TR: 3 Days in Jackson

Ian(lurker) hit me up and asked if I was doing anything presidents day weekend. Didn't have plans, but don't usually get Monday off, so I took some much needed vacation and booked the motel 6 in Jackson, got the last room. As the trip got closer we were thinking about cancelling our reservations and heading to the Rubies. However, after reviewing google earth we decided Jackson had more options even though we've made multiple trips in the past. Jackson just delivers when it comes to steep skiing that will leave you puckered.

Left around 4pm from SLC and headed north, no real snow in the forecast, just clouds and some wind, hopefully not too much. Arrived late on Friday and hit up _Aaron to see if he had any plans for the morning. He hit me back with a 5:30 start just mentioning we were going to head up north and to bring the sharp pointy bits.

Day 1:

It started like this, crossing the lake
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yR...=w1413-h955-no

Views sucked, company didn't
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/nR...=w1407-h955-no

_Aaron heading up
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fe...=w1274-h956-no

Me breaking for a bit
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-...=w1521-h955-no

Ian stoked to be nearing the apron of our objective for the day
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BB...k=w717-h955-no

More views
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rr...=w1274-h956-no

The weather window looked like it was closing in on us, so we put it into high gear and rallied, _Aaron and Ben heading up
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Q0...w=w717-h955-no

There was talk of a crux, looking good!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zF...c=w717-h955-no

Nearing zee top!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vY...=w1676-h955-no

_Aaron and Ben charging
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/x0...=w1380-h955-no

It ended up being super windy at the top, enough to almost blow us over, we quickly switched over, donned puffies and started down. Ian making those first turns off the top, always a relief to be clicked in
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/u-...=w1274-h956-no

Day 1 cont:
_Aaron following suit
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/r_...E=w717-h955-no

Ben, the no post jong, not far behind
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/q3...s=w717-h955-no

Me enjoying turns down the gut
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...77&oe=5728D299

Entering the Crux
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fz...g=w709-h955-no

_Aaron dragging that hand, err axe
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/sl...A=w717-h955-no

Finishing it out down the apron
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ya...=w1274-h955-no

Storms here
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2A...=w1274-h956-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...=w1640-h955-no

Nice!

BOOM!!

Ben has skinny skis. Great pictures.

Super sweet.

Hell Yeah!

Awesome bud!

nice

eagle shoulder?

That looks quite different from my trip to Jackson. lol
Hope to explore more Jackson like that sometime in the future.
Great trip!

Great stoke! Hoping to get some of that in about 10 days. :)

Day 2:

Day 2 brought another early morning start the plan was to ski something off Prospector. Ian above the lake
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bE...X=w717-h955-no

Ben following
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ny...Q=w933-h955-no

Me breaking in my green boots
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gq...=w1510-h955-no

Happy Rappy
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/n9...Q=w717-h955-no

Another
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/YX...2=w717-h955-no

Finally on snow
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/h5...=w1274-h956-no

Stability was ok for the first couple turns but got a little questionable after we hit the first safe spot, skied on belay for couple pitches and then were able to open it up a bit, whew!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/97...0=w717-h955-no

Me making some turns down the gut
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/47...=w1539-h955-no

Some more steep turns
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZY...g=w987-h955-no

Some belayed skiing through the ice bulge crux
https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...39363553_o.jpg

Ben opening it up on the apron
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Fe...w=w717-h955-no

Me, doing the same
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rE...Q=w925-h955-no

Happy to be outta there!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/tP...=w1359-h955-no

Reserved Day 3

beauty!

excellent TR jtrue

way to get after it

Added Day 2

Sweet.

Apocalypse? Great shots of a line that carries a stout hazard on a good day- well done.

Awesome. I love the action shots with the ice in the background. Looking forward to Day 3.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tye 1on

Apocalypse? Great shots of a line that carries a stout hazard on a good day- well done.

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Yep, definitely one of the most committing lines I've skied. Dropping off the rope into the cave after the last rappel is a relief and mind fuck all in one.

That's a heavy one. Bravo dude.

Awesome.

Hardcore. Lots of walking. You guys are impressive. Well done!

Wow, what a spectacular location!

Yeah bud. Good to see you.

Great stuff, looking forward to the addition of day 3.

Some more shots from day 1-2, from Ben.

Hop turns
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mg...=w1439-h955-no

Ian sliding through the crux
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8...=w1439-h955-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ix...5=w635-h955-no

Ian slashing one
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Kh...j=w635-h955-no

Good times!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/aW...4=w635-h955-no

Great TR - thanks for posting up.

Looks grippy! Solid work. A+ on the photojournalism

Last day was a mellow day on the pass, but still got in some decent vert. Heavier snow made for some slarvy turns!

A bit socked in, but still fun!
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/l5...=w1516-h996-no

Ian wasn't having a good time.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/tg...m=w747-h995-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/D5...Y=w747-h995-no

Steep trees
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/o8...F=w747-h995-no

Velvet
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/y8...=w1504-h996-no

Can't disguise the fun that is pow skiing. That's a wrap.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pE...=w1397-h995-no

Glad I looked at this. Nice line. And fantastic ice.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ottime

Glad I looked at this. Nice line. And fantastic ice.

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Yeah, hard not to stop and stare think about climbing a couple routes.

Great pictures! Love it when someone actually can post a good photo. Thanks!

Those shots with the ice backgrounds are really cool. Nice TR, thanks!

Tight...