Falcon Guides XC Book

Dear Blog Followers!

I hope you’re enjoying summer, and that it’s finally arrived in your corner of the world…

I’m happy to be sharing some exciting news with you: I’ve been asked by Falcon Guides Publishing to write a book – My first book deal(!) – called Basic Illustrated Cross Country Skiing. I was contacted back in February, but only recently have things solidified enough to say it’s a sure thing. Parts are due July 1 and Sept 1, and Feb 22 is the final deadline, so the book will hit the shelves in the fall of 2012. Here's a link to the Falcon Web Site: http://www.falcon.com/

Thanks to those among you who have already offered support and encouragement. Please let me know if you're interested in reviewing, or simply pre-reading.

Thanks again! All my Best!

Scotty

Grand Teton Ski/Board Attempt

Just tried to ski the Grand Teton Monday… (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eahnNTOzLoo) by way of the original first descent route, the Stettner Couloir seen here.

My partner Brendan Burns and I got through all of the cruxes, but we left the upper E. Face and the last 800 feet to the summit for another day. It was a fine adventure, and although travel was slowed by some punchy, unfrozen snow, the avalanche danger was low and the snow was soft enough to make the steep skiing altogether pleasant. 


It has been a tricky spring to try to hit the conditions for this kind of route. Freezing nights have been rare due to the amount of precipitation (much of it snow) that continued to fall. According to an advisory from the Jenny Lake Rangers: "The Teton Range contains an unprecedented amount of snowpack for this time of year. Unusual conditions exist due to an unseasonably cool and wet spring following a record winter snowfall with 732 inches recorded at the Raymer plot on Rendezvous Mountain (elevation 9,300 feet)."  We had some good timing relative to changing conditions, and were able to climb in relatively low hazard conditions.

Cause for Hope!

Really? ...66 degrees on Wednesday!...it's gonna be a scorcher, Folks!

Overnight - Rain/Snow Likely Lo 35 °F Sunday - Rain/Snow Likely Hi 47 °F Sunday Night Rain/Snow Likely Lo 33 °F Memorial Day Rain/Snow Likely Hi 44 °F Monday Night Chance Rain/Snow Lo 31 °F Tuesday - Mostly Sunny Hi 59 °F Tuesday Night Partly Cloudy Lo 35 °F Wednesday - Sunny Hi 66 °F Wednesday Night Partly Cloudy Lo 35 °F

Wish You Were Here!...

The Story of our Spring:

Jackson WY

Enter Your "City, ST" or zip code

NWS Riverton, WY  Point Forecast: Jackson WY  43.49°N 110.75°W (Elev. 6327 ft) Mobile Weather Information | En Español Last Update: 3:30 pm MDT May 21, 2011 Forecast Valid: 11pm MDT May 21, 2011-6pm MDT May 28, 2011

Overnight Chance Showers Lo 37 °F Sunday Chance Showers Hi 63 °F Sunday Night Chance Showers Lo 39 °F Monday Showers Likely Hi 59 °F Monday Night Chance Showers Lo 36 °F Tuesday Chance Showers Hi 55 °F Tuesday Night Chance Rain/Snow Lo 35 °F Wednesday Slight Chc Showers Hi 60 °F Wednesday Night Slight Chc Showers Lo 37 °F ...it'll be snowin' in the mountains!

Teton Pass to Philips Pass Skate Ski Tour video

Check out this little movie I made...of an awesome tour...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN8WiU9zYVs

Kids Club in the Boulder Park at the base of Snow King

This
Thursday and Friday, I'm in-town guiding for Exum taking the kids from the after school program to the new boulder park at the base of Snow King. Just in time too. The ski runs have finally melted off enough that you can no longer ski top to bottom!

Spotters ready?

"The hold my foot is on spins!"

Look for good holds...

Use your legs...

Lean out when downclimbing to look for good feet.

Hmmm...now what?

Got it!

Fun for all!

Skating around Jenny Lake on Friday 5/13

Skating around the lake was great in the shade, though this lake is close to thawing. The 'ice' is actually about 6 feet of snow ON ice, with a frozen top. If you break through this time of year, it's just into slush, but disconcerting nonetheless!

Teewinot - 'many pinnacles' - with lots of wet slides. Skiing on the lake, I could hear the 'thunder' of the slides going over cliff bands, though you couldn't always tell where the avalanche was.

The Cathedral Group - Teewinot on the left, then the Grand, with its upper north face, then Owen.

 Symmetry Spire and St. Johns.

 Mt. Moran. See the 'waterfall' on the far left?...that's actually an avalanche in progress! The snow is still consolidating...

The Exum Mountain Guides' office