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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Bozeman
    Posts
    720

    Eagle Peak, Yellowstone National Park

    I work on Yellowstone Lake for the fisheries department, and spend every day for 5-6 months of the year looking at the section of the Absorkas that make the up eastern skyline from the lake. Last summer, I hiked all the peaks from Eagle Pass to Sylvan Pass as the final two days of a 13 day hike I did mostly south of the park, and thought the area would make for a fun ski trip, if I ever got the time. Work got delayed a week this year due to ice (and lots of snow!), so I decided I'd try and give it a go.

    About ten minutes out of the parking lot, I came across tracks from this unique, large weasel.
    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	206514

    I stayed up on the crest and summited a few peaks before making camp, then started the next day by cruising long valleys that were covered in fresh griz tracks.
    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	206515

    The view to the south from the summit of Eagle Peak! I was hoping to ski the north face, but it looked very firm and I couldn't get a look into the choke, so I had to settle for perfect corn turns down the south and west faces, after starting from right next to the summit register. There was only one other entry in the register from the past year, and a single page in this one contains all two of the register entries I have ever made. Kind of cool that this high point isn't as heavily loved as many others--it's definitely more of a wilderness experience than a +10 rad points on your checklist sort of thing.
    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	206516

    I got lots of fragmented views of the lake throughout the tour, as well as views of a lifetime of xc exploring in the lower valleys.
    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	206517

    I almost got my fill of beautiful ridgeline cruising, but I do not think that will ever be possible.
    Click image for larger version. 

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ID:	206518

    I knew it would snow a little on the last evening and ski out, but the storm ended up being a bit more potent than anticipated. 8-10" of new when I woke up in the morning with moderate snow and low vis made me nix plans to ski a couple more mountains on the way back, but it was pretty cool to cruise quietly through fresh snow all day. I even hung out at the car for a while and enjoyed a little more quiet, because the road had been shut down.
    Click image for larger version. 

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Views:	274 
Size:	1.15 MB 
ID:	206519

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    PNW -> MSO
    Posts
    7,889
    Nice work, dood. Pics are purty. I'd like to come join you in the park one of these years.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Last Best City in the Last Best Place
    Posts
    7,270
    Cool TR. Thanks.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    crown of the continent
    Posts
    13,947
    Awesome!! You crash at the Howell Ck cabin? I built those stairs...Strong TR thanks!
    Something about the wrinkle in your forehead tells me there's a fit about to get thrown
    And I never hear a single word you say when you tell me not to have my fun
    It's the same old shit that I ain't gonna take off anyone.
    and I never had a shortage of people tryin' to warn me about the dangers I pose to myself.

    Patterson Hood of the DBT's

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Posts
    3,173
    Awesome adventuring dude! You weren't kidding back in early April or so when you said the real ski season had just begun!
    "The skis just popped me up out of the snow and I went screaming down the hill on a high better than any heroin junkie." She Ra

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Bottom feeding
    Posts
    10,828
    Beautiful place.
    Well maybe I'm the faggot America
    I'm not a part of a redneck agenda

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Couloirfornia
    Posts
    8,871
    Sweet TR. Thanks.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ernest_Hemingway View Post
    I realize there is not much hope for a bullfighting forum. I understand that most of you would prefer to discuss the ingredients of jacket fabrics than the ingredients of a brave man. I know nothing of the former. But the latter is made of courage, and skill, and grace in the presence of the possibility of death. If someone could make a jacket of those three things it would no doubt be the most popular and prized item in all of your closets.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Posts
    43
    Nice trip report! I skied a couloir/gully off the backside of Mount Washburn a few years ago and surprised quite a few people back after getting to the parking lot with ski gear on

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Boise
    Posts
    112
    Those are motivating pics man!! Haven't been out since June. I need to gets my summer ski on.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Posts
    6
    Stellar!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    3

    No pics from me

    That's such a pity! I also wanted to share some pictures from there, but they are all gone when my laptop fell down from the rock

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Posts
    16,337
    Quote Originally Posted by Aenigma View Post
    I work on Yellowstone Lake for the fisheries department, and spend every day for 5-6 months of the year looking at the section of the Absorkas that make the up eastern skyline from the lake. Last summer, I hiked all the peaks from Eagle Pass to Sylvan Pass as the final two days of a 13 day hike I did mostly south of the park, and thought the area would make for a fun ski trip, if I ever got the time. Work got delayed a week this year due to ice (and lots of snow!), so I decided I'd try and give it a go.

    About ten minutes out of the parking lot, I came across tracks from this unique, large weasel.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	_DSF7807.jpg 
Views:	319 
Size:	596.1 KB 
ID:	206514

    I stayed up on the crest and summited a few peaks before making camp, then started the next day by cruising long valleys that were covered in fresh griz tracks.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	_DSF7848.jpg 
Views:	380 
Size:	1.15 MB 
ID:	206515

    The view to the south from the summit of Eagle Peak! I was hoping to ski the north face, but it looked very firm and I couldn't get a look into the choke, so I had to settle for perfect corn turns down the south and west faces, after starting from right next to the summit register. There was only one other entry in the register from the past year, and a single page in this one contains all two of the register entries I have ever made. Kind of cool that this high point isn't as heavily loved as many others--it's definitely more of a wilderness experience than a +10 rad points on your checklist sort of thing.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	_DSF7860.jpg 
Views:	357 
Size:	1.26 MB 
ID:	206516

    I got lots of fragmented views of the lake throughout the tour, as well as views of a lifetime of xc exploring in the lower valleys.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	_DSF7899.jpg 
Views:	289 
Size:	918.4 KB 
ID:	206517

    I almost got my fill of beautiful ridgeline cruising, but I do not think that will ever be possible.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	_DSF7913.jpg 
Views:	582 
Size:	1.43 MB 
ID:	206518

    I knew it would snow a little on the last evening and ski out, but the storm ended up being a bit more potent than anticipated. 8-10" of new when I woke up in the morning with moderate snow and low vis made me nix plans to ski a couple more mountains on the way back, but it was pretty cool to cruise quietly through fresh snow all day. I even hung out at the car for a while and enjoyed a little more quiet, because the road had been shut down.
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	_DSF7930.jpg 
Views:	274 
Size:	1.15 MB 
ID:	206519
    one of my favorite areas of the park.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Posts
    66
    Gorgeous my man. Gorgeous.

    It's been nearly 20 years since I was in Yellowstone backcountry, and have always wanted to see it in snow. What a gift to yourself! Thanks for sharing.


    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

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