Jay Richards

Easter break also serves as Spring break for the kids. We were fortunate to head west to Red Lodge, MT for the third year in a row. We look forward to this trip as it is really the only family vacation of the year. This year Jake's girlfriend Jess came along. With the warm spring, eyes were on the snow conditions. But as long as the ski area is open and covered with some type of base, all good. Spring skiing is some of the best possible imo. Generally the mountains will be holding the deepest snowpack of the season, regardless of the snow year and it doesn't take much to turn conditions from "spring" to mid winter. The first day we skied, it was a bit tricky with transformed snow turning hard with falling temps as a storm was set to dump 15" of fresh powder during the day on Friday and Friday night. We lucked out!!

Getting dumped on. Skiing Friday was incredible. Jake, Jon and I headed over to the double blacks in the afternoon, finding a lot of untracked powder as no one was skiing there and making for some super fun skiing.

Jack having a turn with the snow globe googles.

Saturday morning heading up to the top. Bluebird day with a dumping of new snow and temps in the 20's.

First tracks.

Fun times in the powder. Jon buried.
Thursday was not the best conditions for teaching Jess how to ski who had never been downhill before. We weren't very good guides heading up to the blues off the bat. Off the lift, Jess straight lines to the ski patrol shack taking out everything in sight. By day three she was skiing blacks. Very athletic and strong but overcoming fear, altitude and terrain key factors as well.
With Jens breaking his toe in three spots and advised not to ski, he had the option to stay home and hang out with the nephews but decided to come along. We brought his skis along "just in case" Jonell said. Since he said there was no pain and we figured a ski boot is as protective as anything, we would try it for a run or two.
Mountain bike along for apres ski action, recent warm temps burning off snow on exposed areas and providing a little bit of singletrack riding.

22 years ago after my freshman year in college, I made a solo trip out to Red Lodge for some biking and skiing. The ski area was closed but still holding on to a lot of snow early May. I skinned up and met some locals at the top and tele skied down the double black run, Drainage. Next to Lazy M, two of my favorite runs out west. Blast to still be able to burn it up with Jake and Jon. Sunday there was no one skiing it but the snow was still great, thanks to cold temps.
Easter day skiing with the family. Doesn't get any better.
Sunday evening we drove up Beartooth highway as far as we could to enjoy the great vistas and explore around a bit.
Last year when we were out here, this slope was snow covered and provided for skiing fun even the end of April. Different story this year.
When the roads were dry, Jake, Jess and Jon were getting workouts in after a day of turning. West fork Rock Creek sprints.

Monday morning before we headed home, Jonell and I drove up to the barricade. Rode up as far as I could towards the pass before the snow got too deep. Some areas were hard enough to stay on top without breaking through. Came back down riding halfway to town enjoying the fast descent and 0 like windchill. All in all a great trip with different conditions each day but great skiing. Red Lodge doesn't have the terrain like some ski areas but there is more than enough for us to fill our needs and great fall line skiing. Like I said before, the people are super friendly, the town is a "real" mountain town, the tickets were about third off from what you would pay at a lot of other areas but best part is the family time. Would be fun to go back in the summer to maybe race the Fat Tire Frenzy and ski up near Beartooth pass off the summer lift. Big thanks to Craig at Paramount sports for setting us up with skis and putting me on his top picks. First time I haven't tele skied in 25 years but was a very nice with skis for the type of conditions we encountered.