The Eastern Sierra is an incredible spot for spring ski touring. No bushwacking required. No devils club, alder, or mushy, un-ridable snow. No rain. But there is quite a bit of wind. Well, a lot of wind. But there is also a lot of sun, and real corn snow with real melt-freeze cycles. And it's easy to do a 4,000 foot run and be back to the parking lot by 12:30.
The approaches to some of the goods can be a little long and flat (Rock Creek) and the altitude takes some acclimatization, but the terrain is big, fun, and user-friendly. The access is incredible with a bunch of nice roads going up to 10k. Hot springs, bouldering, rednecks, RV people, cheap happy hour at Whiskey Creek in Bishop or Mammoth Lakes, coffee and web surfing at the Black Sheep. No National Park bureaucracy.
Favorites: riding powder on N. facing slopes at Virginia Lakes, steeps gullies in different drainages near University Peak above Independence, huge bowls and steep faces out of South Lake near Aspendale, partying with other dirtbags in the Buttermilks, Punta Bardini and Solitude Canyon by Mammoth. Meeting other like-minded souls at trail heads.
On the list for the future: camping up by Treasure Lakes and hitting a bunch of lines (as opposed to day tripping), Mount Wood (looks like a Volcano), Checkered Demon (need a car with higher clearance).
Lo-lights: having to suck it up and buy a bunch of topos, trying to get up early, getting scared, getting lost.
My dog came along with me and charged. Good times.
Virginia Lakes at the end of April.
The dog always napped when we got back to the car.
N. face Hurd tracked by a large guided group (with Tom Burt and Jim Zellers).
Looking down a steep gully. I was stoked.
Chara wasn't that impressed.
Lovely gray granite by University Peak.
Enhanced P Laps.
Chara chillaxing in the milks.
House-sized highball.
Livin' the dream.
Did I mention that there is nobody home?
But it's a long way into here.
Another nice steep chute, with a little excitement off the top.
Here's a video of a run:
Here's another:
A great trip!
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