Wimpy's

The morning started innocently enough. A 6:30 alarm. A 7:00 ride. A drive over to the Death Canyon TH in Jackson.


Unfortunately, we got caught in Jackson's morning rush hour traffic...

We left the car at 8:45 and set off under a light snow to begin the long 4,000ft ascent up to Wimpy's. Everyone around here agrees, this has been one of the most memorable snowpacks for late November the Tetons has seen in a while. Which is fine with me, really, because as a result of a number of logistics falling into place nicely, I have a wide open door to fully experience everything the Teton Backcountry has to offer this winter. And today, things were looking good if not great.

The skin track from the prior visitors was still clear for the most part up the majority of the lower portion of the ascent, but began to fade up higher as the wind and steadily falling snow filled it in. We made the top in a steady, but comfortable 3 1/2 hours, took in the magnitude of our foggy perch, and proceeded on to a three lap, 900ft circuit in some of the best November fluff the Tetons can produce.

After the first lap, we stood on top of Wimpy's pondering the plausibility of getting up Albright Peak and just as we had settled on at least traversing over to check out the snow stability over there, I saw the cloud...

The large cornice on the NE facing ridgetop had released sending a massive volume of snow and ice down the face directly in front of us. The cloud of snow was followed by a thunderous crash as the debris cascaded down the NE face onto the lower snowfield. That was enough for us. Negative on Albright. So we took two more laps on Wimpy's.

What a day. I'm quickly finding my ski legs both climbing and descending and feeling better each time I go out even with my heinously monsterous skis. I could use a pair half the weight, but at this point it's only making me stronger. And it's what I got. So that's that.

The final descent down was what one would expect of a continuous 4,000 powder run. Not much else to say about that. Keep it snowing.

Table Mountain - almost

Tried to go up Table today but was twarted by a couple of factors: Late start, friend's frozen pipes at home (cause of the late start), ungroomed ski from the winter trailhead to the base of the climb that took longer than expected, and LOTS of deep, untracked snow to climb through. I am exhausted. But in a good way. And I doubt there is a more complete workout than what we did today. After the past few weeks, I needed it.

Skiing off into the sunset

Bliss

Down lower, the snow started to get heavier and thinner. So did the trees and willows. We had to pick our line down very carefully and never really felt completely safe until we were back at the summer trailhead. I happened to be on the receiving end of the two most noteworthy incidents. Finding the slope's biggest hidden rock garden and taking a scrubby aspen square between the legs. Luckily, I was able to push it mostly down and out of harm's way. Sheesh. The risks involved with trying to take a few early season turns...

We didn't make it to the top, but we were able to partake of the slope's best snowfields which, other than being a bit thin in spots, actually held pretty decent snow. Don't know if I'm gonna make it up Table this month. I haven't yet and I only have two more available days to do it.

A Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving and enjoyed time with family and friends. We all are extremely fortunate to have what we have and be able to do the things we do. Sometimes it's easy to lose track of that, but hopefully for only brief moments, if at all.

I live in an amazing place. I know this and I am thankful for that. And I have amazing friends. I am very thankful for everything I have and am able to do. Days like this are beautiful days.

Got together for a morning ski excusion up to Mt. Oliver with MikeE and Liz. Took the better part of the day skinning up to the 9,000ft summit then doing a few laps off the top. Then it was off to the traditional thanksgiving gathering at the house of some friends in Driggs. Great food. Great company. Lots of laughs. Don't know if I can think of too much else that would make for a better day. Except maybe to see my family and friends back in Portland. Two weeks!

Danny MacAskill

Quite possibly the best trials rider ever. And quite possibly the best cinematography as well. Brilliantly done.

12 Months of Table Mountain

The project began three days after Thanksgiving on the last Sunday in November, 2009. I continued to reach the summit at least once in each of the next 11 months.

I started the hike from the summer trailhead in three of the months, November, December, and October. The rest of the months, I began at the winter trailhead and ran the four miles upcanyon to the summer TH and the base of the climb.

I used the Face Route to ascend in all 12 months and used various routes down.

I used snowshoes in eight of the months from November through June. The other four were snow-free.

Here are the photos from the top from each month:


NOVEMBER - The best sunset









































DECEMBER - The coldest (it was -13 when I began and I'm pretty sure it just got colder from there)






































JANUARY - The most powder! And also the slowest.





































FEBRUARY - The worst summit photo

















MARCH - Most bluebird

APRIL - First time in shorts

MAY - The windiest

JUNE - Best use of all four seasons

JULY - Best hailstorm

AUGUST - The warmest

SEPTEMBER - The slushiest, sloppiest, slipperiest. And most crowded.

OCTOBER - The most unique colors (grey and yellow) and the best company (Jon and MikeE)

Late October - Into Storm Season

Towards the end of October, the climate began to display the shifting of the seasons in earnest as the temperatures had become consistently lower and the high country grew whiter. The lower elevations still hadn't been affected and we were still taking advantage of the dirt that remained under foot as much as we possibly could. That meant an afternoon outing up the Roaring Fork of Teton Canyon all the way to the windswept alpine expanse of Hurricane Pass on Saturday and a gentle meander through the remote southwest corner of Yellowstone Nat'l Park on Sunday amidst a relentless chilling rain. This is what it's all about right here.

2nd weekend in October

On Saturday, MikeE and Jon and I moseyed up Table amongst typical fall colors: Yellow leaves and grey skies.

This marked my 12th consecutive month summiting Table and the completion of my goal. But maybe I'll just keep going...

Then, on Sunday, MikeE and I drove over to JHole for an ascent of Buck Mtn. Finally! After ten years of living here, I finally got to the top!