Having my kid fly me on Pike Patrol.



Waiting for Y bone removal

Snowbikes and avalanches. It's always something.

First post on here but I thought id show a little snapshot into ski flying in the Yukon. Getting to and from our Trapline. Last two photos show what happens when you get a dump of snow and then the overflow comes up and you have to get creative with getting the skiis out of the slush.

That's a great first post!!!!! Thanks for sharing.

dhc2dady wrote:First post on here but I thought id show a little snapshot into ski flying in the Yukon. Getting too and from our Trapline. Last two photos show what happens when you get a dump of snow and then the overflow comes up and you have to get creative with getting the skiis out of the slush.

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Welcome here! Glad to see you’re getting some use of the skis Lewis.

Went up to Mammoth Lakes area to introduce my Son-In-Law to Backcountry Skiing/Boarding . Tons of snow as you have heard. Everyone's phone kept going off in alert mode from the national Weather Service.
Not about weather, but the potential for structure collapse due to snow weight on the roof.
Snow was outstanding





Our Group



Big Terrain






The Hippie Chutes




As I said, tons of snow



Great Weekend. Couldn't fly at home due to rain

Snowboarded in the morning yesterday on 6" of fresh powder at the ski area behind my place, and then after lunch went on a 2 hour electric snowbike exploration ride, as in boondocking a new area, even fording a creek once. I'm riding right out of my place, so do it often. So much snow this year I'm going places normally not rideable, both on the board and the bike. The bike's strongsuit is riding sidehills plus the ability to thread between trees due to it's narrowness. A weird thing has been happening when I'm 'boarding in the trees/off the groomed stuff: I eyeball my route like I'm on the bike and almost have to remind myself what I'm riding at the time!

The last flyable day I was up nearly 7 hrs, (and still had 2 hours of fuel left, love the Rotax's low fuel burn and the resulting duration I have in the 7, mogas of course) landing all over the areas below Idaho's highest mountain range, the Lemhi Range. It's been such a severe winter, I have to make the most of the few days that have been flyable.

Yesterday was the last day of the season at the local ski hill. Also was probably the best snow of the year. Mom stayed home so it was just me and the 3 kiddos. My youngest, 7, was on the hunt for powder all day. My oldest, 12, has surpassed her mom in abilities, skis the same length ski and fits the same boot size; I think I’ve got the perfect touring buddy for next year!





Skiing the out of bounds “backside.”

Skiing with your kids is the best fun of all.

Whee:
Pebble is having a "bonus" weekend, this next weekend.

ANOTHER 4" overnight at my place, on top of the 10" of the previous 2 days. 17 degrees, and as soon as the sun clears the mountain it'll be time for a snowbike ride. That's assuming the wind comes up as forecast, if not, the plane comes out. I can't lose either way!

Put the skis in a closet and grabbed a PFD for March. Just got back from a canyon trip.
Here is a small family friendly snippet…

Loaded up the family truckster and lit out for Flagstaff late Feb.



Saw some fine sights on the way out…





Turns out we picked the wettest March on record to go.



Low water, but still plenty big. Daughter #1 in Upset



Cold and rainy, but we still did a respectable job staying hydrated. End of the day offload.



The crew. A nice mix of young and old. 8 first timers.




Pete

We loaded up the 180 and flew across the plains last week to Denver. Then rented a car and went skiing. It was my son's second trip and he absolutely loves it. We had fun but my knees still hurt. He's already talking about going again next year.

A guy at the lift line said to me "It's nice to see a guy skiing with his kids." He's right! But that other one is my wife. We had a good laugh about that.

When we decided to leave last Saturday, the wind was blowing out of the NW into the mid-20s. Would have made for a quick trip home, but the AIRMET discouraged me. We waited a day and had a slower but much smoother ride.

With yet another unflyable weekend, I loaded the electric snowbike for an overnight winter camping experience, a few miles down range.

Last day of the winter crab season. Had to throw back a bunch of females, but managed to find a few nice males to bring home for dinner.

We got an additional 30" of snow, just since April 1 st., some kind of record I believe for my area. The electric snowbike handled it, but with the snow hitting my knees in steep turns I'd say that much fresh snow is about the practical limit, at least when climbing slopes. Like when ski plane flying, a daycan make a huge difference in conditions, and how much drag, or not, there is. Yesterday's ride (not this pic) had a crust over the powder, and was real draggy. Something I'll keep in mind today when landing out in the ski plane, looks like the first flyable day in 3 weeks and I'm going to hit it hard! After a quick bike ride.

Interesting stuff on the snow bike. How is the riding stability compared to a conventional bike? What does it use as a kickstand/ center stand? Or is it just all the powder in that pic that is keeping it from falling over? Or the footprint of the wide flat track?

You learn quick, if going slow, like thru trees, putting a foot down won't keep you from tipping, a certain amount of speed helps. It varies with the snow conditions, one trick when parking is to first use the brake, which makes a groove for the track, keeping it upright. It's similar to a bike, but different, riding every day almost for the last month, (right out of my place, so handy) I have it pretty wired Today: I had flat light due to a passing cloud, and this steep bank didn't look that steep, whacked into it zstraight on (should have angled it a bit) and it stopped me dead, falling off doesn't hurt though, too much snow. I've drawn blood a few times, getting slapped by branches in the face, but the crashes are better than on a dirtbike. No leaky fuel tank anyway. .It's been real handy to get around the place this winter, with all the fences covered I rode down to a neighbor's place 1,000' below and about a mile away today, then back up to my place and another 1000' of climbing, with lots of screwing around on the way, about 1.5 hr ride, used half the battery. It's a bigger workout than you may think, upper body anyway, you feel like you've done something for sure.

We’re about ready for spring here. It finally seems to be on the horizon. Warm temps forecast all week.




Get your off-airport endorsement and you can visit my house! No card and I’ll write you a ticket.

Glad to see the family is enjoying the great frozen north country!

Welp, it’s technically winter - I guess. So it’s time to resurrect this thread. My winter action has been underwhelming so far. I did get the skis on the plane… the day before the snow all melted. And I have been skiing a couple of times thanks to snowmaking, but it has pretty much sucked. I am now down to house projects. I hate house projects. God I hope it snows soon. Hopefully someone out there is having fun. Please post something to give me hope! We may get some snow this weekend…









Pete