Sunday in the Spanish Peaks

Caught the bus down to Big Sky on Sunday, 

for a rendezvous with Brian and Leah (two cats of the highest quality).  

They were forecasting lots of snow and wind.. 

but, low and behold, it turned out to be a really nice day.

Brian and Gallatin Pk.

amid the 76,000 acre Spanish Peaks Unit of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness.

Le Mans start

over to big-city Bozeman, to teach a basic avy course today...

and they're off.   like a prom dress

Skin to Win

(ski mountaineering race this morning a Bridger Bowl)

highlights thus far include:  skiing the classic 'Hourglass' off the Ridge, a priceless visit to the hardware store (where a hacksaw project manifested into a kung-fu lesson), and marveling at this brilliant bison texture...

Drop it While it's Hot

tracks from two days ago

eP ic pow skiing conditions around Cooke City right now.

just about as good as it gets (for big lines in January).

get it while you can.

touring in The 'mar

with the old wise man

 (preeminent, Greater Yellowstone ecologist, Jesse Logan)

Too much of a good thing?

With Cooke City receiving another 7-8" last night, I was thinking so...

But low and behold, today, the bluebird made an über appreciated, all-day appearance.

It was glorious.  

Almost too good to be true.

Not that I went far (Town Hill ;), but a poignant reminder to be stay on call, with all systems dialed..

in the event of another such stunning day.

farming Town Hill

snow, snow and more snow 

(and live bluegrass)

here in Cooke City

Paying Homage

skied up to pay homage to Abiathar this morning...
(one of the region's finest)

as it dawned clear and cold

but by the time I got up there, it was snowing and blowing like a blizzard...

Nice to have a (brief) look, and meditate on such a mountain.

big day today

Our three foot + snowstorm finished with 6-8" of dreamy-light density snow and calm winds.

So today I skied for 11 hours (!), and about 12 thousand vert.

One local ski aficionado called it the best snow she's ever skied...

(with only a couple rogue, deep-slab avalanches...)