Backcountry skiing (100eight) 4:00:00 [2] 14.0 km (17:09 / km) +1300m 11:42 / km
Back to Bart being the guide - the group was keen to check out a new spot with a later start so headed to the ski hill. Skied Hot Sauce 3/4 down then cut left through the trees - if you stay fairly level you pop out on the cat track right around the high point which brings you to the bottom of Montana Bowl pretty quickly. Given the variable snow on solar aspects and one less transition it seemed like a good option today (we were ahead of the groups that toured the standard way). Went up Roscoe's to gain the ridge - although short the upper slope is steep - OK today but going around is safer. From Kokanee we dropped down the east side and found plenty of untracked snow. We did a short 100m climb to access the next bowl but I think next time I would contour aiming for 20m below the knob. It should be doable for skiers with a little bit of side stepping (might not be doable for the boarders). The slope on the other side is much better than the route I took last time I went this way - nice open glades and if you stay right at the bottom can add a few hundred vertical of low angle open trees. There is a potential skier's right line but need to navigate a cliff band. Climbed back to Kokanee peak (steeper slopes than you think so again not a good high hazard option - going to Greely is safer) and skied Show Off (?) which though tracked still had pockets of soft snow. I need to come back on my own and check out the catcher's mitt exit to see if it is worthwhile for saving the last little skin out. Groomers skied nicely on the way out - spring conditions.
