Skication: Spring 2013

Some people turn into total snowbirds come spring break and fly south to warmer climes. I prefer to find my spring break warmth in slopeside hot tubs. Or, since I'm a starving grad student and can't afford slopeside lodging, hot tubs located at some distance from the slopes. For the first time, well, ever I'm taking a spring break trip. Two of my buddies and are hitting the road (at the ungodly hour of 2 a.m. to boot) and heading north to Jackson Hole, our first stop on the epicness that I'm now calling Skication: Spring 2013.

I've been to JH once, in the early fall, so there was very little to do. I was also incredibly sick at the time, so hiking was even out of the question. And since I was on a trip with my parents, it wasn't like that was going to be a crazy party trip. This time we're rolling in for spring break, to shred on the hill and rage through downtown. We've got to make sure to keep it in check for both, because the next morning we're getting up and taking the 1.5 hour drive over the pass to Alta, WY to hit up Targhee for more pow hopefully.

I've only ever heard amazing things about this little resort and can't wait to see if it will live up to or surpass the hype. It will likely be a nice break from what will probably be a crazy-packed Jackson Hole. We won't be able to savor the bustling metropolis of Alta (sense the sarcasm) because we'll pack up our gear at the end of the day and drive another 4ish hours to Bozeman, MT (home sweet home!).

Things awaiting us in Bozeman are home-cooked meals, two crazy black labs with cuddles galore, two great resorts, and some fun partying. Monday we're hitting up Big Sky where, depending on legs (specifically knee) and conditions, the Big Couloir could be in order (especially since I don't know if Corbet's will be/should be on the docket since there is a lot I'd be missing out on if I destroyed myself first day out; I don't want to emulate Eric Pollard). Hopefully the conditions make it a day for lapping the Lone Peak tram a couple of times, but I know where to go if it's not; that's the benefit of returning to a home resort. We'll finish of the day hitting up downtown Bozeman, where fun times will no doubt abound.

Tuesday we'll get up once more, pull on our base layers, hop in the car, and again drive the Gallatin Canyon to Lone Peak. This time we'll drive past the entrance to BS and hit up the backside of Lone Peak: my true ski birthplace, Moonlight Basin. The headwaters and trees await, and you just know I'm going to do a few screamer runs down Ice House and Lookout Ridge. My dad will even be out that day, which just makes it even more fun. One more night in BZN, then probably back to SLC where we can hit up the Bird for some skiing here in our own backyard.

It's a tough life we lead.