Steep Powder in the Bench Lakes Basin
We are just returning from a 4 hut tour on the annual Apprentice Orientation. Every year, we spend the first 2 weeks of December skiing from hut to hut with the goal of opening each hut for the winter season and conducting training with the new apprentice guides. Here’s a report for what we are finding out there:
Sawtooth: We began the orientation in the Sawtooth where we skied from the Fishhook Yurt to the Bench Hut. The approach to both Fishhook and Bench are characterized by relatively thin but very supportive snow pack in the lower elevations allowing for fairly easy skinning. At Bench Hut, we were seeing 95cm snow pack that rapidly deepened to 140cm in the Bench Lakes Basin above. While we were there 30cm of snow fell and we found excellent powder skiing and good stability.
Boulder Yurt: The approach track is in and provides easy skiing through the meadows on the way in. It’s still a bit thin in the bowls above the yurt, but careful route-finding can reward skiers with powder turns.
Pioneer Yurt: As of today, you can drive to the summer trailhead and ski all the way to the yurt. The rain crust from a couple weeks ago as made for an extremely supportive snow pack that resembles a thin spring snow pack more than an early December snow pack. Once at Yurt level (8700′) the coverage is actually pretty good for this time of year (60-100cm depending on location). We generally found widespread wind affect on the surface. Once we get a resurfacing with the next snowfall, we hope to find some excellent conditions on a supportive base.
Coyote and Tornak: We are heading up there next and will report back with conditions later in the week.
We hope you are enjoying the early season and getting out with your friends. All the huts are looking great and we are excited for the awesome season ahead!
Snowboards always seem to get more faceshots!
All smiles after the first powder shot in the Sawtooth
ah, that wonderful feeling of laying down arcs in the dry powder!
Skinning above the Bench Hut on a cold December morning
Cranking turns through the fresh on the Triangle
The Apprentice team at Fishhook Yurt
Arriving at Bench Hut to open her up for the season
4th lake above Bench hut
Climbing to Yo Yo Ma
Welcome to the Sawtooth!
Climbing toward Dave Dog Peak with the Monolith Basin in the background
a solid strike at the Boulder Yurt
Fun and games at the Pioneer Yurt
Apres ski in a cozy Pioneer Yurt
Climbing to the moon
Felt like spring-time up in the Pioneers over the past couple of days
Coverage in the Pios
What a place!
Julie, stoked to discover the Pioneers
Skiing the beautiful meadows on the way to the Boulder Yurt
