FreakofSnow
02-15-2004, 11:34 PM
Backcountry plans always seem to come on a whim, out of nowhere a loose plan forms from a mere suggestion. With the snowpack looking fairly stable, I suggested a Slushman’s/Saddle run to the boys while spinning some laps yesterday. Of course everybody was in when I asked them, but as the details took shape, people began to drop out.
The Slushman’s drainage sits to the south of the Bridger Bowl ski area. A large apron juts out from the ridge with a few bowls laid out across its width. Saddle peak is the next largest peak to the south, at an elevation of 9159’. I have dreamed of bagging the peak for a long time, but this would not be the trip.
We amazingly had the posse together on time for the rendevous in the parking lot at 8:00. A long slog through the clearcuts on the boundary of Bridger took us over to Slushmans drainage. The skin track was fucked, and i mean fucked. A few of us opted to bust our own as we could get much better purchase on the soft than on the hard super highway.
3 hours to the top, 2500 vert later we gaped at the possibilities. MT busted a quick pit, we saw no signs of worry (just as the avy report had alluded to). A few flames and dropped in. Sweet jesus, the snow was creamy windbuff with variable pockets of deep.
Dropping into the wide shot off the spur ridge we then worked our way over to the northern facing stuff. We found a nice little chute, which had already been pillaged, but was still tasty. A small avy was kicked off by one of our posse, approx. size 20 feet wide, 12” crown and ran for about a 100 feet. I switched my eyes to the alternative, aired a small cornice and proceeded to shralp the drainage. MT and LAD found some very nice snow as well.
A quick slog across the flat back towards the resort and the deal was sealed. Beers in the parking lot. Finished the day off with a few high speed laps on the hill and I’m spent. Total round trip was something to the tune of 8 miles.
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10405/morning%20sunrise.jpg
Heading out of town
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10405/skin%20up.jpg
Skinning up Slushmans with the prize in the background
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10405/our%20line.jpg
Saddle peak in the background, our line would be down the spur ridge into the bowl
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10405/up%20and%20down.jpg
THe routes
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10405/closeup2.jpg
Our lines in the middle of the pic
The Slushman’s drainage sits to the south of the Bridger Bowl ski area. A large apron juts out from the ridge with a few bowls laid out across its width. Saddle peak is the next largest peak to the south, at an elevation of 9159’. I have dreamed of bagging the peak for a long time, but this would not be the trip.
We amazingly had the posse together on time for the rendevous in the parking lot at 8:00. A long slog through the clearcuts on the boundary of Bridger took us over to Slushmans drainage. The skin track was fucked, and i mean fucked. A few of us opted to bust our own as we could get much better purchase on the soft than on the hard super highway.
3 hours to the top, 2500 vert later we gaped at the possibilities. MT busted a quick pit, we saw no signs of worry (just as the avy report had alluded to). A few flames and dropped in. Sweet jesus, the snow was creamy windbuff with variable pockets of deep.
Dropping into the wide shot off the spur ridge we then worked our way over to the northern facing stuff. We found a nice little chute, which had already been pillaged, but was still tasty. A small avy was kicked off by one of our posse, approx. size 20 feet wide, 12” crown and ran for about a 100 feet. I switched my eyes to the alternative, aired a small cornice and proceeded to shralp the drainage. MT and LAD found some very nice snow as well.
A quick slog across the flat back towards the resort and the deal was sealed. Beers in the parking lot. Finished the day off with a few high speed laps on the hill and I’m spent. Total round trip was something to the tune of 8 miles.
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10405/morning%20sunrise.jpg
Heading out of town
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10405/skin%20up.jpg
Skinning up Slushmans with the prize in the background
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10405/our%20line.jpg
Saddle peak in the background, our line would be down the spur ridge into the bowl
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10405/up%20and%20down.jpg
THe routes
http://www.tetongravity.com/usergalleries/albums/userpics/10405/closeup2.jpg
Our lines in the middle of the pic