Carve - December 2014

CARVE a s p e c i a l p u b l i c at i o n o f t h e b o z e m a n d a i ly c h r o n i c l e

december 2014

Y o u r g u i d e to s k i i n g a n d s n o w b o a r d i n g i n s o u t h w e s t m o n ta n a

backcountry bliss Cooke city yurt trip blends alpine adventure with the comforts of home

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Yellowstone x/c primer: Kicking and gliding in the world’s first national Park sHovel ready safety lesson: snow-pit stability tests key to analyzing avalanche hazards Going by the book: local backcountry skiing guide book updated, expanded for holidays

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Skier: sean forbes Photo: Chris kerr Location: Hyalite peak backcountry

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Exploring Bozeman’s

Outer limits Local backcountry skiing guide updated, expanded By Sean Forbes

Lift lines — especially long ones — can be such a bummer. But luckily, where there isn’t a lift, there is very rarely a line.

So equally lucky for the skiers and snowboarders of southwest Montana, there is “Backcountry Skiing Bozeman and Big Sky” — the local guidebook with the most comprehensive collection of maps and directions to the region’s best off-piste stashes.

And, just in time for Christmas, the guidebook’s updated and expanded second edition will be found sitting on store shelves in December.

Originally published in 2011, the book is the result of a “labor of love” by local skier and entrepreneur Ben Werner. That first edition included 25 lines scattered throughout the Bridger range, the Madisons, Gallatins, Absarokas and Beartooths.

Photos courtesy ben werner

A backcountry skier boots it up The Fin outside Cooke City.

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No lift line, no problem. A skier reaps the sweet rewards after earning his turns.

“I made sure all the popular routes made it into the book, but also tried to sprinkle in a few lesser known gems to make sure locals and tourists alike would get value out of reading the book,” Werner said.

The routes documented by Werner’s guide range from quick and scenic jaunts, like the Goose Creek meadow, to more remote and committing adventures like carving turns on the Sphinx.

“My goal is that somebody can pick up the book and have good confidence they are going to get to the place they want to go,” Werner said. “My book gives readers directions to the backcountry access point and guidance on at least one great descent down the mountain.

“In many cases, there are other nice descents possible as well.”

For the guidebook’s second edition, Werner has updated and clarified the descriptions of those original 25 descents — making certain the directions are easy to follow and accurate, and that access and terrain information is as current as possible.

“The big addition is that I have included all of the major backcountry huts and yurts in Montana,” Werner said. “I worked with all of the awesome local operators to get them into the guide, and to document data about their lodge experience and their terrain.

“I added a lot of photos too.”

The emphasis on backcountry destinations with accommodations largely reflects the continued growth of one of the most popular sections of the winter sports market — backcountry skiing and alpine touring. Werner’s efforts also help to illustrate the variety of non-lift accessed options the Treasure State has to offer.

“As future editions come out I’ll probably

add a few more routes here and there,” Werner said. “But I do think there is value in keeping some secrets. There should always be some routes best left to those willing to put in the work to discover them on their own.”

“Backcountry Skiing Bozeman and Big Sky” is available locally at Northern Lights Trading Company in Bozeman and Grizzly Outfitters in Big Sky. The guide can also be purchased online at www.bozemanskiguide.com and on Amazon.com — it’s even available as an ebook.

The guidebook costs $39.95.

“It is very popular,” said Northern Lights Trading Company general manager Jonathan Crossman about the first edition of the guide.

“It’s one of our better winter sellers.”

And why wouldn’t it be? For less than the cost of a lift ticket, the guidebook has everything for several seasons’ worth of adventures.

The ascent and descent directions are concise and complimented by easy-to-read maps. The quick reference information is helpful and specific, and includes GPS waypoints.

To sum it all up, despite the only notable omission of the Crazy Mountains, Werner’s guidebook is an excellent primer for the backcountry ski scene of southwest Montana. This latest edition of the guide should not only keep area skiers and snowboarders busy, but should also keep them eagerly looking forward to future printings.

“Maybe someday,” Werner said, “if I can get some more interested collaborators, it will be a backcountry skiing Montana series.”

And speaking of collaboration and looking toward the future, Werner is in the process of developing an app to go along with the guidebook, which will harness the latest GIS technology to aid in finding the most skiable backcountry slopes. t

Leave no trace, well, except for pow turns on Little Ellis.

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Sean’S Path Sean Pettit’S Path changeS at a moment’S

notice. he could be Skiing from a helicoPter in alaSka one day, hiking lineS in bc the next and Snowmobiling to blower Powder in JaPan - all in the Same week ...the luPo S.P. allowS Sean to take it all in Stride. featuring a burly Ski/hike cuff-lock deSign and ultra griPPy SoleS, the luPo S.P. ProvideS hard charging Performance, verSatility and dalbello’S legendary comfort. we can helP you find your luPo’S, but your gueSS iS aS good aS ourS on where you’ll find Sean...

dalbellosports.com | Facebook.com/dalbelloskiboots

3011 Max Ave. • Bozeman, MT (406) 586-4381 • BobWards.com

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Shovel ready avy skills Put your shovel in the snow!

This simple act could save your life.

Pausing to assemble your shovel and dig a few scoops can sometimes reveal a hidden but, once exposed, obvious weak layer. Taking a few more minutes to perform an extended column test may give you strong evidence of unstable slopes. When conditions seem good most people have already made their decision to ski or not by the time they reach the top of a slope, but an ECT might change your mind and save your life. Conversely, if you decide to not ski because of dangerous conditions there is no need to dig. Regardless of experience, if we play in avalanche terrain we should hunt for instability.

The most likely situation is that you and your friends are on top of a slope and have decided that conditions are stable, forgetting that many accidents happen to skiers who do not take the final step to test the snowpack. A skier with basic avalanche knowledge will gather snow and stability information from the avalanche advisory as well as on the approach and ascent

of a slope, looking for signs of instability like whumphing, cracking, and recent avalanche activity. Together, this information can be a solid baseline for making a go/no-go decision. At the top of a slope most skiers By doug chabot have already made the decision to ski or not, but there is a crucial question still unanswered: what is under our feet? We can guess or we can know. Knowledge is a powerful tool and personal responsibility requires due diligence. In this case, only a few additional minutes of work after an hour or more of skinning or hiking will yield an answer.

Put your shovel in the snow!

Digging is a quick way to search for instability. I have investigated many avalanche accidents where digging with a shovel would have set off alarms. In

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the most obvious circumstances a weak layer appears as a thick stripe, unhidden and unstable. I know of one person who would be alive today if he had dug a mere two feet down. Short of something this obvious, a quick, three-minute ECT can give life-saving information. All you need is a shovel, probe and seven-foot piece of string to isolate a 3 foot by 1 foot column which you then impact with swats of your hand to test the snowpack stability.

Instructions on how to perform an ECT are written at right and demonstrated in a video on our Education/How to videos page at mtavalanche.com.

The ECT will show us if the snowpack can propagate a fracture through the weak layer and avalanche. During the tapping phase, if the snow is unstable the column will break across its entire length, a warning to either go home or descend a safer line. If the column does not fully break there’s no harm done since you’ve already decided to ski. Stability tests tell us slopes are unsafe, not the other way around. For a skier new to avalanche country doing an ECT can provide a simple assessment. There are nuances with the test and ratings that more advanced users can debate, but people do not die from nuances. They die from an ignorance of what lies under their feet.

Put your shovel in the snow!

There is no downside. If you have already decided to ski, a quick dig in the snow will never hurt and can only help. t

Extended column test instructions Isolate a 3-foot wide by 1-foot deep column of snow. First, dig to the ground or to the weak layer we are most concerned with (which is identified in the daily avalanche advisory) making a smooth, 3-foot wide wall which will become the open face of the column. Next, dig back 1 foot exposing the second wall of your column. On the opposite corner (3 feet away) push your probe to the ground also 1 foot back from the front edge.

Put your string behind the probe and with the help of a partner saw the remaining two sides of a neat rectangle. Now that the 3foot by 1-foot column is isolated, place your shovel blade face down on the surface at one end and tap 10 times from the wrist, then 10 times from the elbow and finally 10 times from the shoulder. If the entire column fractures horizontally the snowpack is unstable.

Doug Chabot is the director of the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. He can be reached at dchabot@fs.fed.us.com.

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hip check on the slopes So there I was, at the top of the Easy top of the thigh bone, or femur, and the Money trail at Bridger Bowl, on a beautisocket which is part of the pelvis, specififul, crisp January morning without a cally, the acetabulum. The acetabulum cloud in the sky. The sun had just cleared has a fibrocartilaginous ring which surthe horizon, and I had a beautiful view rounds it like a gasket called the labrum. of the Crazy Mountains in the distance.

The labrum serves to deepen the socket, It was cold but not bitterly so, and I had increase coverage of the femoral head, somehow found the perfect and create a negative-pressure layering of clothes that kept me suction seal that increases warm, but not too warm, on stability of the joint. There are the ride up Bridger lift. A storm ligaments that cross the joint as front had moved through the well that aid in stability. area overnight and left us with There is a condition called 6 inches of fresh powder. I was femoroacetabular impingefeeling good that day, and it ment, or FAI, that we have only was one of those days where just begun to appreciate. It you’re reminded that it’s just occurs when the hip joint flexes good to be alive. I had been up, and the femur impinges, or By mike ferrell having some soreness in my strikes, the lip of the acetaburight hip that came and went lum. This usually occurs because but was never really anything to of a developmental problem slow me down. If I had to characterize it, I resulting in an abnormal shape of the would say it was primarily positional with femur or the acetabulum. We think this more pain in positions of high flexion, like happens around the age of 12 to 14 years with prolonged sitting and deep squats when the growth plate of the femur in the gym. Sometimes, I even had a closes. To keep it simple, imagine having catching sensation or a popping. “Give it a “bump” of extra bone on the neck of the some time,” I thought. “It will go away,” I femur which should not be there. When thought. As I left the top of Easy Money, I the hip flexes, this “bump” strikes the will admit things got away from me a bit. labrum and the rim of the acetabulum.

We all have that comfort zone heading down the mountain in terms of speed, and when we get out of that comfort zone, that’s when accidents happen. Well, I must have been going light speed that day, and when I tried to slow down, I caught my ski going over a hidden bump.

I felt my knees being violently thrust into my chest with my hips in deep flexion.

At that moment, I had a sharp pain in my right hip. I managed to make it down the mountain but decided that maybe that would do it for the black diamond skiing for the day. Besides, I rationalized, I should spend more time with my sons who were over on Moose Meadows. After that day, my hip really began to bother me. My symptoms became more consistent and prevented me from doing what I liked to do in life. Finally, I could ignore this no more. I needed some help.

The above description is a common mechanism for a sports hip injury, and an accurate diagnosis might have eluded us 10 or 15 years ago. However, our understanding of sports injuries involving the hip joint has increased exponentially over that time frame. The hip joint is a true ball-in-socket joint that is made of the

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There is a physical shape mismatch, like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. This can cause a labral tear and an injury to the cartilage which lines the acetabulum. The other common scenario occurs when the acetabulum faces slightly backward instead of slightly forward. This makes the front rim of the acetabulum more prominent. This prominence can impinge on the neck of the femur with high degrees of hip flexion. Further, both conditions can often occur simultaneously in FAI. As a result of this abnormal contact, FAI leads to cartilage damage in the joint and subsequently is the most common cause of arthritis in the hip.

The treatment for FAI in its early stages in patients who fail non-operative treatment is a surgery to remove the “bump” on the femur, correct any bony issues with the rim of the acetabulum, and repair the labrum. Innovations in surgical equipment and techniques now allow this surgery to be performed via a minimally invasive technique with three small “poke” holes using an arthroscope, a small camera that allows us to see and work inside the joint without a large, open incision. The recovery via this minimally invasive technique is much faster and with much less pain versus open hip surgery. In fact, most patients are off any strong narcotic pain medicine within 3 days of surgery. Patients are usually on crutches for three weeks after the surgery with partial weightbearing to protect the

repair during the healing phase. There is physical therapy as well, usually once or twice a week for the first few months.

Most patients are able to return to sport in four–six months.

The clinical outcomes of this cuttingedge surgery have been very good when performed for the appropriate indications. All of the current data is short term in nature, because this diagnosis is relatively new and the treatment techniques are being refined. That said, there are multiple studies which show 80 percent good-to-excellent outcomes with one study specifically on intercollegiate athletes demonstrating a 90 percent return to their favorite sports.

As we move into the busy ski season, hip injuries will inevitably occur. Every injury does not require surgery. Most do not. However, the good news is that for those sports hip injuries that do require surgery, there is a minimally invasive hip surgery which has been shown to have high success rates. If you have a hip condition stopping you from ripping it up, look for a surgeon with specialty training in hip arthroscopy. t Dr. Mike Ferrell is a board certified, fellowship trained (sports medicine) orthopedic surgeon with further training in hip arthroscopy. After serving in the navy and private practice in Indiana, he is joining the surgeons at Bridger Orthopedics and Sports Medicine starting Jan. 1.

Chris Kerr/photo

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The crew enjoys lunch on the summit of Mount Wilse while taking in views of Glacier Peak to the left.

Early morning light warms the Mount Zimmer Yurt with Mount Wilse in the backdrop.

S t o r y a n d p h o t o g r a p h y b y Lu k e r i c e

at Home in the backcountry Living large at Mount Zimmer Yurt outside Cooke City

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chill at the tip of my nose brings me out of a deep slumber. I attempt to crawl out of my sleeping bag and arch over my wife onto the floor without waking her, while on the confines of a generous one-person bunk bed. I am unsuccessful, but no matter she appreciates a well-stoked fire. The hinges of the cast iron wood stove let out a slow squeal as I open the door, breaking the relative silence of the round room. It is around 2 a.m. and the only sounds beside my own, are the rhythmic breaths of the five other bodies in the room, and the faint crackle of a dying fire.

I add a few split pieces of wood to the fire, and then blow into it a few times until the flames grow bolder and crackles louder. Bright stars filter through the plastic dome in the center of the yurt, promising a bluebird day with the rising of the sun. With that anticipation, I slowly close the door to the wood stove and crawl back into my down bag. Sleep comes quick as the wood stove begins to flicker back to life, filling the yurt with a dull roar.

Ellie Thompson skins up the Zimmer Creek drainage toward Mount Wilse.

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Nina Rice skins near Goose Lake with Wolf Mountain in the backdrop.

Light blue sky greets us through the windows of the yurt. Despite the beauty of the morning, exiting the comfort of my sleeping bag nested on top of the memory foam mattress proves challenging. Ellie and Mike are on breakfast duty and are already up plunging the steaming French press, and scrambling the insides of breakfast burrito filler. I go straight for the strong coffee, which livens the senses and sets the wheels turning for the much-anticipated trip into the cave. It is late April of an outstanding snow year for Cooke City, so the outhouse is buried by nearly 15 feet of snow.Glazed-over steps are carved into the snowpack which require studious footwork as one descends into the depths. After a season of use there is little lingering in the outhouse cave as it nears capacity with each visitor. I emerge victorious from the darkness, and join the others in preparation for our attempt of Mount Wilse (11,861 feet).

Yesterday, it was raining in Cooke City as we piled copious amounts of gear, food and drinks, into our two Otter sleds for the three-night stay.

This is our first time going to the yurt, which requires a first time user orientation. This includes a tow of up to 3 people, so Ben Zavora, owner of Beartooth Powder Guides, the Mount Zimmer Yurt, and the Woody Creek Cabin, showed up at our staging area to lead the 7-mile snowmobile ride. My wife Nina rode up front with Ben, and I took the end of the towrope.

The view of Pilot and Index peaks out the front door of the yurt.

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Mike and Ellie followed behind with a spectacular views at each new horizon. sled in tow, as did Piper and Joe. As we At the summit we take in 360 degrees climbed higher into the mountains, rain of one of the largest wilderness areas turned to snow and the powder began to in the lower 48 states, not to mention a accumulate. Aside from one uphill secchunk of Yellowstone Park and several tion through some tight trees, the ride in other mountain ranges. After we have is uneventful. Six inches of fresh powder had enough battering by the wind we greeted us as we parked the sleds, and descend to the more peaceful confines of wiped away forlorn memories of packing the Zimmer Creek basin below. in the rain. Ben then helped us Back at the yurt, celebratory haul our gear a short distance up cocktails (or cheap cans of beer) to the yurt and gave us the grand are shared outside on handmade tour.

Beetlekill chairs, as we soak Our attempt of in the evening alpine Mount Wilse beshow. Ben takes The wilderness engulfs color gins with a descent pride in utilizing local the senses and hushes products as much as toward Zimmer Creek through tight trees, possible in his yurt and the whine of the away from the yurt cabin. The yurt itself is 2-strokes on the other and into the wildermade by Shelter Designs ness. A dozen or so out of Missoula, all the side of the line.

Ermine, turns after we leave the furniture is handcrafted snowshoe hare, fox, yurt, we arrive at the

by Beetlekill Boards creek and begin the out of Bozeman (all coyotes, mountain goats, 4-mile tour (approxithe wood to make their and even a wolverine all furniture comes from, mate) to the summit of Wilse. Traveling guessed it beetle-kill leave traces of the their you upstream, the canyon wood out of the Bridger travels in this ancient and Mountains), and the sonarrows and the walls begin to tower over lar LED lighting system unspoiled ecosystem. our tiny party. The is made by Glen Wersch wilderness engulfs out of Idaho. With the senses and hushes the whine of the ample light, full furnishing, cooking two-strokes on the other side of the line. amenities, a warm stove and memory Ermine, snowshoe hare, fox, coyotes, foam mattresses, there is little sacrificing mountain goats, and even a wolverine of comfort in this alpine base camp. all leave traces of their travels in this Wood is chopped and a fire started, ancient and unspoiled ecosystem. as dinner, card games, and cocktails roll Wind has hammered yesterday’s together. Tomorrow we plan to go back powder into oblivion, so we travel with into the motorized world, and head to respect to the threat of fresh wind slabs Goose Lake. There we hope to ski rolling on loaded slopes. Throughout much of alpine terrain, drool over couloirs on the canyon ski descents are abundant, the incredibly impressive Wolf Mounwith the more technical lines flanking tain, cruise around on the snowmobiles, Zimmer Lake. We forego many tempttake a ridiculous amount of panos, and ing couloirs and keep plugging into the just kick back in the beautiful alpine wind, seeking the high, broad summit wonderland. But for now we enjoy the of Wilse. It is a non-technical ascent company of friends, rich experiences, with straightforward route finding and hot food, and a warm, cozy yurt. t

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Southwest Montana backcountry skiing accommodations Note: All these prices are for self-guided groups, with an appropriately skilled leader.

Guided (and catered) options are available at each of these.

Woody Creek Cabin Sleeps: Up to 10 Cost: $250/night, first time user orientation $140 Where: Absaroka Range 2.5 miles south of Cooke City www.beartoothpowder.com Mount Zimmer Yurt Sleeps: Six Cost: $240/night, first time user orientation $140 Where: Beartooth range 7 miles north of Cooke City www.beartoothpowder.com Bell Lake Yurt Sleeps: Six Cost: $265/night, first time user orientation $200 Where: Tobacco Root Mountains 1.5 hours southwest of Bozeman www.belllakeyurt.com Hellroaring Yurt Sleeps: Six Cost: $250-$300/ night depending on the season, first time user orientation $150 Where: Centennial Mountains 25 miles west of West Yellowstone www.skihellroaring.com

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Story by Melynda Harrison

Photography by Chris Kerr

Skiing yellowstone

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Skiers kick and glide on the Riverside ski trail outside West Yellowstone.

Above, bison forage near the warmth of geysers north of Old Faithful.

inter is the best time to explore Yellowstone. The crowds have thinned out, the wildlife is just standing around waiting to be viewed, and mist from hot springs and geysers hangs on trees creating fantastical sculptures. And the best way to get to know winter in Yellowstone is on a pair of cross-country skis.

There are so many ski trails in Yellowstone, making it hard to narrow down, but the tours below will get you into different areas of Wonderland, and likely, expand your palette to keep on skiing.

Riverside Ski Trails Distance: Access Trail: 2 miles round trip Downriver Loop: 3.7-mile loop from Access Trail junction Upriver Loop: 1.6-mile loop Trail Report: These loops start in West Yellowstone and head to the Madison River. Enjoy great views of the Gallatin Range and the likelihood of spotting elk, bison, moose, bald eagles and waterfowl. Parts of the Riverside Trails are sometimes groomed for skiing, but there is almost always a skier defined trail.

Getting There: The trails start on the east side of Boundary Street between Yellowstone and Madison avenues in West Yellowstone. Look for the trail sign through a gap in the snowbank.

Skiing: From the trailhead ski east along the power line on the very flat and very straight Access Trail. At 0.25 miles you’ll pass a trail register and at 1 mile you’ll reach the junction with the Downriver and Upriver Loops, as well as cutoff trail (actually an unplowed road) that meets up

with the West Entrance Road.

Downriver Loop: Veer left at the junction and head down the hill toward the Madison River. You’ll cross an open meadow at the Barns Pools (where the grooming stops) and then wind along the Madison River. At 1.25 miles from the junction look for a sign that reads “Cutoff.” By turning left here, you’ll have a nice hill to practice Telemark turns or a shortcut to the west section of the trail.

If you ski past the cutoff, continue for 1.3 miles until the trail loops back to the top of the hill. Watch for the orange markers on the trees. It is 1 more mile to the Access Trail.

Upriver Loop: Ski to the right on the road briefly, looking for the trail through the trees on the left. The trails winds through lodgepoles on a bench above the river. At about 0.5 miles drop down a steep hill for 60 yards. In another 0.3 miles you’ll reach the Madison River. The trail follows the river downstream to the end of the loop and a mellow climb back to the bench where you’ll meet the Access Trail.

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The snow-covered Gallatin Mountains loom over the Bighorn Pass trail.

Bighorn Pass Trail

Searching for its next meal, a fox traverses the snowy slopes of Mount Washburn in Yellowstone National Park.

Distance: 8.6 miles round trip Trail Report: This trail allows a mellow ski up a wide and pretty-darn-flat valley. Despite the relaxing nature of the Bighorn Pass Trail, long loops or ventures into more challenging terrain can be found.

Getting There: From West Yellowstone, drive north 21.3 miles on U.S. Highway 191 (27.7 miles south of the Big Sky turnoff ). Look for a trail sign on the east side of the highway.

Skiing: From the parking area head southeast past the hitching posts and the trail sign, toward the Gallatin River. Ski upstream 0.25 miles and cross the creek on a footbridge. Continue skiing upriver — now on the north side — through a broad meadow. At 4.5 miles you’ll reach the Fawn Pass cutoff.

From the Fawn Pass cutoff it is 0.9 miles to the Fawn Pass Trail. By turning left you’ll get back to U.S. Highway 191 in 5.2 miles making a 10.4-mile loop. You’ll need to shuttle cars, hitchhike or walk/ ski about 1.5 miles back to your vehicle.

Continuing past the Fawn Pass cutoff leads toward Bighorn Pass. At 5.8 miles you’ll cross a landslide that slid in 1995 and covered 200 yards of trail. It will probably be indistinguishable under the snow. At 6.5 miles the trail increases its grade and at 9 miles it gets quite steep. From there to the pass at 11 miles, make sure you know how to safely travel in avalanche terrain.

Another option is to go crust-cruising here in the spring. When the temperatures are warm enough to thaw snow during the day, yet cold enough to freeze it at night, the conditions are right for crust-cruising. Don your skate skis and head any direction. Just be sure to get back to your vehicle before the snow warms!

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Spring Creek Trail Distance: 8 miles one way Trail Report: This lovely tour follows Spring Creek and then the Firehole River downhill from near the Continental Divide to the Old Faithful area.

Getting There: Start at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and take the shuttle to the Spring Creek/ Divide trailhead. If the distance intimidates you, ask the ski shuttle driver to drop you off early, cutting an hour or so off your skiing time. Make all needed reservations online (www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/).

Skiing: From the south side of the Snow Vehicle Road drop down to Spring Creek and then climb 0.3 miles to where the trail splits. To the left the Divide Trail heads to Divide Pass.

Stay right at the signed junction.

Then the fun begins. The trail rolls downhill becoming pretty fast in places. Since it undulates, it seems that just when you might get out of

control the trail mellows out.

The trail crosses a few footbridges, which are likely to be icy, and follows a gorge for several miles.

After crossing the Firehole River on a bridge you’ll join the Lone Star Geyser Trail at 4.5 miles. Lone Star Geyser is 0.75 miles to the left and is worth a look if you won’t be skiing up this way again.

Otherwise, ski to the right, following the Lone Star Geyser Trail back to the lodge.

Indian Creek Trail Distance: 2.2-mile loop Trail Report: Several trails start at or near the Indian Creek Campground and there is a small warming hut there. It’s an easy ski around the campground, or extend your stay by exploring the Big Horn Trail or taking the long way home around Bunsen Peak.

Getting There: To get to the Indian Creek Campground, you’ll need a reservation on a snowcoach shuttle. Three shuttles run each day

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on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Reserve online (www. yellowstonenationalparklodges. com) or call the Mammoth Hotel (307) 344.5600 to get yourself a seat.

Skiing: For the 2.2-mile Indian Creek Loop start at the hut and follow the road through the campground and onto the Bighorn Pass Trail. After 0.5 miles, turn left (south) to stay on the Indian Creek Loop. Continue along a power line corridor through rolling lodgepole pines for about 0.75 miles before the trail descends to Obsidian Creek. Follow the creek north, back to the hut. Along the way, enjoy views of the Gallatin Range and Bunsen Peak.

Another option is to stay on the Bighorn Pass Trail. This loop continues west, making a loop through rolling terrain with outstanding views of the Gallatin Mountains, Gardner’s Hole and the surrounding country. After completing the loop, return to the Indian Creek Hut by continuing on the Indian Creek Loop. t

Thermal runoff from Orange Spring Mound melts the snow around its base on the Upper Terrace Loop near Mammoth Hot Springs.

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Purchase Your Pass at One of These Locations:

406.587.2445 • 851 Bridger Drive, Suite 4, Bozeman

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Online at www.bridgerskifoundation.org

Bridger Ski Foundation (851 Bridger Dr., Suite 4) Bangtail Bike and Ski • Chalet Sports Round House Sports • Northern Lights Trading Co.

For more information about the Community Nordic Trails Program, visit www.bridgerskifoundation.org or call the BSF office at 406.587.2445

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