Jackson

For the second time this year, Ally and I got out to her old stomping ground of Jackson Hole to find a little of winter since we are so lacking for it out West. The trip was quick but fruitful. 

We were able to link up with her good friend Aaron for a great day of sled skiing up on the pass and out into Jensen Canyon. Good sled education to take North to Alaska as well as 5 great pow runs in the back country. Those machines can really rip, and it was fun to watch some people who can move them around. 

We headed to The Village with AJ & Amy for day-two and out the upper gate into the resort side-country. I was able to snag two really solid runs, Four Shadows on Cody peak, and then after a long walk around the No Name Traverse and the back side of that peak I got to put some turns in Saint Patty's couloir. 

Met some great people and had a great time. Can’t wait to get back to Jackson next year. I have a feeling this is the beginning of a long, winter love affair. 

Back in Jackson & it feels so good

In the valley under the impressive Tetons

Loaded up on the big kid toys with Aaron

Headed out into Jensen Canyon

Ally & Aaron doubled up and hauling ass

Nice to see some soft snow

Getting laps in and all loaded on one machine

Thanks for the lift, Ally

Some things are just expected

My bad-ass lady ripping around

Aaron running into friends in the back country

Once we had a second experienced rider we were able to punch a little deeper – and steeper (can you see them tripled up, mid-slope?)

Great times with great people

Back at the resort, and headed out of the gate

Ready to hike

AJ with Sarah, Eric & Brendan st the start of our day

Ally & me with Cody in the background

I was lucky enough to tag along and head up Cody with a great crew

Bootpack to the top

Spencer ready to drop in

Regroup' after Four Shadows 

Bootpacking up Figure Eights

AJ kicking steps

Pretty girl with a pretty view

Feeling pretty tired at the top of Figure Eights, I had no clue how many more steps I would go 

These ladies love to smile – but I suppose what's not to smile about out here

A look out No Name Traverse 

Making my way out the traverse

Pretty scoured above the pitch we aimed to ski

Final steps for the day, and these sea level legs are feeling their age

Gorgeous scenery with our group suiting up for the way out

Found some great snow in St. Patty's

As I get down it gets deeper and smoother

Spencer coming out the bottom of the couloir 

Some big features create the St. Patty's Couloir

A very happy group with several pitches left to ski

Ladies towards the end of the great day

Our wonderful hosts AJ & Amy

We snuck in a few runs before we took off

I'll definitely look forward to my next trip in the magic box

A Return To The Trinity

With just a slight sting from the fall’s skunk up on the Trinity I headed back up to try the river after the significant December rains. Word was there were fish to be found but Lewiston Lake was spitting some color into the water. Frank & I found that to be very true – with an emerald green hue in the water visibility was around 2’ at best. Our first day we had a few chances at the big ones, but were taken to town every time. More half pounders were in the river than we had ever seen which kept the lulls between the big dogs fun enough. Saturday night we spent some time at The Diggens for some local flavor and an eduction on crown-bombs. Our start-early, end-early mentality had us in bed by 9, but Sunday we rose a little foggier – rough around the edges. We managed to break the skunk record with one nice chromer to net and one great brown. Significant mid river celebration ensued.

Back at the beautiful Red Hill Motel

Ellie breaking the rules, and Frank breaking into the Bullet

Chilly AM's out on the river

Hunting for Chrome with Dr. Valone

Oh yeah Frank, bend that back

Maple keeping watch

A reenactment for Maher – little did we know we'd be there soon, too

And so it begins at The Diggens

Fortunately (or not) our new friend Ruben introduced us to The Crown Bomb

Dinner delivered to the bar

A fruitful day two

Give that Buck a little drink Doctor

Not a stellie, but a good brown piggy – I'll take it

Good little fighter

Gone girl

Skunked Up North

It doesn't happen every time, but it happens often enough where we make the 5+ hour trip to the Trinity and hardly see a fish the whole weekend.

Maher and I headed up for early-season steelhead trip following some decent rain in California only to find the river completely blown out and more or less unfishable. Driving to the river Saturday we saw four guide boats booking it up river and knew something was amiss. We put on at Sky Ranch in clear water that turned to chocolate within our first 30 min on the river. Regardless, we made the best of it, but in the end a bottle of rye got the best of us. No fish and soaking wet, it was still a great day on the river. 

Sunday's conditions were a little better, we went up high on the river with pretty much every other boat that was out, but the fish really weren't up that high yet and we only saw a few boats around us catch anything. With my huge final trip on the Trinity last season it's only to be expected to get a humbling one or two in before we feel the tug again. 

Early in the day & optimistic

Ellie enjoying a moment or two out of the boat

Lunch master Maher

With a captive audience

No fish, but good eats

Maher finally hooks into one

But she's just a little lady

Maybe some day this little native will be a ocean running pig

We succumbed to the inevitable

Pull after pull as the water browns up and side creeks flood in

Getting dark to the west

Back at the ranch

Attempting to dry out for the evening

Maher at the office

A few drinks & a few cigars

Back on the river day two

Geared up for the elements

It was a chilly day on the river

Working hard, but found nada

Gorgeous afternoon reflections as we near the takeout