Memorial Day is always a popular weekend for backcountry skiing around here. Seems like many take the opportunity to make one last trip into the hills, before hanging up their skis for the summer.
And on an average year, this is usually a good call. After Memorial Day, the good skiing is limited to just a handful of spots, with a short window in the morning before the snow gets too rotten.
This year it seems like things are going to be a little different. Over the last few weeks we have had very little melting at the higher elevations. At a time when we should be losing snow, we have been getting colder days and regular (albeit small) snowstorms. The higher elevations are staying much cooler. And there’s even still some powder lingering on the north faces. So if you don’t mind skiing through slush at the lower elevations to get back to your car, it’s possible to have a very long day of great skiing above 11000 feet.
I will unfortunately be missing out on the skiing this weekend. Instead, I’ll be at the Art Show in Bishop. So if you’re in the area, stop by and say hi! It’s in the park, going until 6 every day.
Feel free to gloat about all the great skiing I missed out on. I’m not sure what to expect from the Mule Days crowd, but I’m sure I will welcome any ski-related conversation. Hope to see you there…..
d_mingori News & Information
Jon Crowley and I went out to South Lake yesterday, looking for the Moynier Couloir. The road is plowed to Parchers, which is still a little distance from the lake, but is much closer than the usual winter closer.
The snow on the road is melting fast, so hopefully the rest will be removed soon.
We crossed the lake in the morning, and that was probably the last time it will be safe this year. There are a few open spots, and the ice melted out quite a bit during the day
Gilbert looks good:
We continued on below Mt Thompson, and into the upper cirque. This one isn’t actually the Moynier Couloir, but is just next to it:
Climbing:
From the summit of Thompson we got a view of Point Powell:
And looking back at our line:
Then we skied:
The snow was a little wind-affected, but still good and edgeable, with some powder lingering in places.
d_mingori News & Information
I’ve added more pictures of peaks under each region to the right——->
Mostly just snapshots of mountains and lines. If you’re looking for something new to ski, maybe you’ll find inspiration here.
d_mingori News & Information
This past weekend Jason Templeton and I did a loop over Piute Pass, Alpine Col and Lamarck Col, hitting Mt Goethe and Mt Darwin along the way. The lower elevations are beginning to melt, but it is still winter above 10,500ft.
Here are some shots from the trip:
Camp below Mt Goethe:
Goethe:
Atop Alpine Col:
Camp 2:
Climbing Mt Darwin:
And snowboarding:
d_mingori News & Information
Caltrans is reporting “No traffic restrictions” on Highway 168!
With a little bit of fresh snow, conditions should be fantastic in the Sabrina Basin this weekend:
d_mingori News & Information