![Stoked to be getting high](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4211.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
It’s ski mountaineering season here in the high peaks of Idaho! SVT guide, Joe St.Onge, and a group of intrepid Montanans are just back from 4 days of peak skiing based out of the Pioneer Yurt. While the snow has been rapidly melting this spring, we are still finding good to excellent ski conditions in the alpine, and the Pioneer Yurt is a great place to visit if you want to go alpine! The approach to the Pioneer Yurt is largely snow free at this point (don’t even think about snowmobile access!), but we can drive to the summer trailhead. Once at the Yurt, conditions are a bit bony for another 800′, but there is reliable coverage and good ski conditions in the alpine basins above. It may not last long, so get it while you can! Enjoy the pics!
![Ah, in the high country!](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3741.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Ah, in the high country!
![Climbing into the Duncan's Bowl](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3744.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Climbing into the Duncan’s Bowl
![Stoked to be at 11,000'](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3746.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Stoked to be at 11,000′
![Ripping corn](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3786.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
Ripping corn in formation
![Bob, laying it out](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3800.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Bob, laying it out
![Cranking the peel-away](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3809.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Cranking the peel-away
![Bush Hawk, flying](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3830.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Bush Hawk, flying
![It's a bit bony getting into the high country from the yurt](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3866.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
It’s a bit bony getting into the high country from the yurt
![IMG_3888](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3888.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
![Apprentice guides, Niels and Aysha](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3911.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Apprentice guides, Dynamite and Snowflake
![Mikey, the man](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3914.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
Mikey, the man
![Mark, loving the mountains](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3925.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
Mark, loving the mountains
![Climbing Goat Peak](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3936.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Climbing Goat Peak
![The Higher You Get...](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3942.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
The Higher You Get…
![Mikey on the summit of Goat](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3946.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Mikey on the summit of Goat
![The Heart of the Pioneers](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3949.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
The Heart of the Pioneers
![Perfect corn on the summit snow fields](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3962.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Perfect corn on the summit snow fields
![yehaw](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_3981.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
yehaw
![soft and carvy](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4011.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
soft and carvy
![spring fun in the alpine](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4023.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
spring fun in the alpine
![Scotty, stoked](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4042.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
Scotty, stoked
![Climbing back to the yurt](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4046.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Climbing back to the yurt
![Bob, checking out the 3000' bowl of Duncans](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4050.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Bob, checking out the 3000′ bowl of Duncans
![Couldn't pass this corn slope up on the way back to the yurt](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4063.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Couldn’t pass this corn slope up on the way back to the yurt
![Climbing toward Hyndamn](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4102.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Climbing toward Hyndamn
![The ascent of Hyndman in firm conditions](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4104.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
The ascent of Hyndman in firm conditions
![Approaching the summit of Hyndman](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4111.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Approaching the summit of Hyndman
![The last steps to the summit](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4118.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
The last steps to the summit
![Stoked to be on top of the highest Peak in the Pioneers](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4120.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Stoked to be on top of the highest Peak in the Pioneers
![Skiing the summit snowfields of Hyndman](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4124.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Skiing the summit snowfields of Hyndman
![Cranking turns down the face of Hyndman](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4138.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Cranking turns down the face of Hyndman
![Rest break mid-descent](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4148.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Rest break mid-descent
![Aysha coming down the lower crux](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4162.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Snowflake coming down the lower crux
![Arcing down the Hyndman Basin back to the Yurt](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4185.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
Arcing down the Hyndman Basin back to the Yurt
![Climbing toward the Dorsal Fin](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4193.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Climbing toward the Dorsal Fin
![The crew, in the Throne Room of the Mountain Guides](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4197.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
The crew, in the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods
![Climbing the Dorsal Fin Couloir](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4206.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Climbing the Dorsal Fin Couloir
![Steep](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4209.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
Steep
Stoked to be getting high
![The final steps at the top of the Dorsal Fin Couloir](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4214.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
The final steps at the top of the Dorsal Fin Couloir
![Mikey](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4219.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
Mikey
![Lunch with a view](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4224.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Lunch with a view
![Top of Dorsal Fin](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4225.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Top of Dorsal Fin
![Getting ready for the steeps](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4227.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Getting ready for the steeps
![Oh, yeah](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4242.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Oh, yeah
![sweet!](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4279.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
sweet!
![Carvable](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4282.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Carvable
![Mikey cranking](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4296.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
Mikey cranking
![Hop turns on the steeps](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4306.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Hop turns on the steeps
![After the couloir, comes the apron](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4323.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
After the couloir, comes the apron
![Craving the apron](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4339.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Carving the apron
![Cold beer after a great ski](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4347.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Cold beer after a great ski
![IMG_4351](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4351.jpg?resize=695%2C927&ssl=1)
![making the descent on snow-ribbons off the Peanut back toward the trailhead](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4360.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
making the descent on snow-ribbons off the Peanut back toward the trailhead
![Yep, it's pretty bony down low.](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4363.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
Yep, it’s pretty bony down low.
![The last few steps to the car](https://i0.wp.com/blog.svtrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/IMG_4365.jpg?resize=695%2C521&ssl=1)
The last few steps to the car