Weekly Ski Tour Magic!

 Daily Powder Tours  Comments Off on Weekly Ski Tour Magic!
Jan 172014
 

Pato, Francie and JP caught up with some of the Sirens and Bros this week to explore some of the goods to be found high on Galena Summit north of Ketchum. Recent snowfall and cold overnight temperature have kept shady slopes soft and deep above 8500′. Our guest could not have asked for more as the sun warmed our faces and the powder soothed our souls! It was all smiles as we linked ridge after ridge on both of these classic Sun Valley Trekking ski tours. To book a trip with one of our expert ski guides, give us a call, and we’ll help you drop in proud!

 

Know before you go! The Bros all get on the same page with Patrick with a quick orientation before striking out for the day.

Know before you go! The Bros all get on the same page with Patrick with a quick orientation before striking out for the day.

 

Wolf is all smiles after making beautiful turns

Wolf is all smiles after making beautiful turns

 

Looking good and making turns!

Looking good and making turns!

 

Stoked to be heading back up for more powder!

Stoked to be heading back up for more powder!

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Divas trekking to find a some great lines.

 

Up they go, making laps on a gorgeous Sun Valley day!

Up they go, making laps on a gorgeous Sun Valley day!

JP guiding the group into some great terrain for fun turns.

JP guiding the group into some great terrain for fun turns.

 

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Well deserved beverages and good company

Well deserved beverages and good company

 

Skiing above the Boulder Yurts today

 Boulder Yurts, Daily Powder Tours, Guides Day Off, Huts and Yurts  Comments Off on Skiing above the Boulder Yurts today
Jan 052014
 

SVT guides Joe St.Onge and Chris Marshall went for a recon tour above the Boulder Yurts today to check conditions for future tours. Good ski conditions were found above 9000′ and some stability issues including: new wind slabs (30cm deep) which were producing easy failures and planar shears in isolated areas as well as triggering a fairly large loose snow/sluff avalanche in the deep facets in steep terrain. Have fun and heads up out there!

Yes!

Yes!

Boulder Mountains

Boulder Mountains

Skinning Light

Skinning Light

Alpine Smokies

Alpine Smokies

Skis pretty good!

Skis pretty good!

Fall-line facets

Fall-line facets

Skiing among the ancient White Barks

Skiing among the ancient White Barks

D2 avalanche triggered in the full depth facets, ran fast.

D2 avalanche triggered in the full depth facets, ran fast.

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Chasing shadows

Chasing shadows

A pretty day in the backcountry

 Daily Powder Tours  Comments Off on A pretty day in the backcountry
Jan 042014
 

3″ of new snow, high winds, grouse, good partners and remote mountains. Ingredients for a good day in the Idaho backcountry.

Easy slider on the DPS

Easy slider on the DPS

Grouse snow cave

Grouse snow cave

bc art

bc art

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Hiding from the wind

Hiding from the wind

Alpine spirits

Alpine spirits

Figures on a landscape

Figures on a landscape

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Dec 312013
 

We are closing out 2013 with 53% of average snowfall, which makes finding the awesome ski tours a bit of a challenge. But we are working overtime to find the best snow and most fun tours and would love to share some of our hard work with you! Check out some pics from yesterday to see what we are up to.

Finding the goods when the goods are hard to find.

Finding the goods when the goods are hard to find.

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Following the Sun Dog

Following the Sun Dog

Alpine Sculptures

Alpine Sculptures

Now that's what were looking for!

Now that’s what were looking for!

mmmm...

mmmm…

The climb

The climb

Soft and beautiful light

Soft and beautiful light

ahhhhh...

ahhhhh…

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Camas Prairie inversion creates beautiful light

Camas Prairie inversion creates beautiful light

Mix techniques

Mix techniques

yes.

yes.

Couloir skiing

Couloir skiing

Apron powder

Apron powder

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Hansi doing the vadel

Hansi doing the vadel

Happy Hansi

Happy Hansi

Coyote Yurt Winter Solstice Ski

 Coyote Yurts, Huts and Yurts, Tornak Hut  Comments Off on Coyote Yurt Winter Solstice Ski
Dec 232013
 

SVT guides: Joe and Ed just returned from a quick trip into the East Fork of Baker Creek to check conditions around Tornak and Coyote Yurts. Despite a thin snowpack, they found soft powder conditions and endless new ski lines in the Beaver Creek fire.

Thin snow powder skiing

Thin snow powder skiing

New Burn lines on Fox  Peak

New Burn lines on Fox Peak

New eyes as Ed scopes all the new burn skiing in familiar terrain

New eyes as Ed scopes all the new burn skiing in familiar terrain

Lots of beautiful new ski lines around Coyote

Lots of beautiful new ski lines around Coyote

Dropping in to a new line

Dropping in to a new line

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Skiing among the ghosts

Skiing among the ghosts

Beaver Creek Fire

Beaver Creek Fire

Guide Training – Early Season

 SVT Scene, Tricks of the Trade  Comments Off on Guide Training – Early Season
Dec 122013
 
Francie, Chris, Marc, Pato and JP: an awesome collection of ski guides!

Francie, Chris, Marc, Pato and JP: an awesome collection of ski guides!

Every winter the guides of SVT gather to run training seminars and workshops. Typically we focus on particular goals at each training, dusting off skills, sharing lessons and tricks and evaluating how to do things better and more efficiently. This years early season training was focused on winter rescue. We discussed and practiced avalanche rescue, emergency shelters and stoves, 1st aid and then ran 3 separate sled evacuations off Titus Ridge to the trailhead. Check out the photos below to get ideas for different possibilities and approaches to addressing a forced bivy or having to evacuate a partner with a broken leg.

The familiar and always beautiful ski up Titus Ridge in the morning cold

The familiar and always beautiful ski up Titus Ridge in the morning cold

Niels hauling the SKED rescue sled

Niels hauling the SKED rescue sled

Brooks Range tarp emergency shelter as a pyramid

Brooks Range tarp emergency shelter as a pyramid

Francie using a Mega-Light, a deluxe emergency shelter.  Note the hot brews made with a sterno and ski poles.

Francie using a Mega-Light, a deluxe emergency shelter. Note the hot brews made with a sterno and ski poles.

Ed nailing a spacious and comfy emergency shelter with an 8x10 tarp and some trees.

Ed nailing a spacious and comfy emergency shelter with an 8×10 tarp and some trees.

Chris checking out Pato's shelter, beta-mid style.

Chris checking out Pato’s shelter, beta-mid style.

Pato's emergency stove. Simple: a sterno, tin can and metal water bottle will get the job done.

Pato’s emergency stove. Simple: a sterno, tin can and metal water bottle will get the job done.

JP using the brooks range tarp in another configuration

JP using the brooks range tarp in another configuration

Looking almost like a planned camp.

Looking almost like a planned camp.

Chris showing how a Alpine Threadworks tarp/sled can work for a simple shelter.

Chris showing how a Alpine Threadworks tarp/sled can work for a simple shelter.

Brooks Range all-in-one tarp/sled in a simple trough structure.

Brooks Range all-in-one tarp/sled in a simple trough structure.

Joe, demoing this simple emergency shelter and stove.

Joe, demoing this simple emergency shelter and stove.

Kyle with the 8x12 trap as a mid.

Kyle with the 8×12 trap as a mid.

Niels, improvising with no extra gear or tarp.

Niels, improvising with no extra gear or tarp.

Chris and Marc packaging Francie in an Alpine Threadworks sled.  Simple, quick and a guide favorite on the tests.

Chris and Marc packaging Francie in an Alpine Threadworks sled. Simple, quick and a guide favorite on the tests.

Ed and Niels constructing the standard Brooks Range sled.

Ed and Niels constructing the standard Brooks Range sled.

Packaged and descending in a SKED litter/sled.

Packaged and descending in a SKED litter/sled.

Fairly tight and comfy in the SKED.

Fairly tight and comfy in the SKED.

The SKED slides the best.

The SKED slides the best.

The SKED requires good braking on steep slopes.

The SKED requires good braking on steep slopes.

Cold Powder at the Sawtooth Huts!

 Bench Hut, Fishhook Yurts, Huts and Yurts  Comments Off on Cold Powder at the Sawtooth Huts!
Dec 062013
 

We are just back from the Sawtooth where SVT guides: Joe, Pato, Chris, Ed, Toby and new Interns: Trudy, Alisa and Niels braved the extreme cold temps (-22f) and fresh powder to prep the huts for the winter season. We found 16+” of new storm snow and close to 3′ of total snow at Bench Hut and some great (if cold) ski conditions. The pictures below should give you a good idea for what it is like out there right now. The ski trails are in and the powder awaits you! Give us a call if you want to get out and enjoy this beautiful early December.

The crew, getting the huts ready under -22f temps

The crew, getting the Fishhook Hut ready under -22f temps

Heading into the Teeth!

Heading into the Teeth!

Pato hard at work cutting over 30 trees that blocked the trail

Pato hard at work cutting over 30 trees that blocked the trail

Ahh, the cozy new Fishhook Hut at -22f

Ahh, the cozy new Fishhook Hut at -22f

Warm and cozy, the 1st winter night in the new hut

Warm and cozy, the 1st winter night in the new hut

My new favorite bunk in the mountains!

My new favorite bunk in the mountains!

The trees were popping with the cold temps

The trees were popping with the cold temps

As beautiful as ever

As beautiful as ever

Touring through the old growth

Touring through the old growth

Approaching Bench Hut

Approaching Bench Hut

Redfish Lake still ice free...

Redfish Lake still ice free…

Toby doing what an intern does.

Toby doing what an intern does.

Action

Action

Ski time

Ski time

Lots of fresh snow!

Lots of fresh snow!

Ed laying into the powder

Ed laying into the powder

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Chris, styling

Chris, styling

Cold Smoke

Cold Smoke

Toby hard at work

Toby hard at work

Alisa testing Idaho powder

Alisa testing Idaho powder

Pato, treetop flying

Pato, treetop flying

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Early Season Powder Tour

 Daily Powder Tours, Guides Day Off, SVT Scene  Comments Off on Early Season Powder Tour
Nov 242013
 
Not bad for a low snow November!

Not bad for a low snow November!

SVT guides: Joe St.Onge, Patrick Graham and Chris Marshall went for a tour out in the Smoky Mountains yesterday to check the early season conditions. Despite a relatively thin snow pack, good turning conditions were found and a beautiful tour was had. Careful route finding and conservative choices are key to avoid the many thin snow hazards that are present right now. With that in mind, there is some fun skiing to be had right now!

Ah, good to be back on skis!

Ah, good to be back on skis!

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SVT Guides Chris Marshal and Patrick Graham

SVT Guides Chris Marshal and Patrick Graham

Charlie Brown powder

Charlie Brown powder

as beautiful as always

as beautiful as always

Lots of sharp nasties out there, especially at the entrances

Lots of sharp nasties out there, especially at the entrances

Shade line pow

Shade line pow

The Huts are Ready for a BIG WINTER

 Huts and Yurts, SVT Scene  Comments Off on The Huts are Ready for a BIG WINTER
Nov 192013
 

We’ve been busy traveling to the different Huts and Yurts to get everything ready for a BIG winter and for you! Below are some images from the past week at the Pioneer Yurt and Coyote Yurts.

The New Coyote yurts!

The New Coyote yurts!

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Goodbye Autumn, Welcome Winter!

Aspens and Snow welcome to Autumn!

Moon-rise above the Pioneer Yurt

Moon-rise above the Pioneer Yurt

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Dumping at Coyote!

Dumping at Coyote!

Oct 162013
 
Rising from the flames, the new Coyote Yurts!

Rising from the flames, the new Coyote Yurts!

We Did It!! Less than two months after the Beaver Creek Fire incinerated the Coyote Yurts, we have built a beautiful new Coyote. Two yurts connected by a covered breezeway, new sauna and outhouse are ready for backcountry travelers.

Just in time for the snow

Just in time for the snow

This situation was extreme. There was the worry and anticipation of a major wild fire burning around three of our huts. The confirmation that Coyote was gone was rough. On our first visit to where the yurts were, the fire was still burning and the shock of the impact of the fire on a place we know and love was heavy. But it was the recognition that it is all OK. These mountains and forest depend on fire. We can rebuild, the skiing will be phenomenal and the burned forest will bloom again soon. It will just take hard work, some money and time.

In a two week push and cold snowy weather broken by spectacular blue sky days we built the new Coyote yurts. This effort truly took a village to realize, and THANK YOU to all who helped!

The new Coyote is a unique and beautiful hut and we hope it is enjoyed by many in the years to come!

Two 20' Pacific Yurts connected by a covered "breezeway"

Two 20′ Pacific Yurts connected by a covered “breezeway”

The tools and the power, thanks  to Goal Zero!

The tools and the power, thanks to Goal Zero!

Laying out the 1st yurt deck

Laying out the 1st yurt deck

Trudy laying the glass

Trudy laying the glass

Thanks Nigel and Will!

Thanks Nigel and Will!

The bros building a redwood outhouse

The bros building a redwood outhouse

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Atlas did not shrug

Atlas did not shrug

and now we do it again...

and now we do it again…

A big THANKS to Jesse and Paris

A big THANKS to Jesse and Paris

project largely powered by Coors and Fords

project largely powered by Coors and Fords

Birthday boy, Joe feeling a bit older

Birthday boy, Joe feeling a bit older

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Pato, the man, the duck, the legend.

Pato, the man, the duck, the legend.

Pato hunting for the next cut

Pato hunting for the next cut

Jesse and JP laying it out

Jesse and JP laying it out

Circular and level

Circular and level

the 1st night at Coyote was fitting to have a big blaze

the 1st night at Coyote was fitting to have a big blaze

Sean, zen and the art of yurt.

Sean, zen and the art of yurt.

The master enjoying the 1st meal at the beautiful table.

The master enjoying the 1st meal at the beautiful table.

The kitchem

The kitchem

Nice

Nice

The breezeway

The breezeway

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mountain guide, builder, pinch hitter and stud.

mountain guide, builder, pinch hitter and stud.

Thank You Bozo for building a beautiful Sauna!

Thank You Bozo for building a beautiful Sauna!

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The kitchen yurt is a spectacular place to be, the window views are awesome!

The kitchen yurt is a spectacular place to be, the window views are awesome!

The new sleeping yurt sleeps as many as 16!

The new sleeping yurt sleeps as many as 16!

The yurts fit nicely in the landscape

The yurts fit nicely in the landscape

The final product

The final product