Drawing the line, and hoping it all works!
This season we were able to go back to one of our favorite snowmobile access zones in Wyoming. It seems like going back to our favorite spot always seems to works out in our favor. There is always a chance to see things from a new and different perspective! I have learned this lesson over the years, patience is key!
Another factor is how the snow forms on the terrain here in Wyoming. Wyoming gets a lot of dry snow and that can leave rock exposed. It can also allow for cool sand dune-like formations to form. When we do get some wetter snow, it can form spines and make the snow stick to the limestone and granite layers that make up the Teton Range.
Getting a close up view of the rare spines!
Being able to ride this kind of snow that forms on this kind of rock is an unreal experience. Just as we find Earth-like planets rare among the cosmos, these kinds of snow formations are few and far between in the mountains. There is a small window of time when the conditions are right for this terrain to be skiable. Wind, precipitation, and temperature have to cooperate as well. The snow cannot be too dry. it has to be able to bond to the rock wall which is near vertical.
Sitting, Scheming, making the dream come true.
The feeling of riding these spines is different from any kind of skiing. When you get on terrain this steep you are basically controlling your descent more than you are actually skiing. A controlled free fall of sorts, where you need to be thinking not just 1 or two turns ahead, but of the entire run.
800 cc's of uphill mobility!
Going back to our favorite zone seems to pay off because the more I learn a ski zone, the more comfortable I am to try new tricks and get creative.
The feeling after the line was a success!
This was the second time skiing this zone for Kai and you could tell by his confidence in reading the snow and terrain. Experience is crucial in the sport of skiing and it shows when you are able to ski something confidently. Kai is learning valuable backcountry skills at a very young age and its awesome to see the confidence out there as well as the desire to learn safety skills as well. Safety and Sending are equally important and it's great to see that concept being practiced during a film shoot.
A couple of Kings.
This is good because the 360 spine transfer I attempted could have ended badly if I missed my mark. To be completely honest I just rolled the dice and hoped I would hit the spines in the landing without bouncing or having an uneven touchdown. The biggest confidence boost was the fact that I had skied the same line the year before and knew the takeoff spot well. This line was a huge goal of mine and it felt good for everything to go how I visioned it.
Riding the spines, and trying not to get lost.
I am looking forward to more film adventures in Wyoming in the future. Sure we will explore and look for something new, but I have a pretty good feeling we will be curious how our trusted favorite spot is doing and check it out at some point during the winter months.
Tanner Lewis
October 7th, 2020
When you say that conditions need to be right for this terrain to be ski-able, are you referring to avalanche danger and the snow sliding off the rocks when you touch it? Or is it more a matter of getting the snow to stick to the rocks in the first place?