chugach ress: 2/3 Bomber-T

     So the Bomber Traverse has been on my list of things to do and a few of us coordinated time off. We elected to start at the Mint trailhead with the goal of spending one night at each hut and skiing the short days between huts. We rounded up the dogs and started around 1pm and made it to the Mint hut in 6hrs. With daylight being bountiful an spring conditions full-on it made for a warm, but pleasant skin in under mostly clear skies. Our feet were not use to the warmth and flat skinning, blisters began here.
     We met a crew on a powder pilgrimage and shared the hut, 7 people was okay but this would not have been cozy at the bomber hut. A beautiful evening perched at the mint was not restful, nobody slept well for whatever reason. The next day we were gifted with clear spring weather, unlike the overcast skies forecasted. Stoke was high as we skinned up the Mint glacier, but a few hours and 2 failed attempts to navigate our way into the next drainage (using a more unique route) we were too tired to go up back door gap. We skied what the pilgrims had said was good the night before. It was enough to satisfy. We returned for another evening at the mint, though a much more roomy hut as the pilgrims had moved on to Bomber hut.
     Then we woke to more clear skies and up the back door gap it was for us. We skied what I believe is the Penny Royal glacier down to the Bomber hut to drop our gear, eat lunch, and head out to ski what's good. The whole area was thankfully void of snowmachines and their tracks. It was the icing on the cake for me: fields of untouched snow with magnificent and dramatic peaks unlike those in the Chugach were entrancing. We found a good north facing line and skied it until both we and the dogs needed food and rest. Skiing down to the hut in warm spring sun was great, food was good. Some super-mellow, short laps in the evening sun capped it off. Living the dream.
     A full day behind, we elected to go up the Bomber glacier and over the pass and out Reed lakes to Archangel instead of passing by the Snowbird hut on the traditional route. This was quite enjoyable. More sunshine, more untracked powder up on the Bomber glacier. We started early and did some low-angle laps in the sun up high, still soft and fluffy. Then we were able to ski 95% of the way from Bomber pass back to the Mint lot. I'll take low-angle and side-hilling over flat skinning any day.
     This winter continues to grow an amazement with the Talkeetnas for me. This trip was no exception. Though the Snowbird will have to wait for another day, it was beautiful and rugged terrain to be in and I would gladly do it again: likely an annual thing now.

The Video on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/92488686

Leaving Bomber to........