James Binkley skiing between trees on the west side of Bridger Bowl. This terrain received its first opening this season under the open gate backcountry access. As of January you couldn't tell anyone had ventured down this side.
The Saddle Peak Pack quickly found its home this winter as locals began putting their names on a waiting list before production of the pack even began! Its ultimate arrival was marked shortly after Bridger Bowl’s opening weekend. Armed with modest disposable incomes, (read ski bums) a few early Saddle Peak adopters headed into the mountains armed with their cameras to document the release.
I pulled time off work and crammed all my gear and myself into the back of a pickup of friends headed to Mount Baker. The short trip to Washington gave 3 incredible days of skiing with over 30″ of snow! A horrific Pineapple Express quickly pushed us back towards the Rockies….. ahhh Montana! Here are some shots I gleaned from a few crucial and well planned “sick days”.
Here’s a glimpse into part of my winter…. enjoy some Montana skiing shots!
James Binkley hides behind another dead tree. This shot is also on the west side of Bridger on the same day in January.
The Saddle Peak really excels when all you need are skins and avi gear. Jonny Wood entering one of the many new couloirs that the Slushmans lift has brought into the slack country.
The Saddle Peak really excels when all you need are skins and avi gear. Jonny Wood entering one of the many new couloirs that the Slushmans lift has brought into the slack country.
Jonny Wood takes an air in lift serviced terrain late afternoon at Bridger Bowl. The snow stays great if you are brave enough to enter this slide path.
You still need skins if you go skiing in Cooke City, but the weight of your backcountry setup doesn't matter when you have an approach vehicle like this. James Binkley lays over his sled with his skis carried diagonally on the Saddle Peak. This image was take in November on a small frozen lake. It was one of only a few spots that James could lay over his sled without worrying about hitting rocks.
Known as a snowmobile mecha, Cooke City is surrounded by the incredible Beartooth Mountains. This combination allows for snowmobile access to some of the best skiing in Montana. Kyle Taylor drops into the untouched Elbow Couloir splitting the north face of Mt Miller.
This shot was taken in Washington after a day of white out powder skiing. James Binkley is feeding the birds at Mt. Baker after our second 12″ day in a row. Five locals let us shack up on the floor of the 3 bedroom “Chando”. This shack, condo combination in Glacier was filled to 10 guests.
Lets hope spring will bring more snow,
Kyle
Great shots, dope pack… I’m coming from B’klyn to Bridger next season to pick mine up.
See you then!
peace, R.
Great pics! The snow and terrain look amazing. Is there always lots of powder out there?
I lived at the Chando once, wonderful place really, who was holdin’ it down when you were there?