Semi Fail in GTNP

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April 12, 2012 at 5:13 am #576807
wasatch surf
Participant
I headed up to the park for a one day solo trip up west hourglass couloir. I had great intentions of leaving my parents house in SE idaho around 5:30 and be skinning by 7:30. however I slept through my alarm and woke up around 7:30 so by the time I ate, got my shit together, and drove to GTNP I didn’t start skinning until 10:30am. not exactly the time you want to be starting in April.
Anyway the snow was total ass all the way to the treeline and then it got worse as the sun had blasted all aspects in the Alpine, rock fall and small wet slides coming down on some S. facing aspects. I’m sure earlier in the morning there was a great refreeze. I’ve ridden 25 short but that is the only thing i’ve done in the park. So not knowing the terrain I made a few mistakes on the ascent up the lower part of garnet canyon. After fighting my way up about 3500 vert of slush I was up near the base of the hourglass couloirs. Transitioning from the super wet hot snow, to the colder snow and shade turned my skins into a frozen gripless mess. I booted up to the rollover and called it a day. I would have loved to ride from the top, but to be honest my ass had been handed to me. The Teton’s are big. I will be better prepared next time I head up there. I hung out for a few minutes soaking in the view. It was pretty cool being face to face with the Grand and the Middle. Growing up in potato land I could see these peaks everyday so it felt good to take a walk up Garnet and get into the heart of the Teton’s.
The first 1000 ft of vert was pretty good and the turns were fast. As soon as I hit the bottom of the drainage it was like riding across gummy sand paper. Things improved as I headed down into the shade and trees on the way back to Bradley Lake. I ran out of water at the lake and the skin back out to the car in the 60 degree heat was brutal. All in all I had a great time and can’t wait to get a full day of touring in soon.
Bradley Lake

Middle Teton

The Grand Teton

154 Unicorn Chaser in front of the Grand

Some of the awesome rock in the Teton’s

April 12, 2012 at 2:39 pm #655052
brg
Participant
I was up there Sunday, It was my fifth attempt to ride the west hour glass and I finally got it. This line has been quite elusive to me, even though many others ski it in great conditions on their first attempt, I guess that’s how snowboard mountaineering goes. Conditions in the coolie were great on Sunday but getting out of Garnet was very sticky. Glad you at least had a good time in the Tetons.
April 12, 2012 at 4:29 pm #655053
nickstayner
Participant
Nice shots Wasatch! Things are looking thin up there!
April 13, 2012 at 6:17 pm #655054
barrows
Participant
Thanks for sharing Wasatchsurf. It appears that you were out pretty late in the day for how warm it was, I am glad that it all worked out fine for you, and hope that were not exposing yourself to any S facing paths, at least not for very long.
April 14, 2012 at 3:26 am #655055
wasatch surf
Participant
@barrows wrote:
Thanks for sharing Wasatchsurf. It appears that you were out pretty late in the day for how warm it was, I am glad that it all worked out fine for you, and hope that were not exposing yourself to any S facing paths, at least not for very long.
Hey barrows-it was late and rockfall and wetslides were my biggest worry besides running into a freshly awoken bear. However I was able to ascend a route that I felt was safe and the exit is largely on n. facing aspects.
Nick- a little thin but way better than the wasatch!
Brg- nice! I really want to go back and get it from the top if not this season then next for sure.
April 16, 2012 at 4:30 am #655056
nickstayner
Participant
Where in SE ID do your folks live out of curiosity?
April 16, 2012 at 6:09 am #655057
wasatch surf
Participant
I grew up in Rexburg, ID and my parents still live there
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