[peteMimmack]

With another storm cycle upon us in Utah, I better get this report done lest it be lost. It may not be as exciting as news from Kazakhstan or the Golan Heights, and since we were all white middle-aged people, it doesn't have the angle of the Sno Bro's or the young studs in our 'hood skiing the big steep lines.

But we had snow.



That's the yurt on the left, woodshed on the right. Even after digging and melting, it was still pretty deep.



So we had to go for it before dinner, even tho' it got a bit dark on the way down.



We knew it was going be a gooooooooooodd weekend.
Next morning dawned clear, and off we went to the big hill.



If you've got a mixed group, Steam Mill is a perfect location. Green runs toward the bottom,



Blue runs toward the top,



And a few areas that packed a bigger punch.



Once we figured out what was where this weekend, we indulged ourselves.



After a little orientation, everyone got the hang of it.



Yeah, baby !!



Eventually, the second part of the storm rolled in



And we had to head for the barn



Not because we were tired, of course.



Second part of the storm had more wind than snow, so Sunday wasn't quite so nice. But Saturday was a day to remember, and fortunately, I captured some of it on video. Only with my Canon A95 fixed focus viddy, but I did get some money shots. Check it out at

[url]
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=810938583899566380
[/url]

For some reason, google cuts the size in half, but here's a full-sized still from the best of what I got. The next run was actually deeper - apparently I ended it with quite a collection of snow behind my head, despite not falling down - but it was too dark to film.



Etiquette Note: photo credits to Rick Gamble and Chris Winter, too.

[Todd G]

Always great to see reports from my old haunts in the Bear River Range. Seems like there have been fewer this year now that a few of the regulars have moved south. Thanks for sharing!

[trackhead]

Sniffle, sniffle. I miss Logan Canyon.

[keithermadness]

Nice, Pete. Where's that one in relation to Bunch Grass??

I miss Logan Canyon too
_________________
~km

"Everyday is a potential avalanche day."
-Missiongravity

[teleken]

I'm really sorry you have such poor snow there in Utah.
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Guess I'd rather be where the only lines I see are the ones behind my skis.

[teleken]

Edit- double post.
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Guess I'd rather be where the only lines I see are the ones behind my skis.

[Shannon-UT]

Very Nice Pete!

I live in Logan, we've got the University Yurt this weekend.

The yurt you were at looks must "cleaner" inside.

Nice terrain too. Is it for intermediates?

Can you give me some stats?
How far into the yurt?
Elevation gain?
Is there a mouse problem in this yurt?
Etc?

[tele mark]

Nice TR, I'm itching to get up that way myself.
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Telemark Tech System

[Shannon-UT]

[bjz]

excellent! I'm heading out that way next week to visit some friends and this was one of the places I wanted to check out! now I have great amunition to make my case:) thanks for the report and fun pics!

[steven hatcher]

What the hell are you talking about "not as exciting as news from Kazakhstan?" The only exciting news outta here is that the temperatures have been above twenty for a couple weeks now and the snow is beginning to act like snow and maybe--I said maybe--I might find some good spring skiing in a month or so. That and one of the main opposition leaders was found shot to death out in the steppe, but that's another topic.

At this point I would give my opportunity for good spring skiing in Kazakhstan to be back at my old alma mater with my best of best friend skiing some of that Bear River snow. Please don't sell it short, that's one of my most beloved places on the planet.

Enjoy a bit of it for me, will ya?
_________________
Home Is Where Your Skis Is

[peteMimmack]

Shannon - you've got that right. Here's a close-up of the area (can't seem to capture it, so you'll have to click thru)

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=12&n=4645541&e=449518&s=50&size=l&datum=nad83&layer=DRG25

Both maps list Steep Hollow on them, which is still snowmachine terrain. From Hell's Kitchen to Bunch Grass is supposed to be machine-free.

You can see the yurt location in the picture of the Green Run. It is on the ridge in the background, just at the top edge of the aspens.

Lots of nice intermediate terrain. Some locals come in for day trips, as it is no more than 3 miles from Franklin Basin parking lot. The yurt is about 1500' above the lot, and easier to find than Bunch Grass, as you follow the road for 1.5 miles, then the one drainage for the rest of the way. The peak is then ~1200' above the yurt, with great views when the weather is clear. In fact, you can see all the way to Idaho, in the background over the yurt's ridge.



More photos at

http://photobucket.com/albums/v511/pmimmack/2004-feb-yurt/

http://photobucket.com/albums/v511/pmimmack/2005/0130-SMYurt/

Oh, and the yurt is fairly clean, with no sign of mice this year. May be the benefit of private enterprise, and/or renting to an older clientele.

Should be a great weekend to be up there right now!

Steven - Better snow, and we kicked your butts in hockey. Sorry about that. This year had probably the deepest snow we've ever skied, so we were all very happy with it, and definitely appreciate what an amazing place this is to live.

[Shannon-UT]

Those slopes look great - about my level!

Gorgeous - I think I need to reserve this yurt next year. The U. Yurt is kind of trashy.

So did you encounter alot of snowmobiles? You said "supposed" to be machine-free.

Have you done Bunchgrass yurt too? Which terrain do you like better, if you have been there?

[peteMimmack]

Terrain is very similar at both. Steam Mill is easier to get to (BG requires crossing to a 2nd drainage, which is tricky in a storm) and you get to look across the valley at your tracks when you're done skiing. We haven't had any encounters these last 2 years that the restrictions have been in place, but have seen tracks. Maybe the bad boys know they need to stay away on the weekend, but sneak in during the week.

[Kristin S]

Beautiful. Now that's the way to do it.