St. Mary’s Peak has the highest trailhead in the Bitterroot; you start a little below 7k and end up above 9 not quite four miles later. An obvious place to go look for snow.
I put on skis around 8.5k, skinning through the tress, trying to not hit too many rocks. Once above “treeline” a section of talus necessitated hiking, then steeper windpack and mini-sasturgi patches, dodging between rocky bits. I kept thinking “this is the rig I’ve been looking for!” Kicker skins got me up things I would’ve been flailing on with fishscales, and fatter, shorter skis and sidecut made maneuvering easier than ever. Funfunfunfunfunfun.
The rime has grown in the last month plus.
First tracks back off the top.
I was at this point reminded that I am still a very. very poor downhill skier. Lurching p-turns, gratuitous side slipping, and lots of kick turns were the order of the day. And not a few crashes. I did what I could to salvage dignity, and not hit too many rocks and trees.
Not much skiable snow anyway, but a grand adventure. I foresee lots of practice days on low-angle slopes away from the public eye this winter. I don’t learn things quickly, but am unafraid to get beat down learning.
I can’t wait.
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