A Hyalite Peak Ski Tour
Getting a birds-eye view of Hyalite
By Hilary Eisen
Hyalite Peak is a popular summer hike, but it makes for a lovely winter destination as well. While the route is the same, the trail takes on a completely different persona in winter. Perhaps the most notable change is audible - winter is quiet. Very quiet. In the summer, Hyalite Creek and its many waterfalls are your constant companion, often joined by birdsong and the distant (or not-so-distant) sounds of other hikers, horseback riders, mountain bikers, and dirt bikers. In the winter, the creek and waterfalls are frozen, birds and other people are fewer, and often all you hear is the quiet “swish” of your skis in the snow.
The trail looks, and smells, different in the winter too. Snow blankets the forest, softening the landscape. And, while on a summer hike you might sniff out notes of rain, wild strawberries, or various animals, you probably won’t smell anything at all in the winter.
The other day a friend and I skied to the top of Hyalite Peak to take in the view. On the way up the trail we ran into ice climbers, snowshoers, hikers, and other skiers, all enjoying a beautiful day in Hyalite. Some, like us, were heading towards Hyalite Peak. Others peeled off the trail in various directions, seeking out the many ice climbs and ski lines we passed along the way. Although the trail isn’t as busy in winter as it is in summer, and it gets significantly less traveled the further you go, it’s a popular route in all seasons.
By the time we’d reached Hyalite Lake we had the basin to ourselves, although we could spot two skiers standing on top of Hyalite Peak. We watched them ski down while we took a snack break, and then with a friendly wave, proceeded to trade places. The skiers zipped downhill and we continued our climb. Avalanche hazard is another significant difference between winter and summer travel in Hyalite. A winter visit to the top of Hyalite Peak involves traveling through avalanche terrain and it’s important to have the knowledge, skills, and equipment to do so safely.
From the summit we had an excellent view of the Gallatin Range, as well as the Bridgers, Crazies, Absarokas, and Madison Range. After enjoying this birds-eye view, and getting pummeled by wind, we switched our skis into downhill mode and quickly descended back to the Hyalite Lake basin and, eventually, the Grotto Falls parking area.
