February 13, 2016, Jackson, GTNP
2/13/16
6197
9
Ian 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
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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yRGc8Bgn7u4m41bAB6pm7AOwAQv7bKCgiRKwJkZjcc9U6g8oU5FSAeoRlnP3qgbklivHkXBKzuv4BjjH66wt-CsEn5RZyu3MPYtgojEuLXw-61FzzslKPt5dX9RFTSqi8SqhaXd3EzJjq_tAwffdTsqzkVyRZFg9nGtgJLK-68-rtVyG2RMgyf2FgGCXgyin7vF-DLHx2gNLzO82rNsjtSB64HL6LqeZGj3MNJYWGj5a5qGvc30IxE0u6DNSE_6yrEy1Q6_1jXewleYn29G1mWKJyycC5fNG3XLPc7mcGJ2gCdkgWsuyNojaSTM_1rqvXWf915E6u-9wnZd6_GnPqPnqani9Ej9HMmPp_hevn301L4YjhsZXfDtbZg-Su173mgNzKG78mjhHV48M2yYHGNe0dcxZXf5C7N4wFClXX68URUQdfCbaaVgJS8wLAuFIRW-PsLuTLqH_FOz2nvhJtdakkKNMdZ_tx6jNDlywAHKsdnFbFmr_sZcyI7wvTXvf0KIGlTeVgrYJknmBDSis0hGIzDTm3SO7bS1JL3efugMZaywQ8WCdgYv-MzQY3hs2GpDQnA=w1413-h955-no" />
Views sucked, company didn't
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Aaron heading up
Me breaking for a bit
![]()
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a-jFmhadgcoSzVsJayLD5oOperkERiZZItgoJ-hG8bFr1IrD8vgbDeJumO8_j3EoIbnvNcQ0JQXb8rip_ZFLKjVYiEsZSkDCQc7SgSe5a4WCGhrCO5e2WfdhU5qmHgw_WNJmzWSKWZp-PNKRBM1vOYFDPlhXwZiNow6DLLT9fEAoflzd341z1SfB8Eu2J1qacbxMCEMYHkVGOYm_-vf8lh6oMBEYNSQj8SDWSZLOZQ5kwUR28RnLM-ffBaXHSeieDIRrQ500gOeH3cuebjuaaYXrls1nnXg4s2djOTzP9RxrPC6rcBwbC1C4Jo99D8Pfs7M6hGtz1F1GLzL6MxbAGvl9mNqZqilhn8iiM1RUN4IPAQDEmc1BWxgVVgWt7r1FCOWJcJmL86Pn04Ya0MKb88tELUHnjIltIr2j6FdF8R_yHh4YZZa1tJ0EYGyqUkGhMkINYtu28OrKXEaPiwyS3ZV5DdKsYqlUBPCHqZtTjDvfuFcsMVHKyUdN4rgatjFNHVU3ZM78MM1msKrGcADSQsKinKAEvMDCSQbjUymcSSFarsknFGjR1d0YoZn6PsAhQifkxQ=w1521-h955-no" />
Ian stoked to be nearing the apron of our objective for the day
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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BBpEoZRclVLG9wsymaA8bGvsXjYEpP3cwIseuz2ClFB2WXvwutD8D-KXJBa9b8PeQ1Nw7-c2CpmQ4wVcfrVL9h5EKOtXsSdEO6Q3Y23f1kO9y1ipJVY1nxqHtbw98jBIHB4udUvB1Qm4W-zBtXpJi03en9Vxm3fj2iCE2SOq5LLoS54dEaNg1jc9C83HLzFU-6u_93QRE-o8kC7y42pC0YScTk--6k8m8B14xrvCe1utnhQF_O0tjk1oxG58UcbnghRJniYd92hozKobR3FYrhxjs7Z5lTjb1yF0Knp8qZeuM-CwiIT9xMD3adXlxH3gKnUUDo40qUuqQlmx2qL3lvmFLabLkGu2Ods_byHbr-dgkD55JhyRKjlsu8jOCE5Z4-GVDWJszKp3LTZ_E6mVTtUET7Pl9QHEazfF_LA7_IztsFzJJx5GDm7KDX9ZU4wlQI-GkVCY1fBeuY5-UfFGpGxRGajJC_a6R2oGAAvmNmQ-2R5fRxSkYcy-OPnqeopgKY5ymXu2XqTGMWVJuA3EtWo7yFU4rukv1RF6-6UZNvP7jhDuIvqV_CVBil5xnZqDM7Lk=w717-h955-no" />
More views
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
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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Q0YuhZZJvBXV76VmqyZatJzs6DuqBZ5K5JFqiFgtQ5p9g0oK0boX6B7XS-F1Wf3VB9csP1pUsN9WluJaOWNoJ3TLxLprYXBisjW-86AuOhKd73wq9aEpnTMqQGW8ikEzVgecgyFz10n1VBA_IKl7VMk1T-Jw31qiGE45kBWyuoZqZ2X-9_YuvZbNq4LJz479eTsyIt83xh4QOEuxVRE3wETW3DsvnDiPq_fdq6ojZTvD1RD5Frc0Qn3hTXBRtOaof2TP_oarJhfUeIvpGA2_o-PxTMH69yxtNoxYvk_KerZFYugBkZKsCMHk2rwQPQAuYa45723T5N0n0Klm4b1MmBv9sgdJSH4aFOP0MZPoQy2N-I4R5ASN3grMBZmDlW8tEjS6krAw_yxzV8k_U_oyitUg_ctWNrek3Y_qlkfglJSDdvpf71TQffY9HNGv-ZR-Fvs6DeN5hSHyneqKBjew2lYPJbszD7iC93NVCtzFBgFrvvQm4gowBf4hMzjOEKziYoR5tXaZc6mVtlzZMUskqUzDGHQzQE8ty-zuWYQEQnIJFDx4t9k-UE6TqXKhJXMl8i_w=w717-h955-no" />
There was talk of a crux, looking good!
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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zFCAsYc-U6oW0CVxHIGcME7dVmMWrUT_RmFIdRAzNI3B07qsL5lIZUEaS1BX17WDa9A_tz3HcSLYZxTQ-GvIOujCh2h8kaY8xyXa8Csyn5HvW3LBI57gGclcxEB8_38zQomQSGSPfckZ7HTHCydVHpg0wRIF0ez46IUet9juWwuibARQ0z-c8DZsVAUu6BQaleOVxF4lVSumWCPdnFVf63J1jBLUw0-1U1hQD-meFJSOd4oSghGeWLhDq1aCO_hn7gv-SrVFX6OuZQ6NHzfX2599P9CUDR6jupKfie3giAhx2WKPQeC4hUFSbRaYTuHQUiuLdRTqexREPWE9oU49glxz15quIwjrCHrWMW0DdHf_efkcUc1FetoLt4dhDaL0ftixF42Y_99U6UtYAvmmzFWu60qNGgRh04wbCOje1-aJjxeB8iCJEN2ftQNmBBCMc71-Uc43KqqisEgtCMA718IkNe51NSN9g1Zo6e9DpWIeTaIjIgN20DEM4WhXqgTCKErMk1tn5X4YjmMLjcpGXicwotbYO1oLmrtyK25wmtH8rvVen2R8o82WnztNaizlQHzc=w717-h955-no" />
Nearing zee top!
Aaron and Ben charging
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
_Aaron following suit
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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/r_iN6RdGqh9a2lfKP7kMQ9VvDvgk5irV45cdhj-AG4s7DC2HmD5eNq-nh8k1p1-fmP3KtWiAZWxkBmjc40dgy4CwWj0VkZeaHEvzWY-9p2Pg2vH5tcnazMe4TNmvuHseuicQoeSfsqvNhQ4M4ttEOFRc9Gs9BJaFQZjHt4XOjcyb98k3tx8_xIwa9e_0JVUbasv_EcFZBXQaF9VbxQakTe2CYRpYzx9hqfFcuMDK3BwJudk0rPW5wSkRdzKDFcj4P56uxLhQmUVer-s8CJQfy4WGNTkqqVwECj-nD14UaUekLBv1SiFZQvNr4n4Gmd-dF8_XhnoJ2tF8A3boxAiXqeNQRiCqKgUm1p6TMjZxXDVNfkM99ZRPJroK00XtQJGZMqZCuGtgQNSCvuqpyeyU2jaKuTD8i0iKR09eswoiKfZNSp6sN4BxKYvx22kkibajk2uGpQGz6LIT_YCHWZiU8MeiYpLlINrV2V633xbdc9RJf9WD3MnP2ntcJauwcCLT-8H_Jj48mBSDdwDzMFr75upwppoFBLy_0GIRbSUQimbdbwdp1TLXnFR2pyEsN71UgloE=w717-h955-no" />
Ben, not far behind
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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/q35FaW47uwhJDgYqLrtPrAu6GOuLPOcdbHzxwkcFWb8kPDZurK9CZYnp0X2FPdDEQ0wv50JivnZZcJQLQE7_620Kypbz8Ko1Lmz6NqdLAVr-6AUr3JrAMh16ZIl01zPeLjoPMZ23XhVfxeH_G4axiEdinRmkO_ud72FPt0y6TvtE3vTKM87xb4aKooNxWtPGOFJsg8zCxSMp6y21Z0P5qDx_uXG4inLRKNgMq3MWqfffjHY0fj0wXKbpjvGeg0aHo3sXAEK3NAPSkUqgHeWzkWz3d6j5D6RyrBQ8MEqCokwhb3gggAGoZ_m3fP_TJMzwiaQusc-PsXvaQDzl7vGXWAh9yrNM0ntsI3O9FS_HcgccpkGnXzOEWzRVhPVHmDqFsGzhhojKmb0FbmQwCmB7Nw88guBM5RIVPjfaoO5HlyLgRU0FAh8yGg2zgpPJhHdyA2GrpNscnBzjS-8FMQK9L937GEdaXjjFzDZYYZ75bRlmVkgp6fWuXXi4LgrqkkP_AEwFSkE-4BtOqp20nWHOsUL6GFqZ_z870UpCDdch61C-76sZszcq97XhzXM4lUQYb4ps=w717-h955-no" />
Me enjoying turns down the gut
[img">https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtl1/v/t1.0-9/12717858_10100133888194436_6582266429752894957_n.jpg?oh=f5cbe25e9dac8f712a228174087f6577&oe=5728D299" />
Entering the Crux
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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/fzX4HxHdU5Z3nhKIx92lO2zxOepYSq6fF_MRgFd2f-ewWninHYH04QVrQRN0jJo6OVTTL_ZqDisTPxvVgo7hFe12v-gCZJUVqqY_pr3bcg9jGfVxxdBJFyA5u-c5Kk-YTjY7IkgnD4LAFNENIhItRlrC1ZtH7MK54ufCSxBs3f0tP77fJQ2JJjpNChY5ca04xNyoUdJtl39QG2wh97Ttm88nASJHyKELNBMPaQTe2hMsuuD6hhvSHulNwuOtQqrbU1gIaTTQfRzyFhsxfl7o_EVgMX8D2frKOzsK1RtrfdMirNYnPaBWDn8BDp4dNGH0gTx49rxJzPN5pnlgoAwX_bBoV0l4Vx8sGKVSgdtWdUGS0PzGtXJCfKeFEwjdK39BR6JOIKDuHpEb0StQL0C8_8jy2VqLD1Anv1UhyIP5atReJAqlA-_kS1kv1AFP8k7wZbp8AgsAvdMIDGj9vp0V4k8J_vTmhBQ2LPmZrYtVR_nkdJA1qOfDrrgJWdtHQCl47uMBR6aZadqUzRS1QVXRnL11V9P8GG6q-c7j0RBhmVBrXAatv62DR17wd8R-BSwKgzCk3g=w709-h955-no" />
_Aaron dragging that hand, err axe
![]()
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/slARaqUd_y6qQf7dOnzd7Q8B2dIMohrSfj1cKSJUlCWKKp8qPLEW4yEWs5LC4c1UJiWe29Ee4JcTGmkLJj8FvyMsD6hP3xmD_K43LEZGopcpoOvZHdZDn3eoJChU9WecFv6_5VoRJs2NF-Qyx7lDq-B3FUcmq8SfLG2uN3uNv-OQPcUGJ52Rwok_RuUGdURM1GMXz3Sm9ueieh3c8NwKcILSdctfolB0p2aQyoI4bd-vWzsckNAiJu_EWl1WDcAXKLhE-P7EO9s9jFI_iNizwzJaVP9skztxaPjoX2wHC5mYlPd7MElfapcwNaHf4IYqEe0bVodOCV9sKe4AMgLp_np45f3IFhniLTfL7aqhuXU8Z2eQE5J50Zoye_UVVxpi-MpFZ1YzDebg1dIvhzCfL91PkjQio3253gW8l-rpeG7pOpFoIL4JNl4DYW7sniSQAglg6NLcDIYSIIC8phZ-l07HbuBfD2ne0TnNt00BP65oMqYJ3-N5MwC9CVAHXINn9lsjJjZRz_yzUl4Lm6HVNzjblnWiSZ26YrvA1MTC0GnmxRa80FGG9KIqucmezLLYbnLaNA=w717-h955-no" />
Finishing it out down the apron
Storms here
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https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4fW8IFPbM_kOeNWGk79du9TfajExuDXqSEkZd1-_Hr3GNBgwztKwqwr8hSffOzv86UXgU-ztvAavhouKy9NyVYrk1Q_00bLcjn_TLAutXR2SDWd3fjs2o3ZE5VKQATPJ1AEOMBpLAKjmyCcE2N__LSzEpQxkz_33R11xWMXYQJZlruu5dRoJhLUh7LxtsZg-w-mWW018kvpEYGqM2ZJwSSXutKx8EUV-HX_2gPpinP6Z9OxGG19T1vMvK_EOv9Wm_TtTLs5tAD07qzLC2tf7bnXZFPpSRfFtxj3udboyJoaYxYwWyJK9sSdZggind2QRn0jYmXYWHv8pG9IsZXIlrWBc9zFlAcrTLU80oksf9OGeUViqJ5bN61ETVC-11DurBdofD5OGiEw81iGFhPF5PZT8qAvdQC67k0Pj0zx3UADbWmAk7PbktuFYgdODnr-g7xUsYq9y9vwRFbRQLxXYsM2rsQJcFNtIgmgKw07SDKg0o4crvUJTeDMrJTWJHeHgS4wU1LwlDg_gzKNmy1lc8MlqVA-FLjrJoaaqX1Q1asHRkm6VPCXSLlngIpHTJ_Vt3es4w=w1640-h955-no" />
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
Views sucked, company didn't
Aaron heading up
Me breaking for a bit
Ian stoked to be nearing the apron of our objective for the day
More views
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
There was talk of a crux, looking good!
Nearing zee top!
Aaron and Ben charging
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
_Aaron following suit
Ben, not far behind
Me enjoying turns down the gut
[img">https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtl1/v/t1.0-9/12717858_10100133888194436_6582266429752894957_n.jpg?oh=f5cbe25e9dac8f712a228174087f6577&oe=5728D299" />
Entering the Crux
_Aaron dragging that hand, err axe
Finishing it out down the apron
Storms here
Careful with that Axe, Eugene! Err, Aaron...
Great TR, had all the elements - racing the weather, choice line, great vibe. Thanks for the run!
Great TR, had all the elements - racing the weather, choice line, great vibe. Thanks for the run!
That looks like a great trip, good turns, and a great line, thanks the post and pictures.
Day 2 brought another early morning start the plan was to ski something off Prospector. Ian above the lake
Ben following
Me breaking in my green boots
Happy Rappy
Another
Finally on snow
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!
Me making some turns down the gut
Some more steep turns
Some belayed skiing through the ice bulge crux
Ben opening it up on the apron
Me, doing the same
Happy to be outta there!
Ben following
Me breaking in my green boots
Happy Rappy
Another
Finally on snow
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!
Me making some turns down the gut
Some more steep turns
Some belayed skiing through the ice bulge crux
Ben opening it up on the apron
Me, doing the same
Happy to be outta there!
Very nice! Can't believe I'm the first to comment on this TR. Killer terrain you have down there in your backyard.
Some more shots from day 1-2, from Ben.
Hop turns
Ian sliding through the crux
Ian slashing one
Good times!
Hop turns
Ian sliding through the crux
Ian slashing one
Good times!
author=MW88888888 link=topic=35789.msg146339#msg146339 date=1455687212]
Careful with that Axe, Eugene! Err, Aaron...
One of these days I'm gonna cut you into little pieces.
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!
Ian wasn't having a good time.
Steep trees
Velvet
Can't disguise the fun that is pow skiing. That's a wrap.
A bit socked in, but still fun!
Ian wasn't having a good time.
Steep trees
Velvet
Can't disguise the fun that is pow skiing. That's a wrap.
What lines were those? Its a big effort to go all the way across the lake.
author=kceronsky link=topic=35789.msg146498#msg146498 date=1456190784]
What lines were those? Its a big effort to go all the way across the lake.
First one was Black Hole, up Waterfalls Canyon, I believe it's only 3 miles one way vs close to 6 to hit Moran. Total mileage that day was 15 or so plus ~5k of vert. Second line was Apocalypse, no lake crossing involved, but a good amount of mileage and also ~5k of vert.
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