Short edit from last weekend at Altoona

This is a short clip from 4/9-4/11 up at the Lodge. Thank you to Eric Dawson for the footage. There is still plenty of snow up there, contact Denison to book your trip!

Avalanche Awareness Weekend - Mar 12 - 14

 

Join us March 12 – 14, 2010 for a weekend of fun and learning at Altoona Ridge Lodge.  The weekend will focus on the basics of safe backcountry travel and gear use.  We will cover topics from Routefinding to Avalanche Assessment to Trip Planning and Preparation.  The trip includes all your food and snowmobile shuttles to and from the Lodge, and every guest is welcome in the sauna at the end of the day.  The course is limited to 8 participants so act fast!  The course costs $199 before March 5^th, $249 in the last week.
 

Denison and Eric Find Pow in the Dryspell

Owner, Denison von Maur, and Altoona guide, Eric Dawson, made a trip to the Lodge last weekend to explore and try to find some powder during Montana's continued dry spell.  They were fortunate to find some great snow just behind the Lodge.  There are still openings this season, come up and let us lead you to some pow stashes of your own.

Avalanche Level 2, Jackson, WY

I just got back from my Level 2 avi course in Jackson, WY.  They got hit hard with a big storm right before my arrival.  This made for excellent skiing at Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole before the course started.  It also made for very interesting snow to look at during the course.   The Jackson area usually sees an intermountain snowpack, but this year they have been dealing with a Continental pack, similar to Colorado.  This makes for some very persistent weak layers, which were fun to look at and study, but scary to ski.  It was fun to be in the Tetons, but it's always nice to come back to Montana and I can't wait for the University trip this weekend.

University Trip Feb. 5 - 7, 2010

This weekend ARL will be holding a special weekend for 8 students from the University of Montana.  Join us for a weekend of skiing and fun, meals included for just $199.  Snowmobile shuttles will be available Friday at 10am and 5pm from the Princeton parking lot.  During the weekend, guests can ski as much as they would like and we'll always have a hot sauna and appetizers ready for your return.  Depending on group size and ability, guiding will be available during the day.  Contact James@AltoonaRidgeLodge.com ASAP  reserve your spot.

Avalanche Course Recap

The avalanche level 1 course went great, I really enjoyed the mix of people we had between instructors and students.  The weather was pretty cold to start, but warmed considerably and made for great touring weather as the course progressed.  A big thank you to the whacky Montana weather this year for creating some very interesting layers and crystals for the students to observe.  It is nice as an instructor to be able to point to depth hoar instead of trying to explain it, but as a skier I wish that would settle out.  The snow is stabilizing nicely at the lodge, and in the next couple of weeks, there should be some bigger lines that become skiable.  Thanks to everyone who came up, including our awesome instructors, looking forward to next years class already.

Zack tours through an old burn on Altoona Ridge

Instructors, Josh and Eric, enjoy the sun while praying for snow

Rutschblock time, Paul gives it a go

The author wrapped up tight in the final extended scenario

Avy Course Approaching

Hi all, the Avalanche Level 1 Course at Altoona is filling fast.  The course runs Jan 7 - 10 and is limited to 8 participants.  Contact me today to reserve your spot - james@altoonaridgelodge.com.  The course balances classroom learning with hands on experience in the terrain surrounding the Lodge.  Come learn from expert instructors and spend a great weekend at the Lodge.  Cost is $599 and includes all food, lodging, and instruction.