Sign Up for Free | Sign In

Backcountry Skiing blogs, videos, photos, and a whole lotta stoke.

And Winter Moves in | Grand Teton National Park, WY United States | 10/27/08, by powderjunky

Although it never really seemed to have ended, winter is slowly making its way back to the mountains. Turns year round was an easy feat this year for those seeking summer time snow. As I think back to all the good turns we had last winter it's hard to figure out why I was so pressed on skiing on October 18 2008. With an almost definite chance of marginal snow, long approach, and little turns, for some reason it's worth it.

We got an early start and headed to do some skiing in Grand Teton National Park for our official first turns of the 2008-2009 season. We were hoping to summit something but all the recent snow having half-filled in the boulder fields, finding solid footing proved to slow our pace drastically. Once we got to snow line (around 9000ft) we had to be real careful about where to step as the boulders were hungry and ready to swallow you whole!

We met up with a group of accountants that work for the resort and managed to find safe footing through the scree infested booby-traps to the base of our line. The whole week before was very snowy and overcast so being out in the sunshine in the park was a great way to kick off the new ski season.

The skiing was variable of course but the experience was great. The first couple turns are always the goofiest but eventually instinct kicks in and smoothness follows. As we hiked out I began to wonder what the new ski season will bring. Will it be epic? Will it send us packing? Whatever it brings I know adventure beckons as I humbly wait for its call.�