A Grand Scout

Looking Back at our Ski Descent

I had fun scouting the Grand Teton with friends Lee Brown and Ken Doerr this weekend. The weather was beautiful. The avalanche conditions were stable. And the skiing was, um, marginal at best.

We pulled the plug in the Stetner Couloir even though we were making great time and had plenty of reserves in our tanks. The snow conditions were scary… wind hammered and icy.

Here’s what we found…   

Making it to the Meadows in 2 Hours... Matt Pauses to Layer Up in Front of the Middle Teton... (Insert Shameless Promotion Here: Columbia Omni Heat Jacket)

Climbing Above Garnet Canyon w/ the Nez Perce Hourglass Couloirs in the Background

Heading up the Teepee Glacier

Ken Switches to Bootpacking w/ the Middle Teton in the Background

Lee Sporting his Grandfather's Sunglasses... I was terrified that he might write me a speeding ticket wearing those things

 

Wrapping Around to the Stetner Couloir

The Infamous Stetner Couloir... this is as far as we'd climb today due to icy and wind-affected snow conditions

Ken Skiing the Upper Reaches of the Teepee Glacier

Matt Skiing the Variable Powder Conditions the Best He Can

Some of the Best Snow of the Day

Powder Turns on the Teepee Glacier

Lee's Turn

More Lee on the Teepee Glacier

Looking Back at Our Grand Day... we really enjoyed carressing the large areolas of this beautiful mountain!