St. Patty's Day. TR "What are we going to ski?"

**ski_faster** · 03-20-2007, 02:05 AM

With the rough winter we have been having and all the warm weather I thought this would be a great time to go ski something big.

Mtnjam and I left Boise with intentions of skiing Dickey Peak. Dickey is located at the North end of the Lost River range. We had two non maggots meeting us in Mackay Dave and Ben both from Pocatello. Mtnjam and I had a couple hours to burn before Dave and Ben where going to be in Mackay so we thought we should go scout Dickey. On the way we stopped and looked at Lost River Peak.

There is less snow now then last year when I skied this peak May 13th last year. After looking at Lost River we drove up to Dickey Peak and noticed that Dickey had way more snow in the valley. We had heard that there was more snow up there but we still thought we could get back to the trailhead since the entire valley South of Dickey had no snow. We arrived at the turn off for Dickey and there was about a 1-2 feet of snow on the road going back to the trailhead.

There is a road that goes around the south side of Dickey that goes to Mount Borah and the Earthquake center 7.3 magnitude in 1983. There was a great looking face that was South facing so we where going to opt for that face. We decided to head back to Mackay since Dave and Ben where going to be there any time now. We got back to Mackay and they were just pulling into town. We told them what we saw and I think they didn’t believe us so we drove back to Dickey and they saw all the snow. They wanted to see if the South side would be a good option. As the South side came into view we noticed with all the heating there was a huge point release in the short time we where gone.

A little more zoomed in.

We drove back to Mackay and got some dinner and talked about our options. Dave and I skied Lost River last year but we knew the skiing would be pretty good and Mtnjam and Ben had never been down Lost River Peak AKA Super Gully so we decided on Super Gully again.

The crew getting ready in the morning
Mtnjam Cheshire cat (Dave) and Ben

We left the trailhead at 5:45AM. The trail is steep right at the beginning. We neared tree level about the time the sun was coming up. Ben heard someone saying good morning to him and he thought it was us until he noticed that someone was someone was camped under a tree getting ready to hike up Super Gully.

Just starting the hike up the gully.

Looking across the valley to the sunrise. Mackay reservoir was still half frozen

About 1/3 of the way up Super Gully
Ben, Yours Truly, and MtnJam.

There are some great rock formations in the middle of the gully.

Mtnjam and I trying to catch our breath before it gets steep.

Ben took the lead and we didn’t see him until the top.

Dave and Ben up the ridge line.

Mtnjam

Mtnjam summiting!

It was a pretty busy day on Lost River Peak. As we where waiting for things to corn up a solo split boarder arrived and two climbers.

Group summit picture.

Mount Breitenbach looks like a fun ski.

The snow was finally ready to go after a nice break up top.
Ben on the way down.

Mtnjam laying down the tele turn

Dave

Ben

MtnJam

Near the end

There are some amazing looking snags on the hike out.

Dave had the Scot Schmidt special backpack.

Ben with the Summit in the background.

Almost done!

I know that Mtnjam and Ben have some more pictures. So more to come.

**jimmy page** · 03-20-2007, 06:14 AM

Nice. While I was going from Grumpy's to Lefty's to Whisky's, you guys were killing in the Lost River Range.

**Natedogg** · 03-20-2007, 06:52 AM

FKNA cool. Is this a few miles south of Borah?

**Conundrum** · 03-20-2007, 08:10 AM

I too was drunk by the time you guys were skiing. Nice work!

**schwerty** · 03-20-2007, 08:55 AM

Excellent TR! Good reminder of how sweet that area is.

**mtnjam** · 03-20-2007, 09:05 AM

I'll post some pics up tonite of ski_faster, the Cheshire Cat and Ben

This trip is why I posted a WTB for a whippet

**KillingCokes** · 03-20-2007, 09:32 AM

Nice trip. I love the rock patterns up there.

**The Reverend Floater** · 03-20-2007, 09:44 AM

I love the Idaho Crew!

**mtnjam** · 03-20-2007, 10:21 AM

must get back to ski Leatherman....the redemption

**ski_faster** · 03-20-2007, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Natedogg

FKNA cool. Is this a few miles south of Borah?

Yes in the Mount Breitenbach photo you can see Borah to the left of center.

**fishsv** · 03-20-2007, 06:08 PM

Here are a few more pics, thanks for the trip

**fishsv** · 03-21-2007, 06:54 AM

just a few more pics

**Natedogg** · 03-21-2007, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by ski_faster

Yes in the Mount Breitenbach photo you can see Borah to the left of center.

Cool.

Off-topic question--is anything in Wildhorse skiable? Been there a lot in the summer, but would love to see pics of it in the winter... Or is it too remote when theres lots of snow?

**mtnjam** · 03-21-2007, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by Natedogg

Off-topic question--is anything in Wildhorse skiable?

in Wildhorse area you could probably ski plenty IF you could get back there in a reasonable time frame. Sled access would be key to skiing anything back there.

There's always Devils Bedstead

**Natedogg** · 03-21-2007, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by mtnjam

in Wildhorse area you could probably ski plenty IF you could get back there in a reasonable time frame. Sled access would be key to skiing anything back there.

There's always Devils Bedstead

Whats the closest you could drive to? Ie., whats the winter access like for Trail Creek Road? Not that I am going to do it, Im just curious...

Is that DBW?

Ive been to the top of DBE--would love to do more summits in Wildhorse. Love that place.

**mtnjam** · 03-21-2007, 09:02 AM

that's DBE - at least that's what the picture title says (image from IdahoSummits.com)

I'd think you could drive up Trail Creek quite a ways, but I don't know how far you could go. Maybe up to Wildhorse trailhead? This year, no problem, other years...?

**ski_faster** · 03-21-2007, 11:53 AM

Can you say WHISKEEEEE on top of Idaho's 6th tallest peak?

Thanks Ben for posting those pictures. Now if we can just get Dave on board.

**fishsv** · 03-21-2007, 12:22 PM

here is a little extra bait for Dave. Now even his kid is on it.

**mtnjam** · 03-22-2007, 09:44 AM

a few more of Joe further down and the "crappy" ridgeline

**mtnjam** · 03-22-2007, 09:47 AM

a few more scenics:

**TyWebb** · 03-22-2007, 10:39 AM

Killer TR, love the pics from different people. Looks like great day. This one however is just classic...I can almost see the social services writeup now. "The child was forced to ski to the point of exhustion. Even when the boy could no longer stand, he was made to ride the magic carpet over and over."

**mtnjam** · 03-17-2009, 02:05 PM

BUMP....from a fun day 2 St. Patty's Days ago

**Blurred** · 03-17-2009, 02:31 PM

I love this TR.

Mackay and the surrounding area is just awesome. Will always be special to me.....

And then, there's the Devils Bedstead.

Of all the mountains I know of, I want to ski this one the most.

My Dad helped build a cabin on the north fork of the Big Lost, and the view to the south was the Bedstead. When I was about 7 or 8, I remember the military coming in to extract a skier who had beatered on it. As my Dad and everyone else were saying things like "what were those idiots doing trying to ski that", I was pretty moved by the whole thing, and thought those dudes were pretty fuckin' cool.

I'd be down to rally for that thing in the next few weeks if coverage is good.

And Joe, you need to get your ass to Colorado PRONTO.

**ski_faster** · 03-17-2009, 03:03 PM

Happy St. Patty's Day.

Bedstead should be good to go really soon. Just need to rally Conundrum to haul us back there on the sled. I will have to call over to a friend that skied it last year and ask him if it's ready yet.

Blurred, I would love to get to Colorado I just don't see it happening soon. After this last weekend at Bench Hut. Then I might be heading back over to the Sawtooth's with ONE objective in mind this week. Then one week in between the time I head back to the Sawtooth's again for another hut trip I am maxed out on trips. I could squeeze in a Devil's Bedstead if the conditions are right.

**Natedogg** · 03-17-2009, 09:25 PM

That photo of DBE kills me everytime I see it. Love it. Is that the eastern face? If I remember, looking down that fucker, it was vertical. Good luck skiing that. As much as Blurred = sending it, the military will be in to extract your dead body.

Be careful dood.

Boston + St Pattys Day + Harpoon IPA = Mmmmmm