Teton TR: Exercise in Judgement, 2/3/04

**nhtele** · 02-04-2007, 07:29 PM

So yesterday coolstine and I tried to ski the Grand. It would have been his second descent (having climbed and skied it solo last spring) and my first. Extremely strong winds with ice pellets on the upper portion of the mountain forced us to stop short of the summit. In the end we were both stoked to get out and skin and climb, as well as find out that our heads were in the same place regarding staying alive and coming back another day. We started from Bradlee's-Target @ 3.06am. We turned around at Glencoe Col (12,500', at the base of the Stettner Couloir) and returned back to the car ~1.15pm.

Pre-dawn over the Gros-Ventre range as we switched from skins to crampons near the foot of the Teepe Glacier. Oh, and those would be the ice pellets in the foreground.

Peaking over Glencoe Col (and into 50-60mph winds) for a view of Teton Valley, ID.

Coolstine loving the conditions.

Nhtele (MArandorally) and the Teepe Pillar, with the valley floor in the background.

Coolstine skiing the Teepee Glacier (~6-8" of new pow had fallen on the upper portion. It was more wind-affected down here.

While heading up the Teepe Glacier I had an ice axe in one hand and my whippet in the other, with my brand-new BD CF flicklock pole strapped to my pack. The flicklock was fastened, but the lower section fell out. I skied down with one whippet and one Quark ice tool.

Skiing down to the Meadows.

Coolstine killed it with the photog skillz on this one.

All in all a fun day and the most pow either of us had skied in a few weeks.

**Trackhead** · 02-04-2007, 07:52 PM

Love the axe steeze.

It's all about conditions. Makes it better when you do get it done.

**randosteve** · 02-04-2007, 07:59 PM

Luckily it's not going anywhere Nhtele.

Hate to admit it...but it took me many attempts before I was successful in skiing the big one. Fortunately for todays skiers, the newspaper (and the web

) has been successful in letting everyone know when it's a go...or at least when there is a bootpack to the top.

Timing is everything...don't just do it to do it. Do it when you can have good snow conditions, first tracks, and in good style. IMHO, skiing it with multiple groups on the route, and after it has been tracked out...like last weeekend... is NOT in good style.

**nhtele** · 02-04-2007, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by randosteve

Luckily it's not going anywhere Nhtele.

Timing is everything...don't just do it to do it. Do it when you can have good snow conditions, first tracks, and in good style. IMHO, skiing it with multiple groups on the route, and after it has been tracked out...like last weeekend... is NOT in good style.

Agreed. However, with the new nickel-and-dime snowfall over the latter part of last week, we would have had great conditions (similar to the poorly-documented pow on the Teepe Glacier) if the wind hadn't ramped up to absurd levels. We caught the only other (climbing) party out that day above the Meadows ~ 5am, shortly before they turned around.

**Trackhead** · 02-04-2007, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by randosteve

skiing it with multiple groups on the route, and after it has been tracked out...like last weeekend... is NOT in good style.

Whoever thought we'd be hearing that. "Tracked out".

Guess you could always ski the Hossack or the Otterbody, to avoid the crowds.

Although last year, when we thought we might try the Hossack, there was already another group on the Glacier hoping for the same. That would have been kinda funny. Crowds on the Hossack.

**coolstine** · 02-04-2007, 08:24 PM

Unfortunately, as Randosteve had confirmed for me last week, the snowpack this year up high in the Tetons is going to shut down a lot of routes. The Otterbody looks like s*&t, and I can't imagine the Hossack or any other routes will be skiable.

**rideit** · 02-04-2007, 08:26 PM

Once we get some new dumps, it's going to be scary as fuck.

I had treasure (eddington Canyon) and the north side of housetop in my sights for March,(which is nothing close to El Grande, of course!) but I am afeared....

Good job doing as much as you did anyway!!

**rugbydave** · 02-04-2007, 11:31 PM

Dude, sweet TR. That looks pretty rad. You should head back out here and bring the snow with ya...

**SherpaStyle** · 02-05-2007, 12:35 AM

Yep, ragin loose cannon you are! Don't worry, you'll get er next time. In other news, I skied knee deep pow today and even got a couple face shots. Who woulda thought 3 inches could be so good!

**basom** · 02-05-2007, 03:03 AM

fucking randorally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yessssssssssssssssssssssssss

**Yeti** · 02-05-2007, 11:45 AM

The Quark ski pole, complete with gut-pick and hamstring-hook.

Good account.

**bbirtle** · 02-05-2007, 12:21 PM

Glad to see you're back in proper skiing action. Will look forward to seeing your next go at it and the summit pics!

**skibuminwyo** · 02-05-2007, 03:37 PM

So *ahem* when are you guys gonna come climb some ice again? President's day weekend is the ice fest, it should be a good time. 25 bucks gets ya all the beer you can drink, and I have a bit of floor space available if I move my piles of gear.