Adventures in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and beyond: trip reports and primers

Grizzlies & Avalanches

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Alex Rienzie

How to: Elk Hide Tanning with Hair-on

How to: Elk Hide Tanning with Hair-on

Just before Thanksgiving 2022, I bagged a ~400lb cow elk on the National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, WY. More context in the full trip report. At my Dad's suggestion, I asked my butcher for the hide, so I could get it tanned. After a few days calling taxidermists, I

Jackson Hole Elk Hunt

Jackson Hole Elk Hunt

* Fall 2022: bagged a ~400lb cow elk in the National Elk Refuge (Jackson Hole, WY), shortly before Thanksgiving. * Early season snowfall drove earlier migrations from the Nat'l Park / Forest. * 308 Lever Action rifle with copper 150-grain bullets. * Harvested on third day in the field; first day in Area 85 near

Mt. Moran via CMC Face

Mt. Moran via CMC Face

Monday, September 12, 2022: * Mt. Moran ascent via CMC Face, a 5.5-rated climbing route. * 6,000' vertical with a paddle approach over String/Leigh Lake. * 1,000' vertical of climbing on CMC Face. * 18 hours roundtrip, 8am to 2am. Mt. Moran is a 12,610′ mountain in the Tetons.

Grand Teton via Upper Exum

Grand Teton via Upper Exum

Labor Day, September 5, 2022: * One-day ascent of Grand Teton via Upper Exum, a 5.5 climbing route. * Round trip in just over 12 hours, 3:15am to 3:30pm. Upper Exum is a 5.5 route up Grand Teton that starts midway up Exum Ridge. It involves the same

Picnic: a Grand Teton Triathalon

Picnic: a Grand Teton Triathalon

The Grand Teton Picnic is an informal mountain triathalon first completed in 2012. The route: * First, bike from the elk antler arches in Jackson's Town Square to the Jenny Lake East Overlook (23 miles). * Second, swim across Jenny Lake to the Cascade Canyon ferry docks (1.3 miles). * Third, ascend

Part II: Mt. Moran's Skillet Ski Ascent/Descent—Trip Report

Part II: Mt. Moran's Skillet Ski Ascent/Descent—Trip Report

April 9, 2022: * One-day ski ascent/descent of Mt. Moran’s Skillet. * Colter Bay departure via Jackson Lake; left at 4:30am; returned at 8:30pm. * 21 miles, including descent, and 5,000’ vertical. * Turned around 1,000’ short of the summit due to weather/daylight. For context on the

Part I: Mt. Moran's Skillet Ski Ascent/Descent—Training and Education

Part I: Mt. Moran's Skillet Ski Ascent/Descent—Training and Education

From huffing and puffing up 1,400’ vertical of Snow King in January to a single-push, 21-mile, 5,000’ vertical attempt at the Skillet (“the biggest backcountry line in the US”) by April. (We stopped 1,000’ vertical short of the summit due to weather and daylight.) Parts I and

Backcountry Skiing 101

Backcountry Skiing 101

After a lifetime on the east coast, I moved to Jackson, WY, and started skiing in the big mountains. I grew up on Long Island, NY, taking childhood ski trips to ME, VT and the Catskills. I love summer backcountry treks, so ski touring caught my attention when I moved

Table Mountain Ski Ascent/Descent

Table Mountain Ski Ascent/Descent

Monday, March 7, 2022: * Left New Sheep Bridge Trailhead at 9:30am; returned at 6:30pm. * 16 miles (including descent) and 4,500’ vertical ascent. * Successful summit; ski return along the ridgeline to our original bootpack. Find the story highlight on my Instagram. Table Mountain Table Mountain is a Wyoming

Snowmobiling Yellowstone's Lower Loop

Snowmobiling Yellowstone's Lower Loop

February 11, 2022: * Non-guided snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park. * Entered the East Entrance and completed the full Lower Loop clockwise, totaling ~150 miles on our sleds. * Started at 9am, the earliest check-in for the East Entrance, and returned by 6pm for 9 total hours in the Park. * Some highlights: walked