Sunday, May 3, 2015

Madison Range Traverse - Taylor-Hilgard Unit




Last week Inge and I ventured into the Taylor-Hilgard Unit of the Madison Range.  It was my first time in the area, and what a pleasant 18 hour walkthrough it was.  A fresh blanket of powder kept the skiing soft, and allowed us to use mountain goat tracks as guidance while looking back on our own.  Despite what would seem to be hours among hours of slogging up mountainsides, being our third traverse together Inge and I have come to enjoy these long days.  Adventure routes such as this are very engaging as there is always some uncertainty in just how the topo will translate into the terrain, we are constantly making on-the-fly re-routes and terrain decisions.

Our route gained the southern tip of the range via a sagebrush bushwhack from the highway and continued just to the west of the divide as we tagged saddles and peaks along the way.  Notable peaks included Dutchman, Echo and Imp.  We were both slightly disappointed in not bagging Kotch Peak to make it a true and complete south to north traverse, but having arrived home at 4am with the early egress I think it sits as the right decision in my mind.  Next time we will come in more fit and fluid to ski it all!  This traverse would go great as a multi-day adventure with all of the fine terrain to explore.






Skiing north...


...skiing north...

...and skiing north again



The author enjoys morning-pow on the slopes of Hilgard,  Echo Pk in distance (Photo: Inge Perkins)

Dutchman Saddle Run, our most technical descent of the day



Hilgard Peak behind

Nearing Echo summit looking back on route, Duchman Pk / saddle run with Hilgard Pk behind

Inge skis north off the summit of Echo Peak.  My highlight run of the day.  Imp and rest of traverse visible to the horizon.

Echo Peak

Painting lines on Expedition Pass run


Looking south to Expedition Pass

Echo and Hillgard visible behind 

Goat tracks for guidance on Imp's summit ridge

(Photo: Inge Perkins)

13k and ~14hr into the day... feeling quite tired

Sunset from Imp Pk while looking south on the days work.  The route started in the horizon lookers left.







- Hour 17 - 

See: This map for detailed route.

Stats:
-18 hours
-13,000' vertical climbing
-22+ miles

1 comment:

  1. Wow! Amazing route and pictures! I can't even imagine adding koch to the mix! Inspirational for someone just starting to sample the joys of spring skiing in the backcountry of SW Montana. Skied the Sphinx last weekend and the views from the top had me looking for information on the mountains ya'll went through.

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