February 2016 – Sun Valley Trekking

The Sirens of Snow in the Pioneers

Daily Powder Tours, Huts and Yurts, Pioneer Yurts Comments Off

Feb 282016

Climbing into the alpine above the Pioneer yurt is always inspiring

SVT guide, Joe St.Onge and apprentice Chris Cullaz, led a group of local ladies into the Pioneer Yurt this week. Perfect powder conditions, big peaks and the sublime beauty of the Pioneers worked its magic. What a place we call home!

Approaching the Pioneer Yurt on day 1 with beautiful weather

Climbing the Peanut above the yurt with amazing backdrop

We call this zone “Little Alaska”

Perfect powder above the yurt

Skiers and snowboarders playing happily together

#puremountainstoke

The final turns back to the yurt with the setting sun

good to the last drop

schussing into cocktails, appetizers and a nice sauna after plentiful powder

a little light reading after a sauna

sometimes things can get a bit…… at the yurt

Hyndman Peak, the tallest of the Pioneers commands the view above the yurt

The gals looking back toward Sun Valley and noticing how small Baldy looks

The final steps toward the col du Hyndman

Carving turns beneath the big peaks

Powder, friends and a beautiful setting

It’s getting hot…

The final turns end a prefect 2 days in the Pioneers

The Next Generation of Backcountry Skiers at Tornak Hut

Tornak Hut 2 Responses »

Feb 202016

The Rendi family, Paul, Mara, Andersen (8), and Karsten (12) came east from Washington for a backcountry adventure at Tornak Hut with guide Chris Marshall and intern Chris Cullaz. Andersen and Karsten slayed it, touring for the first time and ripping turns around Moonlight Basin and off the Mighty Tornak Peak. Ullr must have been pleased as 6″ of Idaho powder fell overnight on the 2nd night! Good times were had by all, and between the powder turns, playing dice in the warm hut, digging tunnels in the snow, and the Mighty Tornak Peak twice, there were plenty of smiles to go around.

Family stoke!

“These are the moments we live for as guides; watching the stoke blossom in a younger generation, for something that is such a big part of who i am, was incredibly special to me. I was constantly inspired watching these boys try something hard for the first time, push through the challenges, and and let the smiles on their face show their stoke!” – guide Chris Marshall

Leaving the hut for a powder day!

Chris gets a break as Andersen takes to trail breaking up front.

Pure powder stoke

Karsten finding some soft snow in the north bowl of Tornak

Carving turns in fresh pow

Paul farming away

To the cumbre!

Climbing the exposed West couloir of Tornak Peak

Andersen ripping pow down Easley Face with an overnight pack

So nice to see winter return to Central Idaho!

Mara laying down some nice cuts

Obligatory pole whack to clear the cornice off Tornak Peak

Karsten leading the charge on Group Therapy

And he’s off!

Afternoon adult session: touring out of the basin after scoring a 1000′ line in the best snow of the trip off the Mighty Tornak Peak.

Knee deep!

Karsten in Moonlight Bowl

Andersen arcing in Moonlight Bowl

On the way up to the Mighty Tornak Peak

Karsten charging

Plenty of freshies to go around

Group Therapy living up to its name

Family Fun!

Karsten shows perfect form

Andersen throwing down some spray

Karsten taking a moment to savior the experience

Awesome spooned tracks coming down Easley Face to end the trip

Sun and Fun at the Coyote Yurts

Coyote Yurts, Huts and Yurts Comments Off

Feb 122016

It’s hard not to smile when carving settled powder on the north burns

SVT Guides, Chris Marshall and Joe St.Onge, are just back from a quick 2 day trip into the Coyote Yurts with a fun group of local skiers. Sunny skies, warm temps, settled powder and some of the first corn turns of the season were enjoyed by all. What a place to call home!