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Well, it's that time of year again when I get to post a few photos from some of the brief trips I've had during the first part of the season. We're in another dry period, but hopefully later in the week the weather pattern will shift for good. Most aspects on the high peaks seem to be scoured, and down low the snow cover is still a bit thin (depending on where you go), so I've been keeping it fairly conservative.

Unfortunately, I'm unable to share my better photos since they aren't owned by me (sometimes making $$ takes precedence), but I'll give you a few just for views.

The following are only from Beehive and Cooke City, but I've also been out to the N Bridgers and Hyalite as well. The Absarokas look dry as a bone, but the S. Madisons will be next up on the menu if we retain stability after this next storm.


An early dawn patrol up to the head of middle basin. Surprising that it can be done in only a bit over 2 hrs. Unfortunately, the avy guys skied the crap out of the opposing couloir, though it probably isn't visible in this low-res photo.


We've had some beautiful days.


Cooke City A-frame with Nick Stayner who's now in Billings.


Terrain up in Mineral Basin. We ran into locals Beau and Allan on our way who went on to ski off of Miller mountain. Even though it looks good, all of these slopes were fairly blasted.


Nick with the high peaks in the background


Headwaters of Pebble Creek


Glacier, Villard and Granite


Miller


The choss piles of Pilot and Index. Ben Vandenbos (who was also with us) braved Pilot last summer.


Barronette. We cruised the south ridge the next day (bad choice)


Vandenbos, euro fashion model.


The enigmatic Abiathar


Nick riding as I test my new ultra-wide capabilities.




View the wonderful surface facets/hoar. Then imagine a whole snowpack of it. Then imagine riding through 2 feet of it over rocks. That pretty much describes our adventure up the South ridge of Barronette.


The fashion model strikes again.


Complex terrain.




Ok, maybe the peak isn't all that close. The gully down to the bottom probably isn't continuous either.


Despite rocks and facets, I couldn't complain with a day and scenery like this.

beautiful photos!

great shots . . . the keepers must be reeeaaallly good.

Rad shots! You guys've got some awesome terrain out there. Hopefully the snow pack will build and stabilize.

Beautiful work.....even in a lean time you always produce

Nice work Patrick. You certainly made the best of Cooke conditions photo-wise. Even wound up with a photo of us going downhill! More than I can say for myself.

Never shredded MT. The terrain looks all time!

Nice photos, Cooke City is awesome, still haven't made it there to board or sled but I've been a few times and got to see some awesome wildlife. Thanks for sharing.

hmm.. abiathar, pebble crk. any chance youre the editor of the cooke city chronicle? if so,

Nope, that's Beau. He skis every day of the week and is characteristically reserved. I do agroecological research (or at least pretend to) most days, ride one plank when the conditions match up with my schedule, and am at least a bit more verbose. My blog is located at: http://quietinsights.com/blog/

word!