DEEP SNOW and FRESH POW!

[Mike B]

I'm taking a break from a great day in Island Park, Idaho. Sunny, 38 degrees, 3-5 feet of firm base with 6 inches of fresh powder on top that is turning to nice corn this afternoon. I plan on kiteing in this area Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before I head for home. Also lots of wildlife to see. Lots of elk and bison, 3 moose, and a lone gray wolf. I also came across some recent griz tracks at Raynolds Pass. They were so big, I thought they were snowshoe tracks!

I hope the water is not too cold back home. More updates tomorrow.

[seamonkey]

Why come back? I just got back from 16 months worth of Washington and Oregon epic snowfall. This is a god-forsaken place! I'm going to Hood River in 2 months. Is wallye better than dungeness crab? I do'nt think so. Is a whitetail bigger or more beautiful than an elk? Go figure.

[Pavel]

Hey Mike - you could've come north. Glad you found some snow. We should plan a spring gathering out west sometime. We got 2 ft on the weekend. I did some test holes and went down about 1 1/2 feet with the auger without breaking through...so I had to get out kiting. It's so sweet snow kiting May 1 from my back yard in the warm sunshine!

-Pavel in Sioux Lookout

[Mike B]

Another great day in Island Park! Perfect corn snow and lit up on my 10 Frenzy this morning. I met some guys from Bozeman that showed me a new area west of hwy 20 that had some fun terrain with two huge natural half-pipes and a bunch of wind lips and cornises. The options out here are limitless. The wind forcast for Saturday isn't looking good. If there is no wind in the morning, I may head for Cook City or the Bighorns. Snow kiteing in May is a lot of fun. Pavel - hope you get a few more good days up north!

Seamonkey - I do love it out here. But, I also love it in Minnesota! If you don't like it, I would suggest that you get out as soon as possible and quit whinning. (you do have a good point about Dungeness Crab though)

Hope the water is starting to warm up at home, and your all getting some good rides.

[Pat Hinch]

Mike -- Sounds like a great time. I'm jealous !!

Anyone interested in joining me over Memorial Day weekend for some snowkiting on the Beartooth Pass is welcome.
If you have not been, the Beartooth Pass usually opens on Memorial Day weekend as the snowplow's clear the Beartooth Highway from Red Lodge to Yellowstone.
I have a small house in Red Lodge and all are welcome. The Pass is about 25 miles up the road with great Spring conditions. I usally hike and ski the headwalls in the morning and kite in the afternoons.
In the past I have kited with a few Montana locals (Noah and Joel) but it's still a pretty uncrowded scene.
I'll be using my frequent flyer miles to arrive on May 22nd and plan to return on May 27th. Let me know if you're interested.