Mike Meldman - Explore Big Sky

outdoorS
ElEphanthEad
MoUntain
a Wilderness adventure Minutes
from livingston
by tyler allen
As we climbed toward the looming
face of Elephanthead Mountain,
the skiing possibilities unfolded. A
steep headwall rose above us. Technical,
narrow couloirs sliced through
it for nearly 1,000 feet. West of the
summit, a huge amphitheater offered
descents on just about every
aspect. The snowfield on the north
side of the peak, our intended route,
was capped with a plume of spindrift
that made the mountain appear like a
smoking volcano.
At the northern edge of the Western
Beartooths (also known as the Absarokas),
Elephanthead Mountain is a
short drive from Livingston. While
it certainly is not the highest or most
imposing summit in this complex,
rising to a mere 9,431 feet, its north
face lures skiers from Southwest
Montana with aesthetic ski terrain
and easy access. With its short approach
and straightforward ascent, it
is a great introduction to ski touring
for novice backcountry explorers.
For those same reasons, it is not to be
overlooked by the experienced backcountry
skier either, and was why we
chose Elephanthead for a late December
2010 tour, when the daylight
hours were short.
The final few hundred feet of the
climb took us around giant dolomite
boulders, to the summit, where the
sheer south face drops thousands
of feet into the heart of the range.
The view from this perch includes
the spectacular summit of Mount
Delano, the long sweeping ridge of
Shell Mountain with the Beartooth
Plateau spreading east beyond it,
and the southern end of the Crazy
Mountains dropping into the Yellowstone
basin.
The skiing off the summit was firm
and wind-scoured, but once the slope
rolled over into the steeper, northfacing
chutes, the wind-sheltered
snow was soft and boot-top. We
leapfrogged the 1,200-foot pitch toward
the valley floor, finding powder
skiing all the way to the trailhead.
It was almost dark by the time we
skated across the road to our car, but a
full moon on the rise illuminated the
frozen expanse.
The toughest decision we faced that
day had nothing to do with route
finding or what to ski, but where to
celebrate our success in Livingston.
This little town has plenty of après
ski options. Fishbowl margaritas at
the Rib and Chop House, or strong
cocktails in a classic Montana bar
setting at the Mint. We settled on
the Murray Bar, in the heart of
town. It was pizza night, with small
pies from the adjacent 2nd Street
Bistro on special for five dollars. A
trip to Elephanthead offers just another
excuse to enjoy the appealing
atmosphere and culinary delights of
historic Livingston, gatekeeper to
endless mountain adventures.
Tyler Allen writes from Bozeman.
big Sky Weekly
Skinning towards the summit of Elephanthead.
Joshua Boulange skiing off the summit
of Elephanthead Mountain.
hoW to GEt thErE:
From livingston, dirt roads take you about nine miles
southeast of town, to a ranch at the mouth of the
Mission creek drainage. if the road is clear, take a
right at the ranch gate and follow it for 1.5 miles to
the trailhead. the landowners do not take kindly to
people parking on their property, so if you cannot
make it all the way to the trailhead, turn around and
park outside the gate.
21st annual Snowmobile Expo
On March 11- 13 join snowmobilers from around the world in West Yellowstone
for the 21st Annual Snowmobile Expo. Recognized as the “Largest
Snowmobile Event in the West,” the event features the unveiling of new
2012 snowmobile lines, exhibits, racing events and competitions and tours
through Yellowstone Park. Highlights of the event inlcude Dane Ferguson’s
World Record backflip attempt and the TOUGHMAN ENDURO Race
scheduled for Saturday, March 12th beginning at 2:00 P.M. Racing and other
outside events take place just west of Iris Avenue on the ‘old’ airfield. Newcomers
to the sport are welcome. For lodging, please visit
destinationyellowstone.com. snowmobileexpo.com
March 4, 2011 37