Jackson/Moonlight TR and Pics

**uglymoney** · 03-12-2006, 11:51 PM

Left after work on Friday afternoon. My dog summit knew exactly what was happening and wouldn't stay out of the car. She did not want to be left behind to suffer for another week of Iowa flatness, preferring to ride along on what would be a 2900 mile tour of the west.

After a few hours rest in the back of the Suby, non maggot friend Terry showed up in Cheyenne right on schedule Saturday morning, we put his box and quiver on my Yakima rack after some redrilling and rotating of the boxes. Two guys, a dog, and six pairs of skis, the skinny two were never used, the fat skis were all utilized. My AK Rockets from steep and cheap were freshly mounted and ready to slide.

I-80 was hairball with winds gusting to extraordinarily high levels. With two boxes on my roof it was full throttle to maintain speed where it was safe most of the way from Cheyenne till well past Elk Mountain. We averaged only about 17 mpg on that tank. Typical blowdown day on 80.

A little closer to Jackson and things became slightly more promising. I always enjoy the last few miles up 191.

Terry helped me get my skins shaved and ready for the trail. 110 mm BD Ascension Clipfix from sierra trading post for $89.

After a crazy night at the Rancher on Saturday, it was finally time to head into the mountains. We chose West Mail cabin for our first tour out of the Coal Bank parking lot. Two years ago we did the same tour, but did a few more laps this time on the way back to the car.

The first target. It always feels so good to me to finally get to take a walk through the mountains.

Pow! Terry lets rip with the Gotama's.

Unknown telemarker rips the shoulder as we skin back up.

Same party, different unknown ripper. Its fun to watch all the great skiers around Jackson tear up the mountains.

Lapping our way back toward the car we spot the pretty work of some farmers.

Terry takes another lap.

Laps.

Monday we park at the top of the pass and wave to the camera. Amazingly, it captured the wave and a friend who was viewing it saved it off for us!

The Claw was skiing awesome so we tracked it to death. So good.

Uglymoney gives camera to friend for a couple of shots. He has some better shots on his better camera that I may post later when he sends them to me.

Terry again.

Tuesday we did the boot back up glory and skied what I think is Chicken Scratch. Great snow on top. Non maggot Troy.

The roller above the claw.

Troy on his Line Prophets.

Tuesday night we stayed on the village road in a retro cabin, which put us close and within striking distance of the tram. Equiped with three $15 dollar off coupons sent to me by mntlion (thanks again) we took our last tram rides.

My final tram ride thirty years after I learned to ski at the hole. Now you see it.

Now you don't. My personal hope is that its not gone long, replaced with something similar. I fall on the side of tram lovers.

Uglymoney posing before dropping into Granite Canyon's Endless Couloir.

Taking in the view above Granite and then dropping in.

Troy

**uglymoney** · 03-12-2006, 11:53 PM

Terry

I really like this shot. Troy in ripping Endless.

The trip to Moonlight Basin/Big Sky took us almost exactly three hours. Deep snow on the west side of Yellowstone, lots of Elk sightings, and even some buffalo. It was my first time through the area, and I enjoyed the drive. In areas you come across a gas station every few miles that exist to service the snowmobilers.

We ended up skiing Moonlight on Thursday and Friday. Fun place that is pretty much all about the terrain above the completely flat bottom. Nobody was home, especially on Thursday with some cold air and wind, and lift tickets were cheap. I didn't make it over to the Big Sky side, finding plenty to keep me happy here:

Walking on the ridge with ski boots that have worn souls is a little hairball. AT boots, or Tele boots with vibram souls seemed to be the way to go. In places, a slip or a fall means a ride over shale, and so I took my time as I made my way across the ridge.

A look up from the bottom.

A picture of Big Sky that will taunt me until I return. I just couldn't fit it into this trip. Amazing terrain. The last time I visited was in 1997 which was also a good snow year, but it was nowhere near this filled in.

**rideit** · 03-13-2006, 12:00 AM

Sincerely, THANK YOU for re-kindling the stoke as to why I live here. I take it for granted sometimes, I really do. Great photo's, great writeup. Sounds like a classic JH roadtrip.
I, for one, vow to get after some in Coal Creek (Taylor) tomorrow, it is but 5 miles from my house, and I do not visit nearly enough. Kudos!!

**fez** · 03-13-2006, 12:06 AM

nice job ugly,
looks like a hell of a trip.

**XtrPickels** · 03-13-2006, 12:09 AM

awesome roadtrip. props for the stoke

**truth** · 03-13-2006, 12:16 AM

You win BIG with $$$ conditions. That view down granite was to die for.

**janus** · 03-13-2006, 12:34 AM

fucking great

**Brooks** · 03-13-2006, 12:40 AM

dude do you have a mini colle?.... gay

**rideit** · 03-13-2006, 12:48 AM

Originally Posted by Brooks

dude do you have a mini colle?.... gay

Weak sauce, Brooks. Please come back next time when you have the energy to ennervate. As it is, you are as lame as a thirty day old mylar balloon on the floor of a chuckie cheese. PS SUCKS, BTW!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll

**Brooks** · 03-13-2006, 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by rideit

Weak sauce, Brooks. Please come back next time when you have the energy to ennervate. As it is, you are as lame as a thirty day old mylar balloon on the floor of a chuckie cheese. PS SUCKS, BTW!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll

you faggot. ill murder your mother

**Brooks** · 03-13-2006, 12:54 AM

that was AKA

**kush1** · 03-13-2006, 12:55 AM

Originally Posted by rideit

Weak sauce, Brooks. Please come back next time when you have the energy to ennervate. As it is, you are as lame as a thirty day old mylar balloon on the floor of a chuckie cheese. PS SUCKS, BTW!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll

Why does PS suck? What has "post script" ever done to you?

**rideit** · 03-13-2006, 12:58 AM

Post Script ruined my life...The obnoxious, overused form actually.....

killed my mother.

PS: Jackson Rocks!

**alpinepronghorn** · 03-13-2006, 01:00 AM

Um, not to interupt, but...

Sweet pics, monkey. It's been great to have winter back in Jackson, and I'm glad you got after it. Thanks for sharing, makes me want to get back into some of those places that aren't in my regular rotation.

**rideit** · 03-13-2006, 01:02 AM

Yup, back on track, great TR, as stated.
And now back to scheduled cunting.

**Brooks** · 03-13-2006, 01:03 AM

what are those orange skis that guy has?.... is that them fancy powder skis I heard so much about....

**upallnight** · 03-13-2006, 01:07 AM

Nice TR! Way to catch the return to winter conditions!!

Great road-trip, and thanks for the (local) stoke.

**Ak_pride** · 03-13-2006, 01:51 AM

that picture of lone peak is amazing. So many lines in there filled in that are not normally possible.

**brettf** · 03-13-2006, 01:58 AM

Awesome TR. Love to see some road trips being thrown down!!

**Endlessseason** · 03-13-2006, 02:11 AM

WOW! Great TR and pics! Thanks for posting this. I've got to get back up there.

**skiing-in-jackson** · 03-13-2006, 08:29 AM

great pics! and that's coming from a guy who lives in Jackson

**hev** · 03-13-2006, 09:02 AM

well played.

**roll - gybe** · 03-13-2006, 09:18 AM

Are those first few pics Thanksgiving Bowl?

That drive looked like mine. I saw about 20 overturned 18 wheelers on the way up. It was a really scary drive. I thought I was in mad max.