Buck Mountain (Swan Range) - Northeast ridge and face

Buck Mountain. 
The line starts on the left skyline ridge and extends beyond the edge of the photo.

4/21/24  The original concept for the day was to link up Pyramid and Holland peaks, but Plan A met an early demise in the throes of a morning freezing mist squall about 800 feet below the summit of Pyramid peak.  Not feeling any compelling reason to continue pushing upward with no visibility, I retreated out of the storm.  It was kind of tempting to bail early, but since the weather was clearing as forecast, I slapped skins back on and headed back up without a plan.  

Fortunately, the weather continued to clear, so I simultaneously skinned to the crest of the range and pondered afternoon ski objectives.  By the time I hit the crest, the weather was perfectly clear and cold, and I had settled on an attempt on the Northeast ridge and face on Buck mountain.  I have been wanting to ski this elegant line for a long time, and it appeared today might work to take it 3,300 vertical feet all the way to Dart Creek with good conditions top to bottom.  I skirted below the steep Northeast face before climbing Buck by the South face, which allowed a cursory conditions check before dropping in from the top. 

Nearing the summit and ready to roll.

The ski run itself was great - an aesthetic jaunt down the East ridge, followed by on-ya steep edging into ice capped by thin powder on the short Northeast face, followed by fun, relaxed turns all the way to the end of the avalanche path.  

Looking back up at the steep part of the face. 
I took the run for another 1,000 or so vertical feet to Dart creek.

The return to the Swan crest got a bit long.  Nothing that copious gummy bears and potato chips couldn't fuel.  It was cool to follow bear tracks much of the way.  The egress was a very small price to pay for the experience.  I'm happy about getting this done with good conditions and in good style.