Until the last storm cycle, which ended on Friday, December 13, base conditions were marginal here. Most of the backcountry bowls were in, but the access and exits were often difficult. Grand Targhee was open, but wasn't worth a trip unless you were an Eastern skier by heart and had some serious rock skis. But the last storm brought 3 feet of snow. Heavy, dense, wet snow that coated the mountain sides like glue. Bad for skiing but great for base.

Burbank Creek Avalanche

Wednesday, December 13: It was snowing hard at our house in Driggs, but we decided that because Targhee was so marginal to start with, that we would find better conditions in the backcountry. I kept watching the thermometer in the car as we headed up to Mail Cabin Creek. 35 degrees in Victor. The temp slowly dropped, but seemed to hold at 33 degrees, even as we approached the Coal Creek parking lot. We hiked into Moose Brush. While we hiked in, the storm continued to dump snow on us, and because the temperature was around freezing, the snow kept melting on us. By the time I reached Moose Brush, I was wet, and then as we climbed up, we came into the wind, howling wind. While climbing up, I kept poking my pole into the snow and it went all the way to the ground. Around 30-50 inches of snow. Whatever base had been there before the storm seemed to have been reduced to mush by the warm temperatures. On top of Moose Brush, the wind and snow had created whiteout conditions and the snow seemed very unstable. Nothing moving, just that bottomless snow all the way to the ground. We retreated after one run and returned to the car soaked to the skin. One skier we talked to in the parking lot said it's the wettest he's ever been on skis. He looked like a drowned rat. So did we.

Lone Pine

Thursday, December 14: Grand Targhee went from terrible, rock-skis-only conditions to full coverage. We skied everywhere with impunity and the snow was VERY nice. Heavy, wet stuff underneath covered with about a foot of light powder.

Friday, December 15: Avalanche report said the danger level was "Considerable" at all levels except for below 7000 feet. Another good day for Targhee, except that the wind was so strong, only the Sacajawea lift was open and the snow was perfect for an ACL tear. We went home to work some billable hours.

Saturday, December 16: Back to Targhee with the masses. Even with the crowds, we found a lot of untracked and challenging snow. The base is in. Definitely.

Lone Pine

Sunday, December 17: Mail Cabin Creek, 15 degrees. Below 7,800', there's a hard, unbreakable crust everywhere, no matter which direction it faces. Above that level, we found about 5-8 inches of light powder in protected areas and wind-affected snow in exposed areas. We dug a pit and found pretty solid snow to the ground and no TG snow at the ground level. There was a very soft layer right below the new, heavy snow. This is the light snow that came in before the wet snow. This looks like it could be dangerous until the weight of the snow above it compresses it.

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