Resourceful backcountry skiers in southeastern Wyoming take advantage of a short-lived opportunity — freshly plowed roads still closed to cars — to get into the mountains. (Andrew Graham/WyoFile)

Come May, skiers need to be creative to get their turns in.

Though spring was in full bloom last weekend in Wyoming’s towns and valleys, winter still reigned in the mountains. After a long winter Wyoming’s peaks hold plenty of snow for those bold, desperate, or savvy enough to get to it.

Popular seasonal roads through the high country remain closed to car travel well into the spring, but as plow crews work to clear them, they open a brief window of opportunity for resourceful backcountry skiers.

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In this photo, snow sport enthusiasts in southeastern Wyoming began their ski day on bicycles. They rode with skis strapped on their backs, seeking to penetrate further into the mountains before starting the hard work of trudging uphill with climbing skins on their skis.

As the skier saying goes, one has to get up to get down. For the dedicated, what getting up entails changes with the season.

Andrew Graham is reporting for WyoFile from Laramie. He covers state government, energy and the economy. Reach him at 443-848-8756 or at andrew@wyofile.com, follow him @AndrewGraham88

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