tacos!

Life is good.

north Villard. West Rosebud

and mighty Mount Republic. with the Tetons looming beyond left

Great to grasp the conditions (energy!) of the Main Divide.

Prioritize projects. Ponder the potential...

the kit

2011-05-03T07:14:00.000-06:00

headed into The Range today.!

for a three day mission (primarily reconnaissance).

and thought I might share a quick run down of my kit:

BD Firstlight tent, mittens/ liners, Voile Insanes, Vertical ST’s, TLT 5 Mtn boots (stock liners ;( no tongues, two Whippets, aluminum/ steel Camp ‘pons, 57 cm Grivel Air Tech Race adze (preferred for this sort of thing over my BD Venom set of the same size), brand new BD Mission 75 ruck (trimmed ;), a Jetboil, first aid kit, Ridgerest pad, Western Mountaineering Kodiac bag, spare pair of socks, Micro Puff jacket, cheap rain shell, Minuteman trousers, silkweight bottoms, a t-shirt, a long sleeve, R1 Hoddy (live in these things), googles, knit cap, wool Buff, ball cap, sunnies, 1 standard Nalgene, 1 foldable 3 liter Nalgene, 1 Voile shovel blade (no handle, paired with the Grivel), one Louis L'Amour, a GH1 and enough food and fuel to keep me sane.

No down booties, Scotch whiskey, nor skinny skins (though long debated).

Thus, don’t expect any posts until the end of the week… Cheers!

textbook

2011-05-02T17:09:00.000-06:00

Barronette Peak

2011-05-01T18:28:00.001-06:00

Skied off the top of spectacular Barronette Peak today.

Lots of wildlife (foxes, wolves!, goats...)

One of those incredibly rich YNP outings, to be long remembered.

Fascinating history as well.

powder and.. patience

2011-04-30T07:52:00.001-06:00

2011-04-29T14:16:00.001-06:00

Contemplating the proverbial question of 'when are things in?', I rallied back up Mt. Republic with a second rope, planning to have a look. (read: wait at the door until let in)

Ascending the south ridge I triggered this slide from about 200 meters away. (a long ways)

Crown in the 1-4' range.

It didn't run far, but it was very exciting to watch Pop,

and rapidly pick up speed (running about 3-400' vert).

Thus, a tip of the cap, and something to look forward to.

And. There is a grizzly bear on the Bannock (Silver Gate). in case you haven't heard.

and a moose this morning up Irma, pictured here.

2011-04-28T15:47:00.000-06:00

took the 6 milli up the local 'cano today...

40 meters turned out to be well short.

probably for the better though. (the hills aren't going anywhere soon ;) as sustained 30-40 mph winds were moving mass amounts of snow (the high-east snowfield shed during the 45 minutes I was up there).

2011-04-27T15:51:00.000-06:00

Mary D. Ann

(noted about a half dozen of these today)

Old Man Ray

2011-04-26T19:52:00.002-06:00

8 to 10 in town overnight...

so I set an escalator up Åsa's Meadow's

for a couple laps into the cirque and through Ray's Rock

(photo from a while back. much snowier right now)

the apron was chest deep today.

with sluff manny the name of the game above.

the new snow skied FAST (slash city, giant face shots ;)

2011-04-25T22:03:00.000-06:00

What's new in Cooke City?

Well, the bears are definitely out. ANd, it's still snowing..

And on a side note, if you ever come across this '06 Cab Sauv, it's well worth your 20 bucks.

An incredibly good bottle of grapes.

Easter in the Spanish Peaks

2011-04-24T18:38:00.001-06:00

Bridger Bowl

2011-04-22T16:13:00.000-06:00

Had all kinds of crazy link ups and classic peaks planned this week...

but alas, they'll just have to take a back seat to more mellow powder skiing.

Gotta love Mother Nature!

Sean Jones, enjoying another 16" of fresh,

amid a fun Bridger Bowl circuit this morning.

Chico

2011-04-21T19:27:00.001-06:00

Been soaking up the good vibes around Paradise Valley lately ;)

skied from about 10,000 feet on Emigrant Pk. today... marvelous experience, but a mixed bag of snow conditions: wonderful deep powder, knife/ zipper crust, corn, and about everything in between.

Also noted a gargantuan cornice (50'+ depth) perched atop the planned SE couloir, just before thick, wet quarters began falling from the sky at a rate of about 2" an hour..

REally look forward to returning.

Probably in early June (for perfect corn. and packrafting/ fishing of the 'Stone).

north Barronette Pk. from a moonlit ski in Pebble Creek yesterday.

2011-04-20T14:14:00.000-06:00

a few turns off the Shoulder...

and the long calculated Cutoff!

interstellar conditions right now

2011-04-19T19:54:00.001-06:00

new routes anyone?!

2011-04-18T20:18:00.000-06:00

"In any scholarly work about skiing in the Cooke City area, such as this, it would be nothing short of immoral not to extoll the virtues of the Beartooths. Any ski trip there can't be considered anything less than a pilgrimage."

-an excerpt from Larry Fahlberg's Nine Months of Winter

2011-04-18T07:05:00.000-06:00

new routes in good style

2011-04-16T16:44:00.000-06:00

appreciating the excitement of the unfamiliar..!

2011-04-16T10:31:00.002-06:00

Moose. 4 laps in on Woody Ridge.

Been making the rounds. As usual. Though avoiding the Corn Fest crowds (and antics).

Great skiing (as always), but very volatile. Best to keep things casual right now (IMHO).

Unless you are über hungry and meticulously calculated.

ski sequence

2011-04-13T17:42:00.000-06:00

2011-04-12T23:08:00.000-06:00

drinking mimosas, in Sheep Creek, with the ski club

community service

2011-04-12T09:39:00.000-06:00

round two. trail grooming up Republic Creek

Was planning a piece on the subtleties of altruism...

but my old man sent me this Gazette link yesterday,

reminding me of a few local land management issues.

The one highlighted, pertains to a million dollar facility f#@k up.

the Gardiner RD Chalet.
straight out of the Yellowstone Club.

Now, I've spent a fair bit of time around cornices and seracs and such, but walking under this one (to access the front door) was down right scary.

I'll spare you readers a long rant about the flaws I find with local FS stewardship

(and the bureaucracy at large),

and just encourage conscious awareness, and small steps in the right direction.

2011-04-10T19:09:00.001-06:00

ski mountaineering today in Yellowstone National Park

2011-04-09T21:10:00.001-06:00

bighorn sheep

pine martin

2011-04-08T18:46:00.000-06:00

Hoosier's ablaze

2011-04-07T19:08:00.001-06:00

Around 8 o'clock this morning, a massive explosion rocked Cooke City.

I thought it was the Birdhouse serac (Suzy thought it was an earthquake),

but it turned out to be the Hoosier's propane tank.

Twenty minutes later and halfway up Town Hill, I looked back to see 'er ablaze.

Fortunately, the friendly proprietors were all right,

but tragically their place burned to the ground...

a window of opportunity

2011-04-06T19:27:00.000-06:00

G. Carl, on dawn patrol

Another classic day in Cooke City.

waist deep Town Hill laps with Hawaiian Brian...

though stability is still touchy.

And look who I found in the Birdhouse!

Town Hill-deep

2011-04-05T20:05:00.000-06:00

paddled the canoe up Woody Ridge again today.

silly deep trail breaking. should have kept it closer to town.

storm totals are around 18" thus far. (with what I'd call a considerable avalanche hazard)

and more on the way...

Tonight

Snow

Lo 18 °F

Wednesday

Snow
Likely
Hi 34 °F

Wednesday
Night

Snow

Lo 20 °F

Thursday

Snow

Hi 28 °F

Thursday
Night

Snow

Lo 16 °F

Friday

Snow

Hi 29 °F

still snowing! heaps

2011-04-05T07:14:00.000-06:00

opened the door to another foot of fresh this morning!

awesome to be back in town,

especially with a renewed perspective on the big picture.

(settling comfortably into ‘project mode’ ;)

Love spring around these parts.