The Fantasy Ridge Line and Tosi Peak

knewschool · Since 23 Dec 2010 61 Posts Wyoming

This is the very ridge line we’ve been staring at from Bondurant, Wyoming for years. From the Bondurant parking lot looking 10 miles to the north and 4,000 feet up is the Fantasy Ridge, it’s steep and impenetrable for 20 miles east and west. Snowkiting there has been a dream. We looked at so many different ways to get up there and finally we committed to this one. This approach avoids all the steep dangerous terrain on the south faces, but adds some miles in woods coming in from the North.

We started with a 12 mile sled ride to the Wilderness Boundary, half of which was off trail deep powder through trees. Not the most difficult terrain, but lots of looking around corners and seeing where we can make it through the trees. Pascal’s GPS saved us 2 times, once on the way up and once in the dark on the way back. The rest of our Navigation was Morley’s topo map, and memorizing the terrain on Google Earth in days before. I also saved the Google Earth image on my phone so in a couple places I locate where the opening in the trees ahead would be. Once we made it to the Wilderness Boundary line, the sleds stopped and the skiing started. From there it was about 4 miles of skinning to cover before the first kite traveling started. We ate about a mile out of our skin with the kite, but then we had to roll up and bust a short ski down through some trees before we were actually able to kite freely.

Once we were there it was a race to get up to the Peaks and explore around. Chaz busted right up Tosi Peak without even thinking about it. I barely had time to get my kite down and grab my camera. He put a couple of impressive runs right down the NW Face with strong winds and deep powder. Another mile of up wind exploring and Chaz had to bail. He was trying to pull off the day trip, so he turned to follow our tracks in and make it all the way out on his own. He nearly spent the night in the woods that night. The wind blew our tracks over in a few places making for difficult navigation. Not to mention that by the time Chaz covered the 4 miles skinning back to the Wilderness Boarder it was night. Luckily the moon was full and the sky was clear for his sled ride.

Morley and I were worried about Chaz while camping that night. Morley kept saying that if Chaz had gotten his sled stuck or lost, he’d be able to skin all night without freezing to death. I supposed that’d be possible and that’s what I’d probably do. Turns out he made it after freaking out lost in the woods for a while.

That night Morley and I had traveled a few miles further West up to Hodges Peak and camped at its base. It was a beautiful night and windy all the way until the morning. It was nice to wake up in warm sun, but we had to pack up and start skinning. Without wind it was going to be a long freaking skin with 60lbs packs and my dang camera. Fortunately, the wind showed up around 1pm and we made it back, and even did a little more exploring. We got lost on our way out on the final leg on the sled. I tried so many spots that ended in gullies and thick woods. As the night fell, I cracked out Pascal’s GPS with our route logged in and let me tell you, those things work!

Next time one more day, and one more bottle of fuel!

Cheers,
Will Taggart

Nobby raish · Since 01 Apr 2011 21 Posts

Amazing...nice adventure,thanks for sharing!!

I applaud you guys for respecting the wilderness boundary,
Though,sadly,in the eyes of the law,kites are just as illegal....?
of course total BS,kites are about as "mechanized" as a free-heel binding.

I have herd national forest officials have access to real time gov.
spy satellites,and are using them to bust snowmobilers poaching
wilderness areas.

knewschool · Since 23 Dec 2010 61 Posts Wyoming

Yes it's complicated dealing with the boundaries. Critical Game, 2 National Parks, and Elk Refuges are all forcing us to explore far and deep. Luckily the National Forest lets us ride on their open areas, still somewhat far and few compared to what’s “closed” right out our door.

Here in Jackson, Wyoming there is some of the best snowkiting in the world right out of town. Unfortunately I have to drive right past it because the terrain is encased by boundaries the entire way until you get to Bondurant one way or Togwotee the other.

My feeling about kites in the Gros Venture Wilderness is that it will be banned if it becomes a problem of some sort. For now it is not motorized, and that’s exactly what the sign says where we park our sleds. My kite doesn’t even have a pulley, and the disturbance of Wilderness with a kite past tree line in nuclear wind is agreeably minimal. Except some black birds, a snowkiter is probably the only living thing enjoying such an environment.

However, it’s not a likely problem because it’s such a technical expedition just to plan your way in there. Chaz’s single day was truly like a marathon day. He was a hair away from spending the night lost in the woods. On top of that we’ve been waiting a month for a good forecast just to try it.

They probably do have some crazy satellites spying on us since it’s the “man” and his deep pockets. But realistically I don’t believe poaching is that much of a problem around here. People seem to naturally respect the boundaries and for snowmobiles and skiers there’s so much available terrain people are happy.

buttersmoothcarver · Since 08 Oct 2008 246 Posts Stoked

"Nobody get's after it like the JH boys! " Nice trip report. Now you guys are making me feel guilty for "park and riding"!

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1214 Posts Portland BRACKISH

Wow really nice!

I am also confused about mechanical equipment being tied to kites. Just don't see the argument. Glad the Nat'l Park allows you guys to get in there.

a_b · Since 30 Oct 2010 36 Posts

Wow, a trip to dream about....

Curious, why wouldn't you guys travel with small sleds to load your gear on (instead onf loading it on your backs)? It would've made your trekking a bit easier methinks.

CarrotHead · Since 05 Jul 2007 35 Posts Once Seattle, now Portland

Great write up! Thank you for sharing. This is how I intend to spend my retirement Smile

. Now if I can just figure out how to retire before I get old...

lewmt · Since 04 Aug 2010 182 Posts MT Stoked

I'm curious as well if you guys have considered whether pulling a pulk with gear would have been a better alternative to trying to get everything into a backpack? Hindsight thinking? Glad Chaz made it out OK - darkness tends to make everything look totally different and distances gets so skewed by perception as well as the landmarks you mentally noted in daylight aren't visible or look completely different in the dark.

As far as wilderness goes - I've asked in Montana and also in WY for the Bighorns whether there is any issue about kiting inside the wilderness area boundaries and have been told "No worries" by the same guys that will ticket you for a snowmobile. Maybe its different in different states? I've also been told "no" to any snowkite use inside National Park boundaries but they allow us to kite water. Not arguing the latter but it is curious.

knewschool · Since 23 Dec 2010 61 Posts Wyoming

Thanks guys!

We talked about a pulk or sled instead of using a pack, but there's a 1,500' slope between the wilderness boarder and the basin that's pretty steep. We did a really long side hill along the top to get around some cliffs and then dropped in the open tree'd slope. We had avy gear mainly for that besides the peaks. Skinning up that slope was steep too, and I'd bet you'd have to get the pulk on your back for that no matter what. I suppose you could boot pack and hoist or something, but just sucking it up and going to save daylight is probably better there. Also, we weren't sure how far west we'd get, and a couple of places are a little technical for a sled.

While camping we were talking about a light simple shell that would attach to the axe loops on your pack and adjust at the top acting like one of those adjustable shovel pockets many packs have. Then you can drop it off your back on to that simple shell and pull it, but it wouldn't add much extra weight while packing.

As far as the Wilderness area goes, I agree with Dave. It depends on the local enforcment. They're the ones judging impacts from overuse and misuse. I've looked through the Wilderness Area policies available online and you'll even find many activities and even motorized vehicles are allowed here but not there, and especially where they've been "grandfathered" in. There's all sorts of provisions and exceptions. In addition to that the word kite is not in the document.

However, events seem to be trouble and require extra steps and tip toeing. You used to be able to kite in Teton Park back before I kited. An event came through and unloaded tons of kiters right off the road in front to the Tetons and that was the last time anyone ever kited there. I dream of kiting there and it's 35 min closer to my house than Togs and bondo!