Lone Tree Pass, Montana

noah · Since 19 Oct 2006 173 Posts Bozeman, Montana Stoked

Every winter I seem to find myself kiting in a place that resets the standard. Most of the time, these mountains are ones that I have only dreamed of kiting via Google Earth or by summer exploration. Oftentimes the location is deep in the wintery backcountry. To get there one needs a snowmobile and a capable partner. I’m lucky to have both.

Our most recent prize is Lone Tree Pass and Deer Mountain, north of the Centennials. Here we found a wide variety of terrain angles, side-on to fully up slope wind and spectacular views. Best of all, the scale of this spot felt limitless. Every ridge, mountain and canyon we kited across revealed another prize of untracked powder waiting!

In addition to the pure exhilaration of untracked powder, the freestyling on natural terrain features was everywhere we pointed out skis. Wind lips, cornices, couloirs and half pipes kept us grinning and laughing. The terrain was astounding.

Our view is that this barely tapped kite spot has huge potential. We are already thinking of a super-marathon of kiting from one end of the Centennials to the other by way of these mountain ridges.

Another surprise that day was the discovery of nearby Elk Mountain. While we have yet to kite there, this gem has the steepness and vertical to make lap after lap of top-to-bottom turns. Or for the gliders, Elk Mtn offers over a 1000 vertical feet of flight time.

What always amazes me about flying kites across the snowy landscape is the hour’s one spends soaking in the immense beauty. This spot is stunningly beautiful and is one that I can’t wait to visit again.

Enjoy the photos, thanks for reading, and see ya out there,

Noah

Wind Slither · Since 04 Mar 2005 2620 Posts The 503 METAL

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 901 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

It is cool how the snowkiting exploration is similar to the surfing exploration that happened during the 70's and 80's. Hats off to you guys for being the "first ever" to do many of these pristine snowkite havens.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

I see a sled, and I see mountains. Why are you snowkiting!!??

JMatic · Since 12 Aug 2008 252 Posts Boise, In Dat Ho Obsessed

So sick, thanks for sharing. Stoked for a long POW-filled spring, it's lookin' good in the high country!

Laughing

noah · Since 19 Oct 2006 173 Posts Bozeman, Montana Stoked

I was up in the Centennials yesterday looking north onto Deer Mtn and Lone Tree. Here's a photo of the spot.