Thread: Hans Saari Camp TR

Now that I finally have some time and after several requests I'm going to finally put up a trip report from my trip to the Tetons. I didn't take many pictures and when I did they pretty much sucked so I apologize now. This was through exum mountain guides and if you know anyone 14-18 years old get them to apply for next years session... this camp is sick!

Day1 :
I felt really out of place the first morning. Everyone had nice skis, dynafit bindings, everything you would ever need to be in the outdoors. And then there was me with my set up I scraped up for probably less than 200 bucks and borrowed equipment because I was too embarrassed to bring the wood ice ax and leather crampons I've swiped off my dad. But mainly, I was pretty sure I was the worst skier there.

We hiked out to Cody Peak and learned to self arrest, use crampons, skin, etc and then to end the day we went up and learned to set an anchor in snow, arm rap with skis, and rappell. We skied 4 shadows and raced to the tram.


This is the one of two pictures I took that day of Cody Peak

Four Shadows

Day 2:
I felt better this day, I made up for my lack of skiing skills by being able to hike reasonable fast and not complain. This day was the scariest by far for me. We rappelled into "once is enough" on the other side of Cody Peak. I never have (and probably never will again) skied something that you had to do more than walk to get to. It was cloudy so the couloir didn't get very soft and being the 7th or 8th person down it didn't make it that much better either. We skied on belay for a bit and then came off and skied the rest. The snow was so so and there were rocks everywhere.

looking into "once is enough"


looking up at it

We then hiked over the ridge into powder eights which had fabulous snow



Day 3:
After 2 days of "practice" we were now ready for our real trip. We packed up into Garnett Canyon, with the heaviest packs I've personally ever carried, and set up camp at the platforms.

hiking up

base camp

To end the day we went up and skied the Cave Couloir. This would have been much more pleasant if my dad hadn't given me worn out, super skinny shitty skins to use (these were immediately disposed of at the end of the trip)

Cave Couloir

Day 4:
One group took off that morning and did something else (the more rad and fit group which surprisingly I was originally given the choice to go with, that blew my mind!). And then the less fit, still pretty rad group went up and skied the Middle Teton Glacier. It was awesome. The wind was howling and at the top I was extremely uncomfortable sitting on the tiny ridge of two extremely steep slopes but in the end it was great!

sitting on the ridge

someone skiing the Middle Teton Glacier. The camera does it no justice... it was STEEP

Coming down into the meadows

Then the badasses in our camp built a kicker (they had it the night before too and did pretty rad stuff but not quite like the second night!)





Day 5:

Before packing up and heading out we went up into the West Hourglass couloir... At this point I was completely drained from being horrified the past four days but one last ski was totally worth it!


West Hourglass


I believe this to be the bottom of the West Hourglass, not sure

Then we packed up and went to pizza. Overall the best ski trip to date!

Thanks to this my dad felt confident enough to take me up Shasta which was worth it in itself...




Thanks to all the guides at Exum who helped put this on!

Get Kids to apply! They won't regret it if they get in!!!

well played shrimp! Way to take a problem/challenge with your boots into a full on ski-mountaineering in the Tetons WIN!!!

FKNA!

Way to go meggers.

Ben said it was a good time. I may regret him going. He came home took all my old climbing gear and has been rappelling and climbing all over town. Telling me we have to step it up this winter. Have fun in college.

too cool. my boys are applying next year, finals or no!

Maybe my kid can apply in 13 years.

Cool trip!

kudos to you and yer dad! great stuff!

rog

I'm Meggars dad and I'd like, like to clarify, the skins were fine for Kahru XCD's in 1989. As for Shasta I wasn't worried about Meggars, I just thought I'd better hurry up and go with her while I could still keep up with her in one direction (up), I long ago lost the ability to keep up going down.

Super cool, mergers!

Originally Posted by meggers

I'm Meggars dad and I'd like, like to clarify, the skins were fine for Kahru XCD's in 1989.

very cool!!

Way to push your limits...nothing like being scared shitless for a few days to up your game.

Sweet TR! Looking forward to next winter already!

Man, wish I would have known about the camp when I was in high school. Thanks for posting the TR. Way to get after it!

Great trip report. I've been wondering how this one played out. Glad to hear you did so well. Now, I wonder how I get my park-rat 16-year-old son to apply... This sounds like truly wonderful program.

Well done! Great TR.

That's pretty cool. Out of curiosity where were most of the kids from? What a great opportunity for you guys/gals.

I still remember when you were looking for gear /advice here.Now to see you get after it is really cool Congrats and hope to see some more stoke from you in the future.

Originally Posted by JRainey

That's pretty cool. Out of curiosity where were most of the kids from? What a great opportunity for you guys/gals.

The kids were from the Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Washington, Idaho and one from Alaska. No cali kids except me.

Excellent summer stokage....

Very cool Meggers.

One of the kids on my son's ski team went (Matt) and had a blast. My boy will be will be applying again next year when he's is old enough.

that sounds like such a cool program and something I would have benefitted from greatly at that age. thanks for sharing!

Good stuff!

That's killer.