Sizzling and spectacular

Yesterday Martha and I headed up Red Creek in the Snake River Canyon for a backcountry ski tour. The snowpack on the lower portion of the mountains in the area had more or less melted, so we had a pretty substantial bootpack up, before putting on our skins and climbing above treeline to wide open bowls filled with spring corn snow. As always, the seven or so hours we spent out on the backcountry left me calm, invigorated and altogether happy. It's so lovely to have mountain savvy lady friends.

When the wind wasn't blowing, the temperatures were sizzling hot ... we were down to our T-shirt base layer within an hour during the morning hike up.

Martha saved the day by bringing wax to rub onto our skins to keep the wet spring snow from balling up underneath our feet ... I was less than thrilled to be hiking an extra 20 pounds of snow up the mountain ... the climb was long enough as is.

Martha stopping to check out the map.

Yep, we're still in Red Creek.

A quick food break ... I used my skis to create a lounge chair ... perfect for sunbathing.

The intent Mr. Zipster.

Up we go.

Martha picks a safe route up the mountain.

Checking out the scenery.

A spectacular place and a spectacular day with Martha.

Amy and Martha - self portrait.

Martha orients with the map.

Our gorgeous tracks down.

On the way out we had a to do quite a bit of ski shwaking (bush waking) because the so much of the snow pack on the lower mountain had melted. I came around the corner to find Martha smack dab in the middle of a big brown dirt patch ... not my prime choice for skiing conditions, but hey, whatever works, right?

A close up of skis on sticks and sage brush.

I put on heavy duty sunscreen chapstick, and then without thinking about it, a few minutes later I gave Zippy a big kiss on the forehead ... leaving the perfect imprint of lips. Pretty funny. "Somebody loves me."

Once again, mission complete ... a tired dog riding home in the backseat.

Season in review

Here's a slideshow with the best photos from the ski season with my 3 year old Rangers ... twas a good one!



To download full res copies of these photos click here.

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A silly Saturday

For the last Saturday with Rangers (my group of local 3 year olds who I skied with all season) we all dressed up, went through a race course while parents watched and cheered, and partied with cake and other goodies. It was super fun day ... and also a good day to reflect. I remember teaching these kiddos how to make a pizza to stop on the magic carpet ... now we can all ski the chairlift together ... very cool to see that progression! Saturday in many ways felt like the beginning of the end ... it seems like the ski season just started ... and now there are only a few short weeks left before the mountain closes. On that note, enjoy the photos ... I sure had fun putting my costume together.

The feeling of infinity

Karen, Zippy and I had a great day! We headed up to Togwotee Pass to ski Brecca Mountain. With perfectly clear skies and spring sunshine, we chose our destination more for the views than the snow ... which was capped by a fairly wicked sun crust. Standing on top of Brecca, we had the feeling of infinity ... spectacular views rolled away endlessly in every direction. To the southwest the Tetons jagged into the blue horizon, like on old-timer's logging saw tipped up on its side. Below us a sea of white frothed and lapped ... waves frozen in time. Nearby, rock bands piled on top of one another, forming dramatic and towering mountains that looked like the sand castles I used to build on the beach. And the three of us - Karen, Zippy and I - became totally entranced ... until biting wind numbed our fingers and noses ... and we decided to make our choppy descent through the aforementioned sun crust.

The view of the Tetons from the road, as we drove up to Togwotee.

A wider angle.

Zippy is in his element ... to say the least.

"Zippy, Karen, turn around and smile."

Up we go ...

Not a bad view ...

Mom and puppy head off into the great horizon.

Zipster and I smile for a photo.

Karen heads up toward the peak.

What an amazing place to be skinning up!

Zippy and I follow Karen's tracks to the peak of Brecca.

Karen says its another great day to be out.

The Tetons spike up in to the horizon.

When the sun crust got the better end of me, and I took a little tumble, Zippy was Johnny on the spot to see if I needed any licks.

A sure sign of a good day ... a tired puppy asleep in the backseat.

What a cutie!

Grins, smiles and shouts of sheer joy

A few more photos of Monday's dawn patrol courtesy of Karen ...

Dawn patrol

This morning was phenomenal is every way ... I couldn't stop thinking, "there's no place I'd rather be, and nothing else I'd rather be doing." Karen, Kevin, Galen and I headed out to East Mail for a dawn patrol backcountry ski. We were on the road by 6 a.m., skinning up by 7 a.m., skiing by 9 a.m. and home by 11 a.m. Despite the ubiquitously crusty conditions, we somehow managed to find a sweet stash of powder on a beautiful north facing pitch. We decided to name to run "Zippy's" because he led the charge ... bouncing gleefully down the slope. To the rest of our credit, our smiles were nearly as big as Zippy's when we took our turn to descend.

Skinning up bright and early in the morning.

Checking out a possible ski route before begin the ascent up the peak.

As always ... a great view from top and a happy crew.

Galen soars down the slope.

Kevin glides through knee deep powder.

Karen swoops in for a landing after a skiing a steep pitch.

Galen pulls to a stop.

Dampened sounds and little drop offs

Yesterday was such a fun day, I didn't hesitate when the chance came up to go backcountry skiing again today. I went with Kevin - it was our first time out skiing together and by all accounts it was a great day. We went back to West Mail Creek and found plenty of soft powder on north facing glades to ski (every other aspect had a killer sun crust). The snow and clouds dampened sounds, making for a peaceful setting. The smell of spring hung fresh and crisp in the air. And a settled snowpack revealed some big, fallen logs - interesting little drop offs, to say the least.

Kevin drops off one of the big, fallen logs scattered through the glades we were skiing.

Zippy watches as I ski into view.

Kevin is all smiles at the top.