Johnson Family Adventures: April 2013

This past weekend, happenstance brought two of my best buddies to town for a visit: Ty Gittins and Mike McClure. Both have spent many years in Bozeman getting degrees while honing their skiing and climbing technique but have relocated for career opportunities. A common tale in this town since jobs are limited and competition is high.

The NOAA point forecast for the Crazies at elevation was suggesting wind with highs in the 70s, not the most inspiring conditions and given our recent winter bursts I was hoping for some pow. Albeit, I was stoked to get in the high country with great friends.

The road approach

We arrived at the campground just before 9 am, an alpine start by the workingman's standards. Important decisions were made regarding footwear for the initial approach that was discontinuous snow cover between longer sections of dry trail. All three of us elected to hike in our touring boots with skis on packs.

After a short mile and a half and some discussion as to what aspect will favor good skiing, we ascended 700' of a snow filled coulair on the lower north aspect of Big T Peak. A strange transitional snowpack exhibiting a low density upper 1 - 2 feet capping denser snow below had me craving more experience in this type of condition as my nerves were being tested on the steepening slopes. Upon climbing about 700', an ice crust was encountered, almost certainly making the skiing gawdawful. We all agreed to descend and focus our efforts on the sunny side of the canyon with hopes that the consistent strong winds would keep rapid melting at bay.

Our line just left off the ridge center image

After another mile and a half of flatlanded skinning we reached the toe of the couloir we had targeted from the top of the previous run. We did some planning for the ascent route, a mixture of skinning and bootpacking. The couloir was about 100' wide and ran about 2000' to the north ridge defining the canyon. Ty and I elected to start bootpacking up the couloir proper, as this provides a means of assessing the conditions. Conversely, Mike chose to climb the boulder/scree field adjacent to the couloir.

Ty slogging 2000' vert

Swapping trail breaking duty, Ty and I gazed at Mike crawling up the scree and cursed him to come help us break trail to no avail. Regardless, Ty and I reached a high point about 300' shy of the ridge and Ty was ready to shred probably due to the beginning of an ice crust forming from the decreasing temps at elevation. Our curiosity had Mike and I pressing onward to the ridge to inspect the viewshed. The beautiful view was difficult to enjoy while I experienced the most powerful ridgeline winds ever. My clothes were inflated, micro sized ice pellets were blasting my exposed skin, and the loose ridgeline rocks were making me nervous as I envisioned myself being blown off the ridge. Time to shred!

To our surprise, the crust up top broke easily and revealed easily pushable corn snow beneath. As I reached Ty's starting elevation (he was long gone to the bottom) the conditions were improving. It felt like effortless, bottomless winter powder! I can't believe corn skiing can be this good. We all held fast continuous lines for the entire 2000', what an amazing run!!!

View up Big T canyon

At the bottom we all high fived and decided it was worth another lap. Another hour (+?) of slogging brought us to the top of a spur tributary couloir we had left untracked. I offered to go first and stop partway to take some photos.

Ty enjoying the view of Granite Peak.

Mike slicing some great Spring corn.

After another glorious corn run, with conditions warmer than our first run, we noticed pinwheel formation and some larger masses of snow moving downslope so decided it was time to receed from the sun.

We skied most of the way down trail to the car, with the exception of about a half a mile walk. Tired, we cracked a few High Life's and basked in the trailhead parking lot to the last rays of sunshine with sunburnt faces typical of Spring skiing!

Mike perfecting his dynamic kick turn technique.

Great trip, thanks boys!

Here's some photos of corn festival this past weekend. I rolled in late Friday night to meet the boys from billings in secret city. Dugan (my high school buddy), Swainer, and Freddy. We had a couple beers and fired up Freddy's snocat for a midnight ride. We skied two laps by moonlight down daisy pass road, in dumping conditions.

I woke in the back of my truck, foggy, to the early morning roar of snowmobiles firing up for the day's adventures. After breakfast we gassed up the cat, Ryan jumped in, and we headed for lulu pass road. After a couple beers swainer tandamed me up Rob's knob for a lap of freshies. After another lap and a few beers at the base party area, local ripper Joe showed us the famous pillow lines of goose creek. A spectacular run, we returned to the party in full on whiteout conditions. Thanks to Joe for showing us the way, we would have otherwise likely ended up in Yellowstone.

Back at the party we were pleased to find free beer and brats courtesy of big sky brewing. Thanks guys you rock!

After more beers we rallied towards daisy pass. Swainer graciously let me play on his 2013 800 xp, sick! Rallying the pow takes some getting used too but is super fun. I'm now plotting on how to get a sled of my own.

We were stopped by a SAR dude requesting we aid in a rescue. We waited a while, then Swainer went up to check on that group. Turns out they did not need help from the cat, you're welcome anyways. After soaking up the last rays of sunshine, we hoped in the cat and returned to town. I said my goodbyes. Driving through Yellowstone on the way home I saw beautiful sunset, plenty of bison, numerous elk, and two wolves!

I rolled into Bozeman late, barely staying awake to cuddle with my beautiful wife :-).

Great trip, thanks boys!