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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Lander, Wyoming
    Posts
    481

    TR: Austin Peak, WY-Spines,Couloirs,Pow

    Austin Peak-Spines, Three Couloirs, and Pow
    photos: Wysplit_ride and Matt Lloyd
    *Mega photos, but a lot of lines dropped. Will not disappoint.

    This is my first trip to Austin Peak in the Absarokas. I first found out about this peak while at a quaint little cowboy cafe in Cora, WY. In the cafe is a huge photograph of a few people standing on top of the peak with an amazing couloir dropping off the summit. From the moment I saw that photo, I knew I had to see what the line was all about. Little did I know we would be skiing spines, three couloirs, and amazing late April powder on our first visit. Might as well be Little Italy.

    Climbing up the south is very mellow with some amazing bowls. I was blown away when we reached the summit ridge and peaked into a whole north facing zone of couloirs, spines, and endless lines. A true North Shore of the Absarokas.

    Surrounding area scenics on the approach:



    Matt near summit plateau with south lines and a point at the warm up run:


    A short spine for a warm up run. Matt's warm-up sequence:












    With the warm-up run out of of the way, it was time to make our way to Austin Peak and the Northern Zone. Little did we know how good it would be.

    Matt on the summit ridge looking at the main spine in the center that we would drop next. This is just below Austin's summit.


    Matt traverses over to the spine/couloir:


    The line was a bit sketchy because clouds moved in and blocked our view of the bottom. We knew cliffs lurked below, but where:


    Matt drops into the north sequence:












    Wysplit_ride at the bottom:


    Little did we know that these two hundred foot cliffs block the bottom of this shot. I thought about trying to drop, but we made a good call:




    With one cool line dropped, it was time to climb back out and drop from Austin Peak's true summit. The clouds were beginning to clear:

    A view of Austin Peak summit (right) and first line schralped (left):








    Looking down the main northeast couloir that we would drop off Austin Peak. Second couloir of the day. Apparently in a TGR film, Jason Tattersall kicked off an avi in this couloir and then skied it. We just kicked off about 12 inches of fresh sluff and did not appear in a film.


    Matt drops off the top of Austin Peak:








    Wysplit_ride coming out of the apron of Austin's Couloir:





  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Lander, Wyoming
    Posts
    481

    Part 2

    Matt with the main Austin Peak couloir in the background:


    With two couloirs down, it just didn't seem like enough. There was a true north facing couloir that led off the direct summit, but did not cliff out. It was about 2000 vertical feet of amazing turns and aesthetic features. It was magical.

    Matt dropping the final couloir of the day:






    Wysplit_ride halfway down the couloir. Getting ready to surf some slough.








    A perfect end to a perfect day.


    Today was one of the most perfect days I have spent in the mountains this season. A new fantabulous ski zone, amazing lines in abundance, and riding with a good buddy that pushed for that one last line that was oh so good. I am still on cloud nine.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Wyoming
    Posts
    742
    I love the local stoke! Nice work.
    Quote Originally Posted by TWINS View Post
    I love it when shitweasels get there panties all in a bunch.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Pugetopolis,WA
    Posts
    1,373
    You crazy wyomans! Does your dad shoot bears too??

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Tetons
    Posts
    6,384
    Nice Work, WySplit...as always!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    amidst 5 mountains
    Posts
    3,854
    you always bring the good spring stoke. nice work!
    "In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life, — no disgrace, no calamity, (leaving me my eyes,) which nature cannot repair." -Emerson

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Denver, Co.
    Posts
    1,422
    First class TR, looks like an awesome time.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Corner of Percocet and Depression
    Posts
    4,185
    Great TR, looks like a lot of fun!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Southeast New York
    Posts
    11,766


    FKNA!! Beautiful.

    Me, I started ripping up my basement floor today after the flood.

    Wanna trade

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    South Lake Taco
    Posts
    983
    Top Notch TR!

    That was a helluva day. I really like the lighting in some of those shots. Those broken up storm days do amazing things to the lighting in the mountains. And you guys were in some cool mountains, lighting it up!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    is everything
    Posts
    651
    nice playground

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Lander, Wyoming
    Posts
    481
    thanks for all of the kind words...was a fun day for sure! Get the pow while you can.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Sofia,BG
    Posts
    27
    looks perfect...and the pow...leaves me speechless

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Switzerland
    Posts
    7,578
    nice work!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Alco-Hall of Fame
    Posts
    2,997


    excellent stuff!
    "It is not the result that counts! It is not the result but the spirit! Not what - but how. Not what has been attained - but at what price.
    - A. Solzhenitsyn

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    47
    Looks like a great place! The pictures are gorgeous.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    P-tex, CA
    Posts
    8,660
    FannnnnnTasssstttttttiiiiiiiccccccccC!


  18. #18
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    funland
    Posts
    5,250
    amazing. thank you for posting this, some of my friends here in Pinedale are lacking motivation and this should do the trick!!

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    CO
    Posts
    5,017
    Nice looking lines.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    3,972
    Zowie! WSR, you never cease to amaze me with some of the turf you get after.


    Thanks, man!

  21. #21
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Flavor Country
    Posts
    2,974
    Solid work as usual. Is it just me or you guys the only ones ever out in that range? Nothing like a big empty backyard.
    "They don't think it be like it is, but it do."

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Denver, gorgeous!
    Posts
    787
    Dont you guys have anything rad to ski?



    That looks like a great day.
    SLOWER TRAFFIC
    KEEP RIGHT
    http://shifter102.blogspot.com/

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Foothills of the VT mountain where it never snows
    Posts
    941
    Very nice. Looks like you had a heck of a fine day!
    Raise 'em Jay. And remember: Safety Third!

    LetsPlanTrips.com

    Our photo galleries

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Incline Village, NV (Tahoe)
    Posts
    5,438
    Gnar to the max! Outstanding.
    Every man dies. Not every man lives.
    You don’t stop playing because you grow old; you grow old because you stop playing.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    208 State
    Posts
    2,577
    Wysplit_ride you guys are always takin' it to a "whole notha leval"....sorry I've been wanting to say that for a while

    Seriously Great TR! Once again I've always wondered how it would be to ski in that area after flying over it on my way to visit family in Wisconsin. Big lines and flat top mountains at least that's how it looked from cruising altitude

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