Brian, Cole, and Matt head to Jackson, WY for the last weekend of March.
Winter returned to the west, dropping several feet of fresh snow in most places. The timing was fortunate as our group had pegged this weekend for the Buffalo Couloir in Silverthorne, CO. However, all the fresh snow altered our plans, and we found ourselves in Jackson in search of a more stable spring snow pack.
Arriving at the Taggart Lake TH in Grand Teton National Park around 9:00 am after a long night of driving to few inches in the valley and an impressive late season snowpack.
The long slog north to Jenny Lake and the base of the Teewinot.
Brian fishing back his whippet cap from the river.
Over the river and through the woods. I was last here with Dani and my parents in July! What a different scene.
Our goal was to climb and ski the east face of the Teewinot. We were hoping for a Friday weather window between storms, but started blind due to some low clouds. None of our group was very familiar with the area, so we trusted the map for once.
Cole, up the lower gully that leads up the Teewinot's east face.
After ~ 1500 ft of vert we reached an open basin. Ahead were two obvious routes and a lot of rock. Visibility was still poor, and we decided on prominent couloir looker's right. But first some lunch! except it was the mountain that ate my shovel.
A view of the lower gully that we took up the Teewinot from just south of Jenny Lake.
Shortly after choosing the looker's right route the sun came out. It was around this time that we realized the magnitude of greatness at hand and that awaited on our descent.
The couple inches that fell in the valley translated to over a foot at the upper elevations. Short of the summit we had to switch to guns, and trail breaking became very difficult.
Shortly before switching to guns. The rocky pinnacle of the Teewinot looms in the background. Enough clouds lingered to keep the snow from warming to rapidly.
During a particularly trying time spent wallowing in facets on talus, Brian traversed left and found supportable snow. I snapped this picture while resting, thankful to be back on the elevator.
Our route ended on the north side of a wall of rock 600 ft shy of the true summit. Not the top! but not bad for a socked in first day in the park. I maintain after seeing the entire east face of the mountain that our route/descent is the quality line of choice for skiers.
4800' of continuous fall line skiing in the rear view! Now the long skin back to the car. :-(
Rest Day. Taking it easy..... walking back to the highway to hitch a up to Teton Pass.
And another special day on Sunday with a 1' + overnight dump at JHMR.
