THE APOGEE

We’re currently in that awkward transition period in the Tetons where skiing no longer makes much sense, but high snow levels still limit how high you can comfortably hike. Thankfully, the greater Teton area has a huge variety of mountain ranges that receive very different snow totals throughout the year. Some of the first ranges to melt out are Hoback Canyon and the Snake River Range.

t was midweek and with a slow day of work, I wanted to find a quick option to gain some vertical and stand atop a summit. I don't know much of the Big Hole Mountains, other than I stare at them every day from my house in Driggs. My buddy Charlie has told me of some fun ski descents from Stouts, and I figured the obvious ridge lines that lead up to the summit from the road would have a trail.

I had always wanted to do a trip up Cream Puff Peak ever since picking up Thomas Turiano’s skiing bible. Ideally, I wanted to ski it, but this was not going to be the spring for that...

Packrafting the popular tramping route over Gillespie Pass.

A quick and steep climb right off the road.

A peaceful overnight stay in the Pisa's with Deanna.

A stunning walk up Mount Soho through gorgeous tussock country.

A casual late autumn walk along the Southern Criffel Range tops.

A peaceful overnight stay in the Richardson Mountains with Deanna.

Two magical days on the Fiordland tops above Lake Monowai.

Alex is back! A scenic one day mission to climb two peaks in the Richardson Mountains.

A one day mission to the summit of Clare Peak in the Takitimu Mountains.

A stunning first packrafting trip into Hope Arm on Lake Manapouri.

Another relaxing trip into the Takitimu Mountains to bag a hut and a nearby peak.

A relaxing three day hut bagging trip in the Eyre Mountains.

A quick overnight trip to the Hector Mountains on a cold, starry, windless night.

Three days of clear weather, empty huts, and an inversion layer on a winter hike of the Kepler Track.

A stunning early winter trip up the Motatapu Track to climb Middle Peak.

An excellent route to a remote peak in the Queenstown area.

A quick sunrise trip along the Crown Range.