Plummer Canyon Yurt Beta?

**phatfreeheeler** · 12-26-2006, 01:30 PM

Hey, anybody have some good beta on the Plummer Canyon Yurt outside of Driggs? We'll be going in on this coming Saturday with a varied group of backcountry skills. I found one thread on here, but pretty short and all low angle pics.

Where's the best terrain near the yurt? Anything the yurt didn't have when you got there, or that would have been sweet if you had thought to bring it in? What's the approach like, other than 1800' vert? Can a splitboarder ride the board out or will they need to split it and walk? Any snowpack beta not on the http://www.jhavalanche.org site? With the impending weather I'm thinking the danger will rise to at least considerable by the time we go in. Not sure how fast things settle out up there or if there is some spooky stuff deep in the snowpack. Any good safe slopes to play on near the yurt?

**Adski** · 12-26-2006, 01:55 PM

Plummer is a great yurt, especially for those with varied abilities. Great low-angle shots right outside the door, with steeper stuff to the north into Game(?) Creek. A walk of 2-3 miles would put you into big terrain. Snowpack there has been relatively thin this year, but I'm sure there is enough snow around the yurt and up higher to have plenty of terrain covered. The owners of the yurts (Jeff and Diane) are the best source for snowpack info. They and their guides are out every day and know what layers are problematic in which drainages and aspects.

Approach is kind of a bitch. It's a low-elevation trailhead, with either a long road slog with packs to a brushy slog across a creek and into the drainage, or a brushy side-hill slog to get into the drainage. I imagine the brush in the canyon this year is pretty thick. When I went a few years ago, it was a good snow year and we were all cursing the brush both on the way in and out from the yurt.

Once in the canyon, it's pretty narrow, and the climb out of the canyon in the "correct" spot is not obvious. If you are breaking trail, get to the trailhead early, bring headlamps, map, compass and get GPS points from Jeff and Diane, if they have them. The bulk of the ascent is here getting out of the canyon (about 800 vert, I'd say). Once atop the canyon, on the bench, it's much easier going. I did not think the climb was too arduous overall, though some in our group really struggled with packs (they were total newbies to skinning with overnight packs).

When I was there, there were snow journals and one of the required duties was for every party to leave as detailed information as they could about the snowpack (pits, aspects skied, weather obs, etc) and where they skied.

As a side note, do the owner's still require at least one in the group to have been to the location or else a guide has to accompany the party for the hike in? May seem like an added expense, but having a guide for the first day could be worth it to point out good skiing for abilities, snow obs, etc.

Yurt is well stocked and comfortable. BYO booze, buds, booties, and food of course.

**rideit** · 12-26-2006, 02:57 PM

Plummer is across the road from my house...the brush is indeed thick this year. There is still a hoar layer four feet deep, but only on certain aspects. The Moose Creek exit is *doable* with the board in ride mode, but with full packs, trying to ski down it in split mode would be quite difficult. There is currently good coverage, but DO contact Jeff and Diane about more specific beta. I will be in the Baldy yurt, just north of you guys for new years...have fun!

**phatfreeheeler** · 12-26-2006, 03:10 PM

Thanks for the beta Adski and rideit. We do have at least one person coming from Boise who's been in, I think last year. I don't think we have a guide planned. Hope she still remembers the way. We'll be going in early morning so we'll have plenty of time to find it though.

Is the Moose Creek exit the same way we will likely go in? Skiing in split mode sucks so riding out is a big plus to the splitters in the group.

**rideit** · 12-26-2006, 03:14 PM

I have only gone in/out via Moose Creek, so I can't tell you the viability of fully riding out to Game Creek...I would call Yostmark in driggs, or obviously Jeff and Diane. The M.C. entry/exit is a steep mofo.

**homemadesalsa** · 12-26-2006, 08:35 PM

Hi all-

i guide for Jeff and Diane from time to time, and Plummer is my favorite. Good map reading is crucial, as Rideit says. The Game Creek exit has a mile to 2 mile swath of critical winter game habitat that is closed to humans from Thanksgiving to April- that is the only place I have seen a mtn lion up close and personal. YOu will probably have to split your board at least by the time you get back down to Moose Creek on the way out.

As far as the skiing and riding, the terrain that is east of the yurt and N facing into Game Creek (the higher portion) is the best safe turns- nothing over say 35•. I have cut some BIG slides on the avy paths further east into Game Creek, and off of Rhodesia Ridge into the N FORK of Game Creek- it is the real deal up there and there were some scary surface hoar layers buried when I left last week. YOu might also check www.jhsnowobs.org for up to date reports. Look to Wow and Wowie for more safe turns as well, but if it blowy the vis and routefinding can be issues.

Rideit hope your knee works great!
homemadesalsa