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Beartooths, Memorial Day 2016
This is a bit belated, but I haven't had useable internet for over three months, and mid-August seems like an appropriate time to share ski photos.
I had a week off of work starting Memorial Day weekend this year, so rather than go to Costco and load up on wieners and potato salad, I opted for a five-day solo tour in the 'Tooths. Things started off strong with some giant creek crossings on wet logs and a little grass touring:
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A few snow squalls made their way through on the way in, but for the most part it was pretty easy once I managed to get on some continuous snow:
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After crossing rolling plateau for several hours, I got into sight of some dang fine mountains, I reckon.
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I got to cross lake ice on the way in, but warm temps for the next few days changed that situation considerably.
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The first full day in, I went for a line I'd really wanted for a few years. The weather was beautiful all day, and I got to ski from one of Montana's highest peaks in a mixture of wind-buffed powder transitioning to corn toward the bottom.
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I skied around some other stuff the rest of the day, and then cruised back to camp for an evening of mediocre views:
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The next day I wasn't sure which mountain I wanted to ski, so I took a tour around a new (to me) section of the plateau and skied them both as a compromise. There is a large, rapidly disappearing glacier at the base of these, and it was kind of cool (but sad) to know I am one of the few and last people to ski across it.
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This couloir ended up being an unexpected highlight of the trip. I decided not to summit due to incoming storms, but ended up having a great ski that got me back to camp a few minutes before the hail and lightning came in.
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The snow was a bit mooshy in the afternoon, but I am a tolerant guy, so I managed to enjoy it.
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I had one more nice evening in camp before the weather took a turn for the worse. The next couple days were a bit on the windy side up high and overcast so I didn't take many photos, but I did manage a couple more summits.
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I think the next ski trip in this area will be an XC traverse in the winter, but it was nice to get up a few peaks I'd been eyeing to verify that yes, they are pretty bitchin' to go down.
