April 25-28, 2014, Bozeman environs

Hit it just about right for a long weekend visiting family in town and skipping out during the days to ski...things just got better and better till they were full on epic today at Bridger Bowl.

Friday, two laps between 6 & 7K on private land in Bridger Canyon. Sun and consolidated snow/mush.

Saturday, skinned from Bridger Bowl base lookers right up through Bradley Meadows & onto the final pitch to the ridge, turned around at abt 8,300 ft. 6" new creamy  butter above 7,500 ft.

Sunday, headed up toward Big Sky, navigated through private land, thanks to this fine (out of print?) guide book...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Bozeman-Big-Backcountry-Guide-ebook/dp/B007Z4RE1W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398722339&sr=8-1&keywords=bozeman+and+big+sky+backcountry+ski+guide


Then schlogged up Yellow Mountain. This is a prominent peak to the North of the highway to Big Sky. The route follows a shoulder with open meadows on up from 7K to above 9K, with multiple descent options, ranging from very safe, to very steep. Great local tour.

Monday, awoke to a surprise 4-6" new snow in the city of Bozeman, headed back to Bridger.

6-8 new in the parking lot, temp just under 30 degrees. Windy. Skin track highway heading right up to the 8,400 foot ridge, under the patrol poma?. 12-24 light powder up high. Vast acreage with no lifts spinning meant un-tracked everywhere!  One of, if not the, best pow day of the year for me.

Photos from Blower Monday April 28th at Bridger. Black spot in 2nd photo is a dog. A lot of those in this area. Big cornice on ridge and point release below in 3rd photo, but overall snow pack stable as I got it early and during a lowering temperature period.