South Beach- Jackson Hole

With the line I've been eyeing for weeks already done, it was time to move away from the famed North Shore in the JH backcountry and step into the mellower, but in many ways more playful South Beach zone. Waking up to blue skies after a week of snow, I knew the Jackson locals would be hot on our heels to have some fun. What used to be a zone that was tagged once in a blue moon is now relegated to an almost 'sidecountry' status. Hours of walking do nothing to deter skiers chasing those undescribable feelings of sliding on snow and flying through the air.

After the patrol dropped the ropes we nearly ran out the two hour boot pack to get to our objective. Once there and plethora of rabid skiers raced to position while I hastily set up my helmet cam and guessed at the conditions that laid below my line. Dropping first has its advantages and disadvantages. On one hand you're guaranteed first tracks. On the other hand you can't ever completely know if the tracks you'll be laying are two inches deep or two feet deep. After soaring the first air and putting down the landing gear for impact I quickly figured out that my tracks were in the two inch category. But all in all the snow was as stompy as a pissed off elephant and smoother than waxed glass. Great skiing conditions and I got to share it with rabid skiers who turned out to mostly be friends. And that my friends, is what skiing is about.

South Beach. My line was looker's left of the horseshoe topped couloir. Double hit of double fun.


And for the action.