|
|
|
|
SMG E-News Issue #6
|
December 2009
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
As I join in on writing the SMG News in early December, the season's snow is beginning to pile up in the Sawtooth high country! Along with the promising snows, the Williams Peak Yurt is primed for another season, and some exciting news on that front: new thick sleeping pads and a "new" wood heater in the 2nd yurt! So officially retired is the 'cold' sleeping hut!
Once again, our veteran guides are returning, including Erik Leidecker (SMG Co-owner), Michael Hatch, Clark Corey, and myself to round out the old guard. With some exciting new programs developing we are pleased to welcome Zach Crist on our team and Tim Cron. Please read more updates on winter developments below. Also, in checking out the news, click on some of the links to the details and our affiliates.
Hope you are making plans to join us this season! .
Winter's Best,
Kirk Bachman
Co-owner
Winter Program Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Upcoming Courses
This season's upcoming courses are receiving great interest with folks signing up in anticipation of the winter season. The Sawtooth Mountain Guides winter program provides course participants with a broad range of mountain skills programs and avalanche education. Course offered through SMG benefit from our professional affiliations which integrate the most up to date research and training.
Many of our guides are certified with the American Mountain Guides Association, or currently training with the AMGA. Kirk serves on both education Committees of the American Avalanche Association (AAA) and the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) and our guides are professional members. Our guide service is also closely linked with Backcountry Access (BCA) and sponsored through use of their equipment, and research. It is our professional integration of these programs which provide the greatest benefit to you, our course participants.
Backcountry Skills and Avalanche Awareness (December 11-13;) A great program for those who are wanting to address an array of applied skills to be more comfortable and competent in backcountry skiing or snowboarding. Williams Peak Hut.
Avalanche Skills Advancement Workshop -Level 1 Refresher (December 19-20; January 30-31) Tune-up the Level 1 you may have taken a few years back. This course updates your avalanche skills and knowledge. Great for someone considering a Level 2 as well. SMG headquarters Stanley.
AIARE Level 1: Decision-making in Avalanche Terrain (January 8-10; January 15-17; Williams Peak Hut. February 5-7 SMG headquarters) This course takes advantage of our ultimate terrain for focusing on applied avalanche skills with hands-on time in the northern Sawtooths or on the nearby mountain passes.
Tour Leadership and Avalanche Hazard- Level 2 (February 25-28 Stanley, SMG headquarters). This intensive 4-day Workshop combine Level 2 avalanche education with the applied skills of leading ski tours, developing avalanche forecasting skills, and mastering field observations.
|
 Guided Skiing
Guided Backcountry skiing is also on the agenda including hut trips
and day tours based out of Stanley, Galena Pass and Copper Mountain.
Backcountry ski trips can be day tours at the passes, or extended stays at our famed Williams Peak Hut. Objectives can be skiing the steeps, tips and tricks, or just finding the pow stashes.
The past few years we've had some exciting guided trips like ski descents of the Horstmann couloir, Sawtooth traverses, winter ascents of Thompson peak, and finding gladed powder stashes during storm intervals. S ee our blog for trip reports throughout the season.Learn more here...
|
 Sawtooth Hotel: Come Stay & Ski
Many of you are familiar with Tim and Becky Cron who run the
Stanley Bakery in the summer time.
Well, now they have completely re-vamped the Sawtooth Hotel and turned
it into a sweet winter getaway!
Their renovations includes solar thermal heating, a majority of the
kitchen being recycled appliances/materials, and reusing most of the original
wood for the remodeling. The
log walls, antique skis, and a fireplace give it the classic, rustic Stanley
feel.
The
new Sawtooth Hotel features 8 bedrooms, wood fired-sauna,
kitchenettes (some of the rooms), brunch, a bar, and of course, great views of the mighty
Sawtooth Range. Whether its
at the beginning or end of a hut trip, or a home base for day ski tours, come check
it out! Grab the bino's and lets
pick out that line or tour from the back deck!
See more info here...
|
 Keeping Our Powder Dry
By Mike Hatch
Hope your skis are tuned and waxed because its time to ride! With over a foot of fresh pow sitting on a good base the skiing is in the Sawtooths. No more of the torturous days of waiting. No longer do you have to remain content with just drooling over the first ski mags and ski flicks, looking at snotel sites, making offerings to the snow gods, and watching the snow fall. Finally...it's here...in your face...billowing over your head!
So let's get out there and get the goods. Join us as we explore some of our favorite stashes where the powder's dry and the face shots are bottomless.
Trip Reports and Conditions throughout the season...
Epic powder turns above the Williams Peak Hut
|
 First Ascent & SMG Partnership!
FA is a new company specializing in quality technical outerware for mountaineering and skiing. Their design heavily relies on Guide testing and input, and now Erik Leidecker and Zach Crist are on the ski team as sponsored athletes! We look forward to working with them, including providing avalanche training and gear testing.
First Ascent Webpage here...
|
 The Burrito Deal (AKA 2 Days Guided)
The Burrito deal (as Kirk likes to call it) is basically like having the local yocal as part of your group for two days. Starting at the trailhead, the guide will help carry some of your supplies up to the yurt. Once at the yurt, you'll get brought up to speed on ski and snowpack conditions, and then take a run or two. The following morning the guide will lead you to an area where he can point out some quality runs, with a good variety of terrain (and maybe even show you a couple stashes).
Whether your group is experienced or not, having somebody give you beta on the terrain and conditions is a great way to make your trip more efficient. Plus, it will make your hike to the yurt at little lighter which anybody can appreciate. Its like having a guide, porter and local all rolled into one...the burrito deal.
|
|
|
|
| Deep in the range... |
Thanks for checking in...be safe & have fun!
|
| Contact Information |
Sawtooth Mountain Guides
PO Box 18
Stanley, ID 83278
www.sawtoothguides.com
(208)-774-3324
|
|
|
|
|
