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With a bleak snowpack and warm temps things were looking bad for the first anual 4-20 splitfest at TPR but a few individuals never lost hope and at 10 am on 4-19-07 the party started.

Andrew Greene ready to go



With the road clear all the way to TPR the skin in on your own policy was tweaked and we rode uo in the TPR pickup right to the front door. Rooms were assigned and gear was dumped . It was time to skin



Four of us went up to Gaylor and the rest headed to the Bread Runs across the street.
Of course JimW headed to the Plateau but he can tell you about that .


Andrew and Storn



It was snowing for a change. Splitin up Gaylor





We got about 200 feet from the top of Gaylor and snow turned to ice. We decided to drop from there.

Storn drops in



Larry enjoying the day




Andrew




We ran down the gully from the top to find windloaded powder stashes. On the ridgelines it was crusty but we did find good snow.
Made it back in time for a hot shower and dinner served promptyly at 6 pm




Breakfast was served at 8am. Splitters waitin for the Bacon





The next morning the whole group headed toward the Bentonville Gullies ( Thanks for the info Julia)




The road now had about 3 inches of new snow on it. The parking lot looked like winter



The Pack heading up to Bentonville



Larry was the token skier. Always breaking trail. Thanks Larry



We took two laps up there. On the second one I led everyone down into a small chute. Thanks to Andrew scoping it out from below we all made it through the section ....um pretty much ok



Looking back and chattering



Dinner again at 6pm. Roast Pork Loin. And Pie

Breakfast at 8 am. I am still full from last night,but its too good to say no



We decide to do something big . We had talked about Conness but settled on Dana Couloir.

JimW SUPERSIKNNER



Splitters on the way to Dana





As we got near the place wher you commit to Dana or the plateau some of the party decided to go check out the chutes off the plateau.
Four of us carried on



We got about 200 feet into the couloir and found 3 inches of snow on top of Blue Ice. It was time to back off.

Jim takes off



Steve on the roll





You can see we didnt get very far before being spanked.



However , why ride a nice steep decent when you can split ski a rock garden?
Futuere gold medalist JimW if full tuck



And he crosses the finish line



With Steve right behind




We dropped down the glades towards Tioga lake on the way in . Nice powder in the trees.

But we did get back in time for dinner and Saturday night poker and card games









Mike and Julia talkin about options for Sunday



The next morning we woke up to 10 inches of fresh snow. It was the last day for us and for the TPR winter season. We ddecided to go to the bread Run for a little last day powder





The bread run. 10 inches of fresh about to be ground up



We bombed down the trees into the gulley all in a big group. Hootin and hollerin like little kids.

It was a great way to end the TPR trip. Thanks to all who came.
Thanks to Julia and the whole TPR crew.
And thanks to Bob for all the good food. Enjoy your Texas Holdum


The first crew for the annual party

DAMN!!! I need to get out there. I'll be itchin' for some jibbin' next season...
I just got back from a 20 mile backcountry bike ride here in the 'Valley'.
I'm ready!

that disco ball was the shiznit! Keep the stoke going

Well played yall!!!!!

so happy you all were able to go up to TPR and get some decent runs in this year considering the below avg. snowpack it looks like surprisingly good conditions! that shot of dana coulior is nice > too bad you got turned back! also like the split ski shots

Ray, Thanks for putting together this trip. It was nice to meet all of you. TPR is a gem with great food, a rustic lodge, incredible terrain and an awesome staff. I will be back!

I have lots of pic's of everyone, so send me a PM with your E-mail and I'll send them out.

Mike

Go ahead and post a few Swanny. Good riding with you and all the other buckaroo's. Nice to meet new splitters.

Yeah - thanks, TEX! I have a million pics to post up... maybe today. In the meantime, here's a picture from the Dana Plateau of TEX, Larry and Jimw just entering the Dana Couloir. Unfortunately, I caught TEX mid-blink, which kind of ruined the shot. That texture to the right of the coulior's apron is blue ice.


And here's an art shot:

I didn't take many pic's on day 1, so here's day 2 up Bentonville



Spielberg setting up shop



Decending Bentonville Gullies



Larry



Storn and ?



Back to TPR



Dinner anyone?



The next morning we decided to head for Mt. Dana



Climbing the Bread Run towards Dana



The group split at the top, some went to Dana couloir, we went to Dana plateau.



Looking down 3rd Pillar



That night a storm gave us some freshies



and inspiration



Ray inspecting the troops


and TPR



On the way up Bread run things were getting windy



At the top



Decending was a free for all...



...leaving me in the dust



After packing up and saying goodby to everyone Ray, Mark and myself headed to Mammoth



The next morning we headed up Mammoth Crest for Red Cone Pk.



Ray and Mark on top



The sun was really warming things up, that didn't stop us from finding great pockets of snow



On the way out with Red Cone in The background



Last photo spot above Twin Lks.

Mark



Ray



Thanks to everyone who came out. It was a pleasure meeting and riding with you all.

Mike

BTW Ray did you get Bloody?

Here are some pics from that misty day on the Bennetville ridge...


The foot of Dana:






False White:


Buffy got it first!


These are from the trip to Dana/Dana Plateau.












This is where we split up.


Maybe if our route had taken us right up the middle of the valley we wouldn't have seen what was ahead. But we had climbed too high and the question before us was whether to just hop on up to the Dana Plateau or to descend into the valley. Those of us that had never seen the Dana Plateau said "Hell yeah - lets check it out. You guys have fun with those 400 Billion rocks."

Only 399,999,999,997 rocks to go.


Although I could definitely see the appeal...


The plateau.




Powerhouse.


Third Pillar.


Back to Dana again... that plateau is really huge.


In this close-up, SteveP is the little black speck below the spine on the right. To the left is lots of ice.


The three black specs crossing the spine at the bottom, left of the couloir are Larry, Jim, and TEX.


Alas, they were turned around by ice. We rode powder.


Thanks everyone for a fun time! Here are some peeps..

Splitchicks Wendy & liketoride,


Craig,


Swanny & SteveP,


Adrian,


Spielburg,


Andrew,


Dutch Marc,


Larry,


Buffy again,


Jimw,


And TEX.


And thanks Bob. I hope your retirement is sweet!

Awesome Trip report! Very cool pictures!
Tex thanks for organizing the trip!
It was super fun, meeting and riding with everyone. TPR is such a cool place.

Yeah, great trip, great pics, great people... gotta do it again next year! One of these days I'll get my 500 pics up here. Oh yeah, got some decent helmetcam too. I love this shot, look at all those splits!

Nice trip Ray. I was up there last weekend and wish I knew Tioga was going to open up, would have brought the skins. Oh well, I'll just have to find a way to join you next year. At least the dogs had some fun up there.


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Super fun time! Everything was a blast and i can't wait to get back up there with you all again soon! - crAig