Randosteve launching with the sunrise from Colter Bay in GTNP.
Click all photos for larger image.
After a long day skiing in Waterfalls Canyon and one day off to recover a little, Reed Finlay and I went back up into the northern range to investigate a ski line that we have both been eying for a little while. As we entered the canyon though, it was soon obvious that there was probably too much new snow sitting on top of a faceted layer, on top of sun crust to jump onto the steep and exposed line we were going for, especially after the close-call earlier in the week. The weather was nice though and after 9+ hours and 14 miles of skiing, we ended up getting on top of a couple peaks and skiing a nice couloir on the north side of Peak 10,686. A pretty good day all-and-all, considering the conditions. Here are some pictures.
The sun begins to warm up the Tetons…which are plastered right now.
Reed crossing the lake in front of soft, morning sun.
Randosteve enjoying the morning.
Eagles Rest and Anniversary Peak from a distance.
Reed cruises a ridge in Quartzite Canyon.
Randosteve likes skiing with snowballs.
Reed gets some as the clouds hover over the high peaks to the south.
I like this shot of Reed, and the black and white helps with a washed-out image.
After skiing some mellow stuff, we climbed up to Peak 10,686 and dropped in
to one of its north facing couloirs. The snow was great!!!
Reed picks his way through some cookies with Jackson Lake in the background.
Randosteve makes his way towards the tighter section.
The snow felt a bit better at this elevation and aspect, but it was still
pretty easy to get the slough moving a bit, which cleaned out things below
and made us feel better about getting into the constriction.
Reed pushes some more snow into the couloir.
Randosteve surfs some pow in the narrows.
Reed exits the couloir.
Our tracks on the north side of Peak 10,686.
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plastered is an rad adjective when refering to snow. looks like fun
Nice! Looks like a great day out.
I agree with joseph.szaszaszaszasz that “plastered” is a rad adjective when referring to snow on mountains – it pretty much kicks a$$ big time.
However, I have to take issue with Teton Steve’s use of the verb “launching” when referring to himself in the third person, or when referring to any eartbound bi-pedal that is subject to and at the mercy of gravity.
“Launching” is a verb that should be reserved for shit that actually launches, like rocket ships and people wearing jet packs.
Maybe Teton Steve is using the term as a joke (to make light of the fact that he is way slower than a rocket ship), in which case his use of the verb is totally funny. Otherwise, it is a silly attempt to find new bro terms (see e.g. “zones” and “panels” and the like when referring to “mountains”).
Don’t get me wrong, I love Teton Steve’s blog.
wyatt e., don’t get me wrong, i love your comment…but you sound like a massive tool.
I have to agree with Wyatt that Steve’s use of the term “launch” is a bit over the top. Getting out of your vehicle, putting on skins, shouldering your pack, and then sliding away on skis hardly qualifies as an effing launch.
It seems like a super cool term that which deserves a higher purpose….such as lighting a fire under your ass and flying at about 15,000 MPH into espace. That’s a launch.
Or, perhaps Steve really is launching and I don’t get it. Ptor was talking about re-entry and Steve’s Nose so what the hell, I may missing the new “Skiing is Space travel” vernacular altogether.
ummm…ever heard of a canoe launch? far from a super-fast mode of travel and the term “launch” can be used to mean the start of a journey or voyage.
but in rocket sense of the term, we do somewhat “launch” when crossing the lake, as we tend to just put our heads down and bang out the crossing in one push to get ‘er done.
Steve,
When I read “launch”, i thought it was with a nautical sense. At least its only your vocabulary they are critiquing today.
Jay, that is like . . . your opinion, man.
Here is somebody actually launching:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0vZFTksEGU&feature=related
Oh, well played. Boats. right. It all makes sense to me now. That isn’t bro at all then, I take it back.
Launching like a canoe. Slow, gliding off through the water…..yeah I see it. Nice launch and a fine day of skiing out there guys.