2012 Montana Conditions, Stoke and Whatev Thread

[yeahman]

^^That's a cool photo swimmy. We got to the mountain late so missed any fresh tracks. Hoping for a miracle dump tonight.

[Trackhead]

Went to Showdown Friday night with the camper thinking it was going to snow and the drive would suck Saturday morning. Turns out that didn't happen. They got maybe 1-2" today while we were there. Raining/snowing in Deep Creek. Taking the sled up the Belts tomorrow to go for a walk-a-bout. Raining in Townsend, so I'd think it's snowing up there......

[swimmy]

^^That's a cool photo swimmy. We got to the mountain late so missed any fresh tracks. Hoping for a miracle dump tonight.

Thanks!

Yeah fingers crossed for more snow but I'm keeping expectations low. Oh well, I'll probably be back up early on the Big Sky side for first chair.

[toast2266]

Singlesline: in case you're checking this from Switzerland, you are very much not missing anything in whitefish. 2" on top of bullet proof refrozen shit.

[Talisman]

Just be aware the main base area had stupid long lift lines during the prime morning hours yesterday. The good news 2 more inches fell last night to sweeten up the frozen base.

Yeah fingers crossed for more snow but I'm keeping expectations low. Oh well, I'll probably be back up early on the Big Sky side for first chair.

[Bunion 2020]

Be down tomorrow or Tuesday. No way I want to deal with that shitshow.

[Trackhead]

Is Big Sky keeping you on the marketing payroll? Making low tide look pretty good right there!

[singlesline]

Singlesline: in case you're checking this from Switzerland, you are very much not missing anything in whitefish. 2" on top of bullet proof refrozen shit.

I'm checking this from getting fucked by air travel...epic disarray, both mechanical and weather, boarded and deplaned *multiple* planes in Denver, got denied boarding on another flight due to an employee fuckup: when the offshore phone agent modified my ticket to europe, they messed something up with a later flight and apparently, they won't let you board a flight with a problem further down your itinerary...so I was just standing there helplessly on hold as the gate agents looked at me with pity and closed the doors.

Miraculously I somehow made it via London and the LHR ticket agents actually knew WTF they were doing and were easily able to reroute me straight to Zurich (which all of hte phone/chat agents insisted was impossible and I had to make an extra stop in Germany). On a train to the mountains now.

No luggage though--that's somehow sitting in Washington DC. I have my boots/helmet and that's about it. Spring conditions so I guess I don't need much (could ski in jeans!), but tomorrow morning will be rentals + a shopping spree on the airline's dime.

[singlesline]

I will say I *love* that there's a dude walking around the train station in touring boots, carrying a pair of loose skis.

I'm assuming he just rolled up to the train this morning in his gear, went for a tour, and is now on his way home...no shoes or change of clothes required.

[livefreerdie]

Raining/snowing in Deep Creek. Taking the sled up the Belts tomorrow to go for a walk-a-bout. Raining in Townsend, so I'd think it's snowing up there......

I'm staying at the FS cabin in 4 weeks at low elevation. Do you think there will be any base left on the low angle slopes near Highway 12 or do we have to start higher?

[toastybroski]

Not sure where great divide found their 10 inches of snow but regardless it skied fantastic.

[Trackhead]

I needed a day like today, bad. Wonderful day in the Big Belts. Not much wind, some new snow.

[Trackhead]

I'm staying at the FS cabin in 4 weeks at low elevation. Do you think there will be any base left on the low angle slopes near Highway 12 or do we have to start higher?

Hwy 12 (Deep Creek Canyon) is never good for snow. 5500ft is where the snowline is to start sledding effectively. What cabin? I can tow you up to Edith trailhead (10 miles) if you want.

[ski counselor]

Not sure where great divide found their 10 inches of snow but regardless it skied fantastic.

Easily the best day of the year up there. It even felt like there was somewhat of a base. Amazing.

[yeahman]

I needed a day like today, bad. Wonderful day in the Big Belts. Not much wind, some new snow.

Great photos Trackhead, looks awesome up there. I'd love to get up into the Big Belts with you sometime.

Daughter and I had a fun morning at BS rolling around with swimmy skiing pow and taking photos. Really nice conditions in places, other spots not so much. They opened the tram after lunch so the kid and I got to do a couple laps up there. Surprisingly deep, especially down low below Screaming Left. Lots of hard sastrugi bumps under the pow on Liberty but if you could land in the fresh snow the turns were pretty fun. Anyway, glad she got to ski a couple laps on the new tram. Got cold and windy and kept snowing up there and felt like actual winter.

[swimmy]

Dayumm Track, those look like best turns of the year. Nice.

Fun morning with Yeahman and his daughter. Here is one of those nice stashes he mentioned

[Harry]

Fun day at Big Sky. Rolled early with Djongo & Talisman, then met up with Mr & Mrs singlecross on our second run. Super fun crew.

Ended the day eating elk chili that was shot by Talisman himself. Living large.

[Trackhead]

Great photos Trackhead, looks awesome up there. I'd love to get up into the Big Belts with you

Anytime… I’m going up near Mt Edith on the next trip want to explore those bowls you can see from Hwy 12.

[singlecross]

Harry…
“ The best way to stay on a bronc ain’t no riddle,
Keep a leg down each side and your mind in the middle.
Since life is a bronc and ride him we must,
My wish for you is may your cinch never bust!”



As we say in Maine… FKNA, bub!

[toast2266]

I'm checking this from getting fucked by air travel...epic disarray, both mechanical and weather, boarded and deplaned *multiple* planes in Denver, got denied boarding on another flight due to an employee fuckup: when the offshore phone agent modified my ticket to europe, they messed something up with a later flight and apparently, they won't let you board a flight with a problem further down your itinerary...so I was just standing there helplessly on hold as the gate agents looked at me with pity and closed the doors.

Miraculously I somehow made it via London and the LHR ticket agents actually knew WTF they were doing and were easily able to reroute me straight to Zurich (which all of hte phone/chat agents insisted was impossible and I had to make an extra stop in Germany). On a train to the mountains now.

No luggage though--that's somehow sitting in Washington DC. I have my boots/helmet and that's about it. Spring conditions so I guess I don't need much (could ski in jeans!), but tomorrow morning will be rentals + a shopping spree on the airline's dime.

Oh man, that gives me flashbacks to our bike trip this summer. Which still wasn't nearly as bad as your debacle. But congrats on getting there, eventually.

Whitefish was severely variable today. Ranging from ok-ish dust on crust, to much less ok crust on crust. But certainly better than rain, so at least there's that.

[Trackhead]

Easily the best day of the year up there. It even felt like there was somewhat of a base. Amazing.

Nice scoring first tracks on that line, that's a fun spot.

[livefreerdie]

Hwy 12 (Deep Creek Canyon) is never good for snow. 5500ft is where the snowline is to start sledding effectively. What cabin? I can tow you up to Edith trailhead (10 miles) if you want.

Rillway. I'd love to go with you sometime but this trip probably isn't the time the way the group is set up. I've poked around that area a few times in the summer and it looked promising for skiing but I was using my imagination for the snow at the time. Do people generally park down low by Cabin Gulch and snowmo up, or is it possible to drive (or fatbike?) up closer to the Edith TH? I grabbed a satellite image from January 30 and it's...

[livefreerdie]

My apologies everyone, it's not right to leave this thread in a state of anti-stoke.

[Trackhead]

Livefreedie;

You can ski the burned forest at the top of the pass on a “normal” winter. Easy pull off from road east access. 700’ north facing trees. This year it’s unlikely unless we suddenly get a few feet.

Cabin gulch, just down the road from your cabin, typically holds snow well but this year it got roasted. I ride that all the time in the summer on my gravel bike, it’s about 11-12 miles to Edith. Yes, fat biking it would be possible but would be a long effort with skis. There’s no viable skiing on that road typically. To low elevation.

Offer stands if you want a tow up. Happy to help

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

Great to meet singlecross this weekend at my tent at skijoring! Hoping to get up and ski the leftover refrozen whatever it is today.