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It may have been a strange year for Bridger Bowl, but post season storms delivered.
Here are a few pics from some good times after the lifts stopped spinning.
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Bridger Gully avi. path terrain park open this season only.
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Late afternoon shred.
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Ski the Debris, if you can.
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Sam Phillips, sunny pow day.
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Stripper snow, cause it’s all sparkly and gets you excited.
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Sam preparing to drop in.
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Bridger is a popular place when there is 40in of fresh.
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40inchs to freedom
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N.W.P.D.
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Sphinx Mountain West Side, Madison Range April 22, 2012
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Sphinx mountain was the chosen mission to wrap up Sam Phillips epic week of shredding
around the Gallatin valley. As luck would have it Hans Schuldt would be in town and Forrest
Clark would join us as well. The latest snowpack info was not good as most reported mushy
mush everywhere. Oh well, we’ll give it try anyway and hope for the best.
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As luck would have it there was a solid freeze the night before, perfect. Frost at the
trailhead had things looking up for the day. We ended up walking 5 or so miles before starting
to skin. Then travel uphill was quick. The booting was good and most of it could be skinned
if desired. Once on top the weather was so nice that we ate lunch and had plenty of time
to let the snow soften. The top bowl had some wind ripples but lower down was all smooth
corn.
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Hans and Forrest leading the way.
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Forrest skinning, Hans decided to take a sporty bootpack up the West ridgeline.
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Sam nearing the summit.
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Taylor-Hilgards, Tetons visible off in the distance.
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Forrest shredding the last bit of the main couloir on the West face.
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Hans carving some amazing corn.
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Once again Hans and Forrest in the front, leading the charge out to the car.
Lots of dirt walking on this adventure, but damn good snow conditions.
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Northern Bridgers The Cruelest Month Dub, DubDozen
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All week Friday looked like the first of some good weather. The night before it didn’t
look as hot, but Sam Phillips was in town and we decided to roll the dice anyways.
Slept through our original wake up and got to hiking around 7am. We tried to
ignore the few raindrops falling and the ominous clouds.
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Sam scoping lines on the skin in.
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The skin in went fine until the last half mile or so when the glop started to accumulate.
Luckily it wasn’t too bad until we got into the bowl south of Frasier where it got heinous.
It’s an amazing feeling skinning uphill and not having your skis touch the surface of the
snow. We continued upward until we came to a reasonable spot to boot the rest of the
way up. The picture below is for real, I was so impressed I had to take a pic.
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Gloppasauris Hipdislocatus
.
I feel sorry for you if you ever experience this.
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Sam trying not to sail away.
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As we reached the ridge line the winds became nuclear. The wind became more tolerable as
the clouds cleared. As horrible as winds like this are they can be fun, it short doses that is.
Relief from the wind was found on top of Top Notch our main goal for the day. Just being
on the East side of the ridge allowed us to gear up and collect ourselves before shredding.
.
Out of the wind
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Slayage ensued on our first run of the day. Feeling better about our effort so far we found
a nice spot to grab a bite and ponder another run. Sam wanted to get a run on Hollywood
face but I insisted my wax was not up for it. Instead I skied a North facing chute while Sam
battled horrible gusty winds to get to a run on the side of Hollywood face.
.
Tasty cream cheese, my skis gobbled it up.
.
Cool effect from all the rollerballs.
.
Natural slide
.
The wind was not letting up and the snow was mostly meh, so we left very slowly.
Note to self: place more beers along the road out for a more enjoyable exit.
.
Bridger Gully avi. path terrain park open this season only.
.
Late afternoon shred.
.
Ski the Debris, if you can.
.
Sam Phillips, sunny pow day.
.
Stripper snow, cause it’s all sparkly and gets you excited.
.
Sam preparing to drop in.
.
Bridger is a popular place when there is 40in of fresh.
.
40inchs to freedom
.
N.W.P.D.
.
Hans and Forrest leading the way.
.
Forrest skinning, Hans decided to take a sporty bootpack up the West ridgeline.
.
Sam nearing the summit.
.
Taylor-Hilgards, Tetons visible off in the distance.
.
Forrest shredding the last bit of the main couloir on the West face.
.
Hans carving some amazing corn.
.
Once again Hans and Forrest in the front, leading the charge out to the car.
Lots of dirt walking on this adventure, but damn good snow conditions.
.
Sam scoping lines on the skin in.
.
The skin in went fine until the last half mile or so when the glop started to accumulate.
Luckily it wasn’t too bad until we got into the bowl south of Frasier where it got heinous.
It’s an amazing feeling skinning uphill and not having your skis touch the surface of the
snow. We continued upward until we came to a reasonable spot to boot the rest of the
way up. The picture below is for real, I was so impressed I had to take a pic.
Gloppasauris Hipdislocatus
.
I feel sorry for you if you ever experience this.
.
Sam trying not to sail away.
.
As we reached the ridge line the winds became nuclear. The wind became more tolerable as
the clouds cleared. As horrible as winds like this are they can be fun, it short doses that is.
Relief from the wind was found on top of Top Notch our main goal for the day. Just being
on the East side of the ridge allowed us to gear up and collect ourselves before shredding.
.
Out of the wind
.
Slayage ensued on our first run of the day. Feeling better about our effort so far we found
a nice spot to grab a bite and ponder another run. Sam wanted to get a run on Hollywood
face but I insisted my wax was not up for it. Instead I skied a North facing chute while Sam
battled horrible gusty winds to get to a run on the side of Hollywood face.
.
Tasty cream cheese, my skis gobbled it up.
.
Cool effect from all the rollerballs.
.
Natural slide
.
The wind was not letting up and the snow was mostly meh, so we left very slowly.
Note to self: place more beers along the road out for a more enjoyable exit.
.