 |
| Craig Dropping into Bowl |
On February 13, 2018, six skilled skiers stood looking over the
edge of the snowy Commissary Ridge in Wyoming Targhee Mountains, examining an
untouched bowl of fresh powder. They had spent 30 minutes sawing off
cornices, in order to determine if the conditions were safe enough to ski
without creating an avalanche. Once the conditions were deemed safe, the six
men peered over the edge wondering who should go first. With a crack of a Wahoo!, Craig, the
rookie in the group, exuberantly leapt off the ridge, capturing a one-year dream of backcountry skiing in the deep
wilderness. Everyone on the ridge echoed with Wahoo’s and Yipee’s as 62-
year-old Craig carved first tracks.
His journey to get here had been one of total dedication and
commitment. He made lifestyle changes to improve his physical
stamina. He learned the necessary skills to ski safely in the
backcountry. And he improved his nutrition in order to decrease his body
weight so he could be more energetic on the uphill portion of touring.
I write this commentary hesitantly because to explain the details
of Craig’s repetitive efforts would make for a very boring story for most
readers. But, in the story lies the real journey for all those who desire
to conquer their own ‘backcountry.’ Day
after day after day, there has to be this undeviating commitment to goals and
preparation, even overcoming the doubt and wondering if the discomfort will be
worth it. It required months of training to be physically prepared for three
days of leg-burning, deep powder skiing. I cannot tell you how proud I am of Craig and
his unrelinquishing attitude as he prepared for his KOLIfit adventure.
The adventure began Sunday afternoon as Craig, Greg, Brandon, and
I drove 4 hours to Driggs Idaho. The time flew by quickly as we
introduced ourselves to each other and talked about our past adventure
experiences. There were stories of climbing Mount Everest, Alaska crab fishing,
traversing ridge lines, and skiing steep n deep narrow canyons. Indiscreetly, we were sizing each other up to
determine how ‘adapted’ each of us was for this adventure.
We pulled into a quiet little Driggs about 9:30 p.m. in frigid conditions.
After we found our trailhead off a shimmering icy Leigh Canyon road, which made for a fun adventure, we returned to
the Korean Restaurant (pretty much the only thing open on a Sunday night) for
an amazing family style dinner. As we
ate, we were continually sizing each other up as we shared more stories about
our individual adventures and exploits.
We met the rest of our group and a guide from the Teton Backcountry Guides on Monday
morning at 9a.m. Our group of six, Craig, Greg, Brandon, Brandon,
Brandon, and Aaron (say that 10 times as
fast as you can), made our final preparations
with 40-pound packs full of three days of food and gear. Excitement was
high as we anticipated our adventure in the National Targhee Wilderness.
We had a four mile approach to the yurt where we would be staying
with a 1,000-foot elevation gain. As we encountered the trailhead, we
noticed that it was well-packed and could be easily traveled in our
four-wheel-drive vehicle. A plan was proposed to haul all the gear 3
miles up the road. This would save us
some time and conserve needed energy that would be needed to ski the fresh
powder. We cleared the plan with our guide who expressed his approval
with some excitement because he had another opportunity near the City of Rocks
once he guided us to the yurt.
Greg had read on the Teton
Backcountry Guides website that sleeping bags were provided at the yurt for
a fee. This was a courtesy provided by
the Teton Backcountry Guides in order
to reduce the amount of gear, and consequently weight, to be packed to the yurt.
Greg had assumed that he could obtain the key to the locker at the yurt. Consequently, he did not bring his sleeping
bag. I think you have figured out the end of this tale. Yep! No key.
No sleeping bag. And no way to
get one at this point in the trip. Now,
we have a conundrum: six guys and five sleeping bags in sub-zero temperatures
at 8,000 feet altitude in the backcountry miles away from any store. We were all thinking the same thing: “There ain’t
no way in h--- I am spooning up in a bag with Greg!”
Luckily, our guide saw our plight and took pity on us. Consequently, he called his boss and got us the
key to the locker at the yurt, but with a catch. Someone would have to drive back to Driggs to
pick it up. So, Greg and Brandon #1 got
the job. Meanwhile, Aaron, Craig, and
the guide will drive up the road and drop off the rest of the gear. Craig and the guide would get a head start and
meet us at the yurt. I would drive the
vehicle back to the trail head parking lot and wait for Brandon #1 and Greg to
get back with the locker key. Once we
got everyone and everything to the yurt, we could start skiing around noon.
We had not driven more than a ¼ mile down the snow packed road
when I started to feel uneasy about the conditions of the road and felt the
plan needed to change. The road was less solid and firm the further we drove
down it and I could feel the vehicle struggling for traction. The road, however, was too narrow to turn
around. Now, I was left with the reality
of having to drive backwards, by myself, to the parking lot after we dropped
off the gear. My anxiety levels
skyrocketed as I imagined myself backing down a narrow snow-covered road. I went through every “what if” scenario
imaginable. And as I did, my anxiety got
worse. You can imagine what’s going on
in my mind as I visualize trying to back down the road, looking in the rearview
mirror, in the side mirrors, over my shoulder, bumping long, spinning the
tires.
Our guide sensed my uneasiness and he, too, was apprehensive about
backing the truck down the road. Craig, however, was all in and encouraged us
to continue down the road. In his mind, this was his ticket to keep from
expending energy and have more time to ski the beckoning white powder. Quickly,
the guide and I established a two-man dictatorship and decided to drop the gear
at about ⅓ mile from the trailhead, despite Craig’s protests. Consequently, I
sent Craig and the guide off to the yurt with their gear and left everyone
else’s gear on the side of the road.
However, I still had to drive the truck down the road backwards….by
myself. As I clutched the steering
wheel, I could feel the sweat streaming down my face, especially when the truck
started to slide. Despite the fact,
there were some anxious moments and a few close calls of sliding off the road,
I made it back, safely, to the parking area. As a footnote, when we
returned to the vehicles after our 3-day skiing excursion, there was a sign
posted at the trailhead, “No Vehicles Beyond This Point.” I think our
guide must have reported out predicament to someone and they shut down the
road.
 |
| Grand Teton in the Background |
Shortly after I returned from parking the truck, Greg and Brandon
#1 returned with the key to open the locker at the yurt for the sleeping bag.
Now, with all our problems resolved and anxieties relieved, we were ready
to cut some track and ski! We had some
great conversations on our four mile tour, from “Should they make the Escalante
area a National Park” to, well, let’s just say that boys will be boys. We
arrived back at the yurt by 12p.m. Stoked
up the stove with wood, and started boiling water for our Mountain House lunch. As we
sat there, enjoying our lunch, we soaked in the beauty of our
surroundings. There was no way to put
into words what our eyes viewed and what our hearts felt as we were immersed in
the ambience of brightly lit snow-covered peaks with the aroma of fresh pine
all around us. It was simply one of
those things which could not be described.
It had to be experienced. For me, personally, I was home! The
group kicked back and reminisced like we had all known each other since birth.
However, we came to ski, so like bloodhounds on the scent, we set off. We had another four hours of daylight left
and we did not want to miss a single ray as we sought the best rideable lines
to ski.
To our surprise, however, there were a myriad of snowmobile
tracks. And many of the rideable lines
we had observed from a distance had been obliterated by skiers and snowmobile
tread. There was a mood of betrayal among us. We had come to backcountry ski in this remote
area, supposing it would be unscathed by man or machine. We had come to
enjoy the silence of the backcountry and hear only the sound our breath as we
climbed, searching for those untouched lines. It was akin to coming to
wildlife preserve and finding all the magnificent creatures left dead by
poachers. All the untouched lines had been obliterated by our “poachers”
on their snowmobiles as they drove up to the top of Beard Mountain to drop off
a skier, and then return for the next one. They could ski four laps to
our one with hardly expending any energy and the price was the destruction of
pristine lines. This was not what we were expecting and it dashed our
dreams. But, we refused to let this setback ruin our trip. We expended the effort to find an area which
was untouched in the trees and skied a couple of lines. It was so
exhilarating that our disappointment quickly turned into our joy as evidenced
by the perma grins across our faces.
After a few runs and the long tour to the yurt, a few in the group
were ready to start their days recovery. They wanted to have plenty of
energy for the next day which was Tuesday. Brandon and Craig wanted to
head back to the yurt. But I was in exploration mode, which means rest and
sleep are overrated. I can do that when I get home. I wanted to make my mark and find the goods. So,
rather than return to the yurt by the most direct route, the four of us decided
to head towards Beards Mountain. Even with the plethora of tracks, it was
too tempting to not go have a look. It had snowed about a foot of fresh
snow over the week. The temperatures had dropped into single digits,
sucking the moisture out of the snow and creating very light powder
 |
| Craig Making First Tracks |
As we traveled along the Commissary Ridge to find an alternate
route to the yurt, we found what we were looking for. It was difficult not to drool all over
ourselves like Pavlov’s dog as we gazed at a north facing bowl unscathed
by man or machine. It was a perfect blanket of snow illuminated by the
golden rays of the sun as it began to set. As we stood there, gazing upon
this pristine sight, it was all that we could do not to ski off “into the
sunset,” but we knew we would run out of daylight, and the return trip to the
yurt could be precarious if not dangerous in the dark. So, we made mental
notes and anxiously anticipated returning tomorrow to this heavenly place.
We arrived at the yurt around 6:30 p.m., satisfied with our
introduction to the Targee Mountains. It was, now, time to rest our weary
bodies in our humble 200 square foot home. Equipped with just enough to
enjoy the simple pleasures of life, e.g. good people , good food, and memorable
times.
Now, when I tell my children that vacations are to be savored and
that sleep is overrated, I am slightly exaggerating. Sleep is a wonderful
part of life and I value every minute of it. I
have trained myself to live off of about 6 hours of sleep per day. If
it’s not good quality then I need a bit more.
Camping, however, has
never provided the highest quality of sleep for me. Being a side sleeper,
I usually toss-and-turn all night long. I
can never get comfortable on a 1-inch pad. Now, add to it a cacophony of
snoring for 2 nights, by the time I returned home, I will felt like that I
didn’t sleep the whole 72-hour trip. I am adding one more piece of gear
to my equipment---earplugs!
The lack of sleep, however, did not hold back the excitement we
felt as we anticipated skiing the untouched bowl. The whole reason why this
trip was planned was because Craig wanted to experience a backcountry ski trip.
He had his shining moment. Tuesday came and went by with everyone
skiing one of the best days of their life. Everyone made several runs,
making their mark on the North Face of Commissary Ridge. Every time we
finished the 700-foot, 37-degree run, it was instinctive to look up and
see your perfect tracks while crumbs of powder would
melt and dribble down our faces. Craig’s
hard work had finally become worth every drop of perspiration, every stair
stepped, and every leg workout. It was
even worth the sacrificed Mountain Dews.
He realized the benefits of his commitment and hard work. Before
the day was over, he was already talking about and planning next year’s trip.
It was becoming late afternoon on Tuesday and fatigue
was setting in, but we dug deep to ski another run. And then another. And then another. We had come too far and
expended too much, in time, money, and preparation, not to capture every moment
from our long-awaited adventure. But,
eventually, the mind succumbed to the body’s cry and Craig had to call it a
day. He had exceeded his expectations and experienced his dreams. He and 2 others went back to the yurt to
relish in their accomplishment.
However, I wasn’t quite ready to go back, yet. There was still one more thing that I wanted
to do. One of my most favorite peaks is
the Grand Teton. It speaks to my soul
every time I see it and it was a stone’s throw away at the top of Beard
Mountain. The sky was crystal clear and I wanted a picture of unadulterated
view of the Grand Teton. To acquire this view meant traveling
another mile to the summit. But summiting Beard Mountain also meant we could
ski the 2000-foot West Face run back to the yurt.
Brandon, Brandon and I made it to the top of Beard Mountain
and enjoyed the view with a pleasing selfie and a soulful chat with the Grand
Teton. Then came a surprisingly amazing 2000’ run back to the yurt. Even though
it was heavily skied we found untouched lines that gave us a rewarding leg
burn.
It’s adventures like these that change and reinforce a
style of living. Everyone in the group understood the uniqueness of the
experience. It had been totally worth
it.
I love the drive home from
epic adventures. Bellies are full with burgers and fries from the local cafe.
The analytical chatter of sizing each other up shifts to a quiet ride with
reminiscent memories causing an occasional low chuckle. There’s the heavy
breathing and head bobbing as sleep deprived bodies succumb to a relaxed comatose
state. With Craig at the wheel and me in the shotgun seat, we pulled out of
Driggs, gave each other that look “man that was worth it” and cranked the tunes
and enjoyed the ride home.
 |
| Day 1 |
 |
| Day 2 |
 |
| Day 3 |
Amazing Aaron! Your well written blog captured and kept my attention. Wishing you many more "Happy trails "in those beautiful pristine places.
ReplyDelete