Day 4 of backcountry ski trip with Bell Lake Yurt guides Drew & Spencer. Part of a huge day ski traversing the northern Tobacco Roots. After skiing down from Horse Mountain a short distance along the airy ridge connecting to Mount Jefferson, the exposed rock bands forced us to scramble with skis on packs for the rest of the way across — slow and tedious with the occasional posthole but with constantly epic views. After reaching Mount Jefferson we put skins back on and contoured around the summit en route to our final objective of the day — Hollowtop Mountain, the highest in the Tobacco Root Mountains. Drew had been here the year prior and was forced to boot the entire final “ass-kicker” climb to the summit… but this year we hit the jackpot and managed to skin all the way to the summit (well, except for a couple small patches). The final climb of 400 vert rolled slowly along and soon we were standing on top in a rush of euphoria —we made it! Now it was just a smooth 4000 ft descent to the waiting truck and beers at the Pony Bar. If only it had been that simple. Things now took a turn toward grepic. Hours later toasting with iced beers at the truck, we tried to put the wind-buffed sastrugi descent and miles of “bonus” skinning through isothermal glop behind us. Then down at the Pony Bar we chugged more beer as we celebrated a huge day (Strava died, 13hrs, 7K vert, 20 miles) and the end to an awesome Montana trip.