SanFran Treat

I spent the last week at a fisheries conference in San Francisco, complete with tasty food, shopping, and free booze. Some of the socials were hosted at the aquarium and Hyde Street Pier (including pirate ship). Good times were had by all, I'm sure.

Arghh!


Mmm, Ghirardelli good




Is this messy?

Business mullet sighting!


Thank you Red Bull


Sunset at the pier

Sturgeon


Windy checks things out

Awesome Chinatown delights


All gone


Fascinating!


The Bachelors play at the Saloon...intense blues/rock

Solo bliss

I was finally reunited with my kayak (thanks mom & dad!), and had to get out paddling this weekend. My wilderness access is pretty limited these days but I did spend a night on Hyalite reservoir. The best peace away from Bozeman heat and traffic I've enjoyed in a while.

Sunset from my campsite

The most peaceful time of day

The sun finally welcomes me



Misty dawn on Hyalite reservoir


Early paddle

Madison River escape

These are not all from the same trip but all are from similar stretches of the Madison River upstream of Three Forks...it's a beautiful place to be

Beautiful view from our lunchspot


First kayak trip in 3 years!



Pelicans enjoying a thermal

Bald eagle soars


Riverside rock cliffs are home to swallows, pigeons


Sandhill crane blends in well


Spanish peaks with a fresh coat of white

Knees N' Things

Since you probably don't want to see nasty pictures of my knee holes, here's an alternative image for your entertainment until I'm up and recreating again.

Miracles happen every day.

Pinhead Classic

Bridger Bowl hosted its 26th annual Pinhead Classic on St. Patrick's day last week--basically a party comprised of drunken tele skiers running slalom courses dressed like fools. The theme for this year was "saints and sinners".

Snow patrol dog rides the Alpine lift


Evan-televangelist, Amber-classic pinner


St. Elmo's Fire...can't quite see the flames, but they're everywhere! 

Backcountry skiing

Here's some shots from some skiing I did this weekend. The first ones are from a run up toward Mt. Ellis just east of town--snow was slushy crap but it was still fun. The rest are from my trip up to Slushman's on Saturday (a "backcountry" ski area just south of Bridger Bowl). Saw some amazing avalanche aftermath on both sides of the area I skied. Glad I took those avalanche courses recently!

Cool holes in rock


Looking toward Mt. Ellis...we ended up skiing down from where those guys are standing


Looking SE toward Gallatin range 

Closer shot of Saddle Peak slide--see the line near the ridge? This is a massive avalanche.


Bridger Peak slide--harder to see, but it's there


My run 

Slushman's

Looking toward Saddle Peak


Avalanche debris that ripped off Bridger Peak


Looking south toward the Gallatin Range across Slushman's


Saddle Peak avalanche 

I had to show this picture--really captures the snow rapture