A Book, a detailed report on a weekend snowkite escapade

[windzup]

After two days of riding on the fresh mid-September snow, we had the taste of powder on our tongues and we headed north in search of more snow, or any snow for that matter as ours only lasted the weekend at Skyline and was melting rapidly. Reports came in that Jackson Holes Togwotee pass had been smothered in snow as deep as 2-5 feet with the same storm and was holding out well. That meant that most high ridges should have some snow along the north west ranges of ID-WY-MT. We were bound for the film premiere of Project Cloud 9 in Montana anyway, so we left a couple days early and stopped off in Island Park on the way up. Good people and great beer entertained us along with an inter-team foosball battle that lasted past midnight on the Hallows Eve, but no snow, only wind would be there for us at dawn. So we pressed on and met up with Montana’s legendary Noah, an explorer with an insight similar to Chasta, he can smell the snow and taste the wind. A few miles north of Island Park, just across the Montana border, we found Noah in Ennis, at the turn off to the Gravelly Range. Dirt roads lead us to the 9,000 foot (3,000 meter) elevation where the snow met the road. Howling winds fed our 6 meter AX and 7 meter FX kites and we stretched across the snow covered grass that created a frozen alpine tundra effect, a frozen surface that was fast snow sliding and fun kiting. Its amazing that with a snowkite, a backcountry rider can enjoy only 4-6 inches of snow. Of course Noah had led us to the grassy rock-free fields that sat above an immense range of rolling hills. As the winter settles upon the Gravelly’s snowmobiles and long treks will open a winter paradise, with potential for multi ridge journey’s.



After the packed house at the film debut in Bozeman’s Pour-house Bar we split paths, Noah and fellow backcountry skier Jeff would off-road and hike miles up to Windy Pass, an amazing area above Gallatin Canyon near Bozeman. They scored fresh snow and enough wind to power their 10 meter kites. On the flipside we found ourselves amongst devils and ghouls as marauders paraded the streets in a pagan celebration of Halloween week in downtown Missoula. The festivities were great, the people were crazy and the atmosphere was welcoming and even more Snowkiters were stoked at the Snowkite Documentary that was presented at Missoula’s Pipestone Mountaineering. Although we felt like hanging our hats after the gracious hospitality that town laid out, we had to push on in search of wind and snow. Our next stop was Billings and the gateway to the Big Horn and Bear Tooth mountain ranges. Like conquistadors in search of lost gold, we have heard rumors of massive rolling peaks covered in depths of snow, and lucky travelers that have been graced with snow early and late into the year… we were on our way.



A mandatory stop at Steep World was in order, a climbing gym and kite shop that prepares travelers for the road ahead. We stretched our arms in the monkey gym and shared the vision of Snowkiting with the local riders. At dawn we all rolled south for the Big Horns and high snow covered Plateaus. Behind us were local riders including Steep Worlds founder Jim with a car load of kiters. As we reached the 9800 foot level we found snow, wind and grass covered ridge lines on the horizon. This is an Alta Plano, a high plain, and the early season snow was just starting to show us the routes and adventures that would lay in our future. Of course, the spot was marked with Frenzy’s in the air, Noah and compatriot Tony were already on the scene, quick to be the first on the snow and lay out tracks to the good stashes, they had set out at dawn to meet us. We quickly dressed and launched our own wings and followed their tracks miles to the horizon where the south exposure thinned the riding terrain. In search of deeper snow and fresh tracks, we each spread out following our own drifts, some leading up gullies, others riding the roadside snow banks. Finally, Noah sniffs the line and follows a snow covered road to the summit of Little Baldy. While crossing grass and rocks, he found a path to the wind swept cornice on the back side… and thus the sessions really began. He showed us the way and left his dual tracks across the dawg bowls, cornice and wind drifted swimming pools with lips in every direction. Many riders found their best turns ever and deep snow on the back side of Little Baldy that day, and the cars on the highway only saw grass and snow patches. Snowkites can take you to the unknown road and the uncarved slope, and we found it in Wyoming’s backcountry on a special early November day that poured sunshine and ten meter winds.



We said our good byes and promised our returns as the locals departed to their nearby towns and homes. But we weren’t ready to leave, we were physically worn out and hungry to taste more of the Big Horns potential and there was no way we were leaving without another day here. So we followed Noah to his haunt, and scored off-season rates at an amazing mountain lodge. Just 15 minutes from the spot we Snowkited, was a log cabin complete with hot tub, heated pool, bar, lounge and restaurant along with dozens of rooms. It was a mid mountain paradise that we learned will become our future Basecamp when we return to these mountains. The locals were friendly and shared with us images of huge cornices and deep wind fed snow banks that litter their backyard… they welcomed us to come back when the snow covers the roads and only snowmobiles can access the highest terrain, we thanked them and set off for our final day in the Big Horns before the roads get snowed in and closed for the season. As great mountains will have their way, so do the Big Horns, and they dealt us a mixed hand. Wind was enough to power 10-12 meter kites and fell from a northerly direction. This would be epic, we have the golden pass to ride all of the drifted snow covered slopes that had not been scoured by sun… yet the skies dropped a white out so thick, that one could barely see their kites in front of them. We followed the fog for an hour and then packed up for the journey back to Utah. Sad, yet excited, we followed dry passes and desert valleys across windy Wyoming to our home spot at Skyline. The Big Horns have a special energy that empowers and evokes the spirit, it was a sacred place for our Indian ancestors and will offer similar rewards to Snowkiters that follow its pilgrimage.



Windzup,

Brian Schenck

WE = Heather & Brian Schenck, Patrick Nedele

[Kenny]

Great report - makes me want to pack up the gear and head up to Montana for a few days.

I am starting to get antsy after 2 weeks of no riding. Two weeks of beautiful fall weather under a high pressure ridge. I think everyone was happy except for those of us who love wind. Looks like the weather is a changing. Let it snow