Skiing Quadrant Mountain

Over Easter weekend Mike and I joined a few friends for a spring ski tour up Quadrant Mountain in Yellowstone National Park. 

Elements of mystery are inherent in many spring ski tours. Will there there be sufficient coverage? What will the weather do? Will the snow conditions hold up? What about the creek crossings?

As I began writing up this post I realized that our outing was very much like our tour up Sepulcher in 2021 where we asked the same questions, didn't know what to expect, and a web search that revealed nothing about skiing it. As with Sepulcher, we got very lucky and everything worked out perfectly. 

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Things That Go Thud, Puff in the Night

A Bear Story From an Autumn Backpacking Trip
in Yellowstone National Park

Over the past decade, Mike and I have done tons of backpacking in Yellowstone National Park, throughout southwest Montana, and beyond, many times in grizzly bear country. While we have a healthy respect for bears when we are in their backyard, we do not fear them. I suspect this is due to a combination of our nature and the fact that we have seen so few of them during our many miles of backcountry travel. 

Here is the story of a spooky bear encounter we had in Yellowstone over the weekend. (As an FYI, we explored the Upper Pebble Creek/Bliss Pass area of the park and stayed in campsite 3P2.)

If you have a bear story to tell, please share it in the comments section of this post.

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Thermal Magic in Yellowstone

For those living far from Yellowstone, a trip to the park can be the highlight of the year. For Bozemanites like myself, who have two park entrances within 90 miles of home, Yellowstone is one of many nearby outdoor playgrounds. With wildlife, sweeping vistas, thermal areas, mountains, rivers, and more, there is an almost endless landscape to explore. At the same time, summertime crowds and the stop-and-go-traffic are a hassle making it is easy to get jaded about the park. With several mountain ranges an easy drive from Bozeman many locals avoid the chaos of Yellowstone in the summer. I had long done the same but over the past handful of years, I have developed a fondness for backpacking in the park.

The National Park Service estimates that 98% of Yellowstone’s four million+ annual visitors never explore further than half a mile from their car. With over 900 miles of trails and over 290 backcountry camp spots, it’s easy to get away from the crowds. My most recent trip in August was the first time I backpacked beyond Yellowstone’s marked trails to a land few people visit. I came away with an even deeper appreciation for the park, its special features, and how lucky I am to have it close to home. Yellowstone is popular for a reason, but those wishing to put in the time and travel beyond the known will be rewarded for their efforts.

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Jet Setting

Jet setting off to West Palm Beach

I took of on a four-day weekend to West Palm Beach, Florida earlier in the month. I'll post about it soon (Visit my Instagram page if you want to see a few photos), but in the meantime, here are a few thoughts about taking off. 

Embracing the Spring Ski Tour

Spring skiing. Do you love it or hate it? The opinions run strong on both sides of the argument.

Summer 2020 - Backpacking Stats & Poem

Mountains, lakes, rivers, fields, ridge lines, and mammals. There was a lot to see and explore this summer. 

I hadn't planned on a big summer of backpacking but thanks to Mike's encouragement and support for a big thru-hike, that's the way it worked out. 

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Summer Activity Stats

I've been working on this for a while. Between a busy few weeks at work and the need to consult maps before writing this up, I kept getting put it off. Before everything gets "lost in the mists of time," I've decided to document a few notable summer outings - a really quick summary to remember names but very lacking in details. 

A Late Spring Ski Tour in America's First National Park

Over most Memorial Day weekends, you can find me skiing on Beartooth Pass (BTP). Between the abundance of road side skiing, challenging terrain, the camaraderie among skiers, and the chance to take an early season drive through Yellowstone National Park, it is always a great weekend. Mike and I headed down there this past weekend and took Lukas along for the adventure. While we did ski BTP, an unexpected, temporary closure of the pass on our drive over allowed us to explore the ski possibilities near Dunraven Pass in the park.

The A-List Eats (& Sleeps) - The Cinnamon Lodge

Numerous commercial properties dot Highway 191 between Big Sky and Yellowstone National Park. Some of them, like the Corral and Rainbow Ranch, have stellar reputations and are local institutions that we are drawn back to again and again. Other establishments, such as the Cinnamon Lodge, have been around forever and are an under-rated gem.

West Yellowstone, An Unexpected Backcountry Destination

Leaving our mark

With my ski bum days behind me for the time being, I find that I am eager to get in an extra day of skiing whenever the opportunity makes itself available. Sure, I get out for a short skate ski on the town trails two or three nights a week after work, but that's not the same as putting in a long day in the backcountry.

Backpacking Stats

Ladder of Kotor as seen from across the bay.

Last summer I compiled a list of hiking highlights in a post so I thought I'd do a similar post this year. This summer was another stellar time for outdoor adventures and Mike continues to be a good activity partner. Thanks to him, it was the most backpacking I had ever done in one summer. 

An Overlooked Gem: The Sky Rim Trail in Yellowstone

This year's Independence Day adventure was quite the contrast to last year's (http://annvinciguerra.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-truth-about-skiing-blaze.html). Rather than skiing 1,600+ vertical feet of perfect summer snow, Mike and I spent three days hiking from Teepee Creek to Specimen Creek via the Sky Rim Trail. It was a glorious walk in some of Yellowstone National Park's most easily accessible high country.

Skiing Near Big Horn Peak in Yellowstone

Quite, Beautiful, Windy