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…..

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.

Camp below Mt Goethe:

Goethe:

Atop Alpine Col:

Camp 2:

Climbing Mt Darwin:

And snowboarding:

With a number of steep chutes going through the rocks, the one in the center looked the most appealing. So I snapped some photos, and figured one day I’d return to check it out. Zooming in on the photo I noticed a cruxy section that may or may not be skiable. And since there’s only one way to know for sure, Jon and I headed out there on Friday to have a look….

We made our way to the snow and proceeded on to the base of the north face. We were hoping to be able to see up the chute from below, but no such luck. It goes around a corner at the top, and was hidden from view.

So up we went:

The shadows started creeping their way over us:

Around the corner we found a small slot through the rocks with just enough snow to get through.

Jon doesn’t NEED the stepladder. But it sure would have been nice to have it:

The final push to the ridge:

Back into the sun, with Split and Birch in the background:

Views from the summit:

Now it’s time to ski:

And walk over rocks:

And back to skiing:

Views from 4/9/10:
Humphreys:

Lamarck and Darwin:

Goethe:

Sabrina Basin:

Emerson:

Merriam, Royce, Feather, Hilgaard, Gabb:

Peaklet:

On Friday we headed out towards Mt Emerson, via the base of Bishop Bowl.

Scott on the approach:

Jason below the Piute Crags:

Since I had been up there before, I opted to climb the southeast face of Locke/13,112′ and take pictures from across the canyon.
At the top of the Checkered Demon I stopped to take a picture. The entrance looks like windboard, and is a little intimidating.

Across the canyon, Ryan drops in:

Jason exits into the sun:

From there we climbed up the back of Bishop Bowl for a bonus run back to the car.

Looking back at the southeast side of Mt Lock and 13,112′:

Mt Powell and the Sabrina Basin looking good in the background:

They have begun plowing the road to Sabrina, though the gate is still locked. We could only see as far as the turnoff to North Lake, and it was clear to that point. Not sure how much farther has been cleared. So it’s probably not the best time to head into the Sabrina Basin, since you will be walking quite a bit on pavement to and from the the lake.

On Saturday I headed down to Lone Pine and up Thor Peak, which is the open face on the left:

The Whitney Portal Road is clear to the first big switchback, somewhere around 7000 feet. A large wet slide has covered the road above that, so it will be a long time before you’ll be able to drive much higher than that. Above that point there is a little bit of snow, and then about 1 mile of dry pavement before the snow starts up again.
If you’re heading out towards Whitney, be prepared for a little bit of walking. And also be prepared for a LOT of tracks. I counted 35 cars parked along the road.
My main intention for going up Thor was to get a look at the north couloir on Mt Muir, which isn’t quite filled in this year:

And the view from the summit:

The upper slope was holding a little bit of powder and windboard. Lower down was nice corn, and even some slush below 9000 feet.

Friday’s weather started out great, and then went downhill very quickly….

Lunch on the Palisade Glacier. The ice is covered in both the U and V, and the bergshrunds are manageable at the moment

We climbed the U Notch, and couldn’t really see the weather coming in. The next thing we knew we were in a cloud:

On Sunday I returned, this time to the South Fork Drainage. The few inches of snow from Friday night refreshed everything, and conditions are excellent right now!

Norman Clyde looks great! I’m going to be locked in my cage until Thursday, but I hope SOMEBODY gets out and does this asap:

Here’s a few shots from the last few days:
Tinemaha:

Tinemaha:

Cardinal:

Split:

Tinemaha:

Lone Pine Peak:

Sabrina Basin: