winter is hanging in there... just barely though.

nearly 40 degrees today in Cooke City!  

a few roof-alanches, and some glopping skins.. 

but when when it cools down and sets up, should be prime for some ski mountaineering.

(spent the day shooting time lapses atop Mt. Republic, in 50 mph winds ;)

an open invitation

To celebrate spring, tomorrow evening at the Lair (around 5:30).

Come enjoy a margarita, in a tin cup.  And an ice cold Ranier.

Anyone reading this is more than welcome (you know who you are ;).

  So if in the neighborhood, please stop by.

Also an open invitation to ski tunnel-lines in YNP..!

or just the usual rounds south of town.

the ski touring has been absolutely Incredible around Cooke City lately.

Two feet of fresh snow (bonded very well to the old snow surface).

And hardly a wisp of wind !!! (until today)

Thus, nearly 40 thousand vert of deep powder riding in the last five days.

Super stoked on the experience.

hands down

the deepest day of the year

photo by Pat Cross, of the Big Timber Pioneer

Keeping a thumb on the pulse

Full-on-farm today.

Skied about 7k’, with around 5k’ placed- side by side by side. 

Roughly six inches of settled storm snow, with twice that in favored locations.

Wonderfully manageable right now.

A friend has dubbed this the Rock of Gibraltar

The Rock of Gibraltar was one of the Pillars of Hercules and in ancient times marked the limit to the known world, a myth originally fostered by the Phoenicians..

A unique feature of the Rock is its system of underground passages, known as the Galleries or the Great Siege Tunnels.

wtih Morocco on the left, and Spain on the right.

But seriously though, the snowpack has set up really nicely around Cooke City.  

Thanks to the recent winds, and warm temps.

Not full-on bomber (as in ski anything with snow), but progressing along appropriately.

And with a few inches of graupel just fallen, and a handful more forecasted tonight, things are shaping up well for the weekend. (and March)

There is the old tale of blind philosophers studying an elephant..

One feels the tail and declares an elephant is like a snake.

Another feels the ear and declares the elephant is like a palm frond. 

A third feels the foot and declares the elephant is like a tree. 

What does all this have to do with backcountry skiing and Cooke City?

You decide.