Early Season Bliss

East and West Hourglass Couloirs, Nez PierceThe early snow of October kept my gaze toward the high peaks most of the month. Some friends got out right after the storm and skied powder on the Middle Teton Glacier. It looked fantastic although they didn't ski from the top of the "notch" below the summit pyramid. Various commitments kept me from getting up there right away but a window opened a couple of weeks later and I rallied the usual suspects for a look-see.Glacier Route, Middle Teton

Having skied the West Hourglass Couloir on Nez Pierce early in past years I thought we could give that a go in addition to the main objective, the Middle Teton Glacier Route. There hadn't been any new snow since the first dump but cold temps kept the conditions prime.

Andy Dorais and Jared Inouye from SLC were keen for the adventure and locals Kim Young and Nate Brown were along, too. Kim was a glutton for punishment, signing on with a bunch of hyper-competitive rando racers in Spandex while she, not being fully indoctrinated in fast and light skimo culture, was left to surf our wake in more traditional (read: heavy) gear. The stud that she is, she is now ready to go into consumer debt to outfit herself in more speed worthy gear and embrace this alternate mode.

It was dry as a bone hiking up into Garnet but the snow appeared above the boulders. Switching to ski boots in the Meadows, we headed up the West Hourglass thinking we were going to ski about half of it. As was our suspicion, the top half was wind-blown, rock-strewn ice. Being mountaineers at heart, we trudged to the top anyway just because. It was freakin' COLD.Up the West Hourglass

Andy Dorais, color palate whoreA quick down climb got us back to the skiable goods where we made the first turns of the year. It was a combo of chalk and boiler plate but it was skiing and we were happy.Nate Brown getting his first turns of 2011-12

A quick scramble across the bottom brought us to the winter/spring trail below the Middle Teton and, thankfully, into the sun. Layers were quickly shed as we hiked up to the tongue of the glacier. Back into the shade and the usual wind that blows down from the saddle, we put those same layers back on as the main glacier came into view.Middle Teton GlacierJared brought his ski crampons along and continued on skis all the way to the top of the main body. The rest of us followed the direct boot pack upward in crampons. The snow was surprisingly good and the decision was quickly made to continue to the top of the traditional "Glacier Route" to the notch. In the steep (51 degrees) narrower section we found packed powder well-bonded to the firm year 'round layer below.Into the Narrows

The sun was shining at the top and we laid around taking pictures laughing at our good fortune.At the notch, top of the M.T. Glacier Route I had the pleasure of being the stability monkey, making a couple of cuts and careful turns as the pitch steepened. Slough management was all that was needed to enjoy some fantastic skiing in October. We group skied the glacier down to the headwall and finished the decent to our tennies in the meadow on foot.

Andy put together a nice little video of the day. Check out more of his antics at SLC Sherpa.

Late October Teton Psych from andy dorais on Vimeo.

It's funny. I've looked at the Glacier Route on the Middle Teton for at least 12 years. It's a must-do Teton classic and yet I've never been on it. How ironic, then, that I got to ski it in perfect conditions in October. Here's looking forward to a bountiful season. - Brian