Sunrise: 5/21/10

**tone capone** · 05-22-2010, 06:12 PM

A voice from within was telling me today would be a morning not to be missed. I methodically prepared my stuff for a day in the mountains after a late night at work. Long before sunrise I drove down to the land of afternoon convective snow showers to maximize the potential of the coming day.

I arrived in darkness and total silence to a fresh blanket of snow concealing any sign of spring's progress. My only plan being to go for a walk and do whatever the mountains allowed. Had some big ideas but I knew I had only a brief weather window between last nights storm and a forecast bigger one.

This one is hard to pass up when all the steeper rockier stuff has refrozen wet debris strewn about everywhere. Oh well, the realities of spring.

I chose a careful route up that still allowed me to inspect the snow on the face I wanted to ski.

I continued up into the sunrise, finding only an even coat of gently wind kissed powdery snow and no slab.

It was only about 6 inches deep, so the trailbreaking was pleasant.

As were the views.

The Monarch. How I long to violate it's authority. Not on this perfect lonely day unfortunately.

Another way down. Looked more loaded by the now very apparent southwest wind.

The views are always stunning here at this 10600' bump.

What's the point of me being here again? I sure as hell wouldn't be if it were to walk down. While it's not always my first choice, there is no feeling like flying down a perfect powdery slope, with not a track in sight, and a whole mountain basin all to yourself. I was pleasantly surprised that the snow floated my bases for every turn. Kept thinking there would be a thin spot or two, but no dust on crust feeling at all, just total confidence in every turn.

So back up I went, to give my single lonely track a mate.

Not quite a noodle turn farm, but close.

And that's as close to action shots you're gonna get with this TR.

Back to city life now. Hope it's not the last time I can pretend it's still winter.

**buttahflake** · 05-22-2010, 06:25 PM

wicked pure. so jealous.

**ak_powder_monkey** · 05-22-2010, 06:27 PM

this made me wet

**stalefish3169** · 05-22-2010, 06:47 PM

Didn't go for the Hanging Garden? J/K. Way to bring the stoke, Tone. Nice shots!

**userA** · 05-22-2010, 06:50 PM

delighted to be able to view that nice tr, thanks for sharing the pics

**tone capone** · 05-22-2010, 06:59 PM

Didn't go for the Hanging Garden?

Exactly, lets do that!

**montanaskier** · 05-22-2010, 07:08 PM

last year you put up several just like this if I remember....nice stuff.

**tone capone** · 05-22-2010, 07:16 PM

Consider it inspiration for current aspirations. Conditions could be prime any day. Let me know if ya wanna go skiing.

**goldenboy** · 05-22-2010, 09:21 PM

Jeebus you guys still have a lot of snow

**smitchell333** · 05-22-2010, 09:43 PM

^^^ and its not filthy dirty like in Colo.

Good looking day.

**ImSearchingforPowder** · 05-22-2010, 10:03 PM

looks like mid winter conditions, amazing..

oh yea, and thanks for bringing back my depression!

**BigDumbRedhead** · 05-22-2010, 10:16 PM

You did real good here! Can't wait to move back. Eleven months to go!

**Shreder** · 05-22-2010, 10:46 PM

Buzz-Buzz that's holding up real nice. There could be close to a foot in the forecast. You better get back out there before summer arrives.

**unpossible** · 05-23-2010, 01:12 AM

Very nice TR. So jealous.

**splitter** · 05-23-2010, 06:13 AM

good one

**soulturn** · 05-23-2010, 10:02 AM

Damn Tone, you always take the best pics in the Hive. I'm in there tuesday...

**lynchdogger** · 05-23-2010, 11:48 AM

Kids screaming, running around! Wife barking out the honey-do list. Just another chaotic day.

So I took a little lunch break and went to my happy place and found this TR! Perfect! Thanks for the rejuvenation of the soul!

Back to work . . .

**mtl_ripper** · 05-23-2010, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by lynchdogger

Kids screaming, running around! Wife barking out the honey-do list. Just another chaotic day.

So I took a little lunch break and went to my happy place and found this TR! Perfect! Thanks for the rejuvenation of the soul!

Back to work . . .

x2 on that.

Thanks for the beautiful shots and for rekindling my dreams of teleportation. It is boiling hot in Montreal right now.

**buckethead** · 05-23-2010, 12:08 PM

yesterday i almost drove 1.5hours to the last nearby patch of snow...and after seeing some pics from the winter thought better of it and tried to get caught up around the house instead.

i now feel all the more correct in my decision...

stunning pics, tone.
must have been incredible to have that all to yourself.
thanks for sharing

**HikeforTurns** · 05-23-2010, 04:09 PM

Good shit!

**Falcon** · 05-23-2010, 06:25 PM

Great shots

**ODHGABFE** · 05-23-2010, 06:43 PM

Shit yeah tone, good work feller! I'm in Wisco visiting the 'rents this week, but let's ski sometime in the near future.

**406** · 05-23-2010, 07:15 PM

nice work. Love this one

**stalefish3169** · 05-23-2010, 09:09 PM

Looks like Beehive could be in for another refresh:

MTZ008-012-014-015-050>055-240500-
/O.NEW.KTFX.WS.W.0010.100524T0600Z-100525T1200Z/
BEAVERHEAD-CASCADE-CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-MADISON-
JUDITH BASIN-FERGUS-JEFFERSON-BROADWATER-MEAGHER-GALLATIN-
INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS...BIG HOLE PASS...MONIDA PASS...
KINGS HILL PASS...MACDONALD PASS...RAYNOLDS PASS...
HOMESTAKE PASS...WEST YELLOWSTONE...TARGHEE PASS
253 PM MDT SUN MAY 23 2010

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM
MDT TUESDAY FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 6000 FEET...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 6000 FEET FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH
IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM MDT TUESDAY.

* TIMING AND MAIN IMPACT: WIDESPREAD SNOW WILL DEVELOP BY MIDNIGHT
AND CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY. SNOW WILL DECREASE MONDAY NIGHT.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 12 TO 20 INCHES
ARE EXPECTED ABOVE 6000 FEET.

summer!!!