OK, I feel kinda stupid still writing about this little trip that happened almost a month ago. But, there hasn’t been much to spray about here in the Wasatch so I’m glad I milked the shit out of it. Fitting that we wrap up my new love affair with the Tetons from Valentines Day 2015. Fabrikant had to work, but Matt Primomo came up from SLC for the weekend. We’d talked about getting out together and it was good to finally make it happen. I have huge respect for the riding he’s done all over the world.
We started at a more humane hour and enjoyed a conversational pace across the flats into the park. A storm was scheduled for later in the day, but we had decided to try and ski the Glacier Route off the Middle Teton from the top if we could get to it before weather came in.
The wind picked up as we got higher and pushed us around pretty good as we hit the apron for the Southwest Couloir. We tucked into the couloir and it sheltered us from the wind. Some blue sky started to appear. The snow conditions in the chute were firm and chunky and it was thin, but it made for good climbing.
Popping out on the summit was, I guess you would say, scenic?! If you like endless vistas that is. A crow playing in the wind. The Tetons are for the birds?
A quick summit selfie kiss for my lovely woman Shannan. She understands that love isn’t about exchanging a card, or buying chocolates to celebrate love. Happy V-day my queen!
The sneak in to the Glacier Route looked too thin and rocky and we couldn’t see how to belay someone in. We opted to rappel off the top. Ty quickly found an old sling and backed it up.
Matt testing it out.
Ty on the 30m line that didn’t quite get us to where we needed to be.
With another full rap we hit the top of the snow.
Ty reminding us of why we were there, this is skiing after all! Always a reassuring feeling to get the edges underfoot after so much dangling around exposed places and messing around with ropes.
Mr Primomo with the heel side.
The snow started off soft up high and became really firm as we angled down and skiers left.
The weather stayed blue and stable and many turns were made.
Not done yet though! Continuing in the tradition of the past two days we went for a bonus round. While passing underneath the Red Sentinel the other day we had noticed a lack of ski tracks and we hoped to remedy that situation. Matt booting up to the entry.
The fellas taking in the view of Teewinot before they participated in the universal and democratic decision-making process to determine “who goes first”. Is there really any conflict on earth that couldn’t be settled by a simple game of roshambo?
I don’t recall if it was rock, paper, or scissors, but it was pow and first tracks to Matt. To Primomo goes the spoils!
In 3 long days we tracked up around 23,000 feet of fresh snow in 7 distinct and classic lines! Maybe it’s because of the drought over the past few years, but I can’t recall three consecutive days of such incredible skiing. If this is the end of a story I guess there should be a moral, a “take away”. Maybe it would be: Go new places, talk to strangers, trust yourself, take a long enough rope, and the Tetons are cool. The End!
It came down to the third tie braker…Scissors cut the paper and I was psyched to get that one! Nice shots.
Great report & well done up there!