July 30th, 2010
My good friend and Exum Guide, Zahan Billimoria and I took our sons, Leo and Alyosha climbing last week at Teton Village. The route was an easy multi-pitch climb perfect for 5 year olds getting used to wearing their harnesses and helmets as well as learning rope commands, climbing and being on belay.
Rich, Leo, Alyosha and Zahan ready to board the gondola
Approaching the climb
For kid sized climbing gear check out Black Diamond for harnesses, La Sportiva for shoes and Petzl for helmets.
Alyosha and Leo resting between pitches
Leo climbing with Zahan on top
Leo with his BD Alpine Bod
We finished the climb with cool beverages and dinner at Couloir where the wives (Kathy and Kim) met us with the next generation of climbers, Jack and Gemma.
Posted in Climbing, General Info | No Comments »
June 11th, 2010
Well, we’ve had a cool wet spring but the flowers are starting to peek out and Yostmark is stocked with summer product for all your mountain activities.
Some of the things we are most excited about are in the shoe department. Check out the Vasque Fivefingers shoes that are getting national press and are changing the way shoes will be made in the future. Lars does all his workouts in a pair of Fivefingers and says they working muscles in his feet and legs he never knew he had.
And, from La Sportiva we have the mens’s and women’s Wildcat trail running shoe. This baby is very well cushioned and will provide a great platform for those slick trails. As always we have a great selection of casual clothing and all the technical gear for your mountain activities.
Yostmark summer 2010 shoe collection
Shoes? Yeah, those are shoes...the Vibram Fivefingers Bikila
Attire for your summer music events in Teton Valley: Patagonia Kamala dress and Prana bag
Patagonia's Morning Glory Tank and Island Hemp Pants
And, summer clothes for the guys!
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May 27th, 2010
This spring I swaggered out the van with a Thule Ascent box and Revolver bike rack and hit the road with the family for corn skiing, climbing and camping in the Eastern Sierra of California. As it rained and snowed in Teton Valley, we had a little respite from mud season with sunny California weather in the 70s.
I spent a few days guiding with my old friend Tim Villanueva from the Bardini Foundation, which was founded in the memory of my good friend Allan Bard who died while guiding the Grand. For over 15 years I’ve spend my spring in the Eastern Sierra. By far, it has the best spring corn skiing in the west and excellent apres skiing on Tim’s back porch.
We spent some time bouldering and climbing in the Buttermilks. Check out Leo’s moves. He loved the Black Diamond Wiz Kid harness that he can grow in to. We also cruised down to Mt. Whitney and camped for a few days. We tried our Mountain Hardware Habitat 5 which was spacious enough for the four of us and the kids’ ability to sleep perpendicular. It was also bomber enough to withstand some super wind gusts. The kids stayed nice and warm in their Mountain Goat sleeping bags.Finally, we ended our trip with a steam engine ride on the historic Northern Nevada Railway in Ely, NV.
When we got back to Teton Valley, I took advantage of the cool spring with powder skiing. Chris Lander and I had some sweet turns at GT, check it out.
Rich
Leo @ Whitney
Rich getting a spot from Jack
Climbing in the Buttermilks
big rocks
Leo's rap
cheers!
Big rocks and cozy Mountain Goat
tickets!
spring powder @ GT
rich cruising the powder
Posted in Backcountry Skiing, Climbing, General Info, Hiking | No Comments »
January 17th, 2010
Erich Wilbrecht put on a great pre race Toko wax Clinic
Teton Nordic Team kids soaking in some wax tips. Below the Swix VS Toko wax battle rages on…..
Jake the Swix Devil & Erich
Posted in General Info, Track Skiing | No Comments »
January 10th, 2010
Ever wonder the mysteries of wax? Blue, red, yellow, klister, liquid, rub on?
Join us this Friday, Jan. 15th at 6p for a FREE waxing clinic to unravel the mysteries of ski waxing. It’s perfect timing with the Teton Ridge Classic the very next morning (Saturday, Jan. 16th). We’ll be focusing on waxing classic skis to help make your skis extra fast for the TRC, but bring your questions for waxing skate, backcountry and alpine skis/boards as well.
Posted in Backcountry Skiing, General Info, Track Skiing | No Comments »
December 31st, 2009
Happy New year and thank you to all the supporters of Yostmark this past year! We have made it through a difficult retail environment this past year and we are leaner and more focused because of it. We are optimistic about the
- Robin McGee of Jackson-Boot top Powder
New year and thankful for the many oppurtunities ahead. Come join us for a Nordic Lesson in Teton Canyon after the New Year, Contact Yostmark backcountry tours for all the info.
Posted in General Info, Track Skiing | No Comments »
December 27th, 2009
Part time Driggs resident Todd Ottenstein and his wife Kim are hosting the Yostmark staff to a 5 alarm Thai meal. Todd has taken to the crew and can be seen on the slopes and cross country skiing on his new Karhu 10th Mountain skis.
Thai Chili peppers
Todd loves his new Skis so much he does’nt even wear his helmet anymore…..
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December 26th, 2009
Gammelin brothers nailing the wax
- Janet into the blue, lap 9
Happy Holidays everyone! The sun was out at Grand Targhee today and the trails were in pretty good condition, some random classic track setting had been accomplished and it’s anyones guess as to the method of the madness. The bottom loop known as Rick’s basin has the most consistent classic track, quakie ridge only has about 25% tracked but the view may be worth the climb.
Posted in General Info, Track Skiing | No Comments »
December 20th, 2009
They are here! We have been waiting for our 187, 182 & 177 Salomon S-Lab Skate skis (we already had the 192’s) Held up in Customs for months-officials determined the only terrorizing these skis were going to do was on the Teton valley and West Yellowstone Nordic trails. Come in early for best selection…
S-Lab Skate
Posted in General Info, Track Skiing | No Comments »
December 10th, 2009
Last weekend Yostmark wrapped up its first Avalanche Course of the season and the last for 2009. Look for more avalanche courses in January (Level 1) and February (Level 2).
Instructor Don Carpenter explains the subtleties of snow layers
Students test their knowledge on identifying weak layers
Posted in Backcountry Skiing, General Info | No Comments »
