TR: Monitor Pass on 3/16 and 3/17/14

Since Monitor Pass recently opened I had to head up for some skiing. Mrs. Vets did a recon mission on Friday with our dogs Penny and Makisha. She reported that there were some skiable patches available. With an extra early opening of Monitor Pass, I seized the opportunity to start patchskiing season.

On Sunday after skiing at Kirkwood, I took the long way home and drove through Markleeville and then up to Monitor Pass to meet up with Mrs. Vets and our dogs Penny and Makisha.

Penny encourages me to strap my skis on my pack:
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG6400cr.jpg

Makisha waiting for me to start skiing:
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG6402c.jpg

Me and my shadow:
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG6404c.jpg

Penny and Makisha provide a double dog escort:
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG6406c.jpg

...further down...
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG6408c.jpg

After skiing this patch we got a view of a ridge below the Leviathan Peak Fire Lookout. This meant that there would be a return trip the next day, Monday , for a dusk patrol ski trip.
More on that soon...

Dusk Patrol on 3/17.

Looking down from the Leviathan Peak Fire Lookout...
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG6410c.jpg
...and looking up...
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG6412c.jpg

Makisha and Penny follow:
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG6416c.jpg

... further down...
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG6428cr.jpg

before...
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG6431c.jpg
...and after...
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG6435cr.jpg
...Penny...
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG6440cr.jpg

While not optimal, it was doable and enjoyable.

Vets I hate to think what your going to be skiing on this September.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dhelihiker

Vets I hate to think what your going to be skiing on this September.

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The andes

Hi vets, I left a phone message on what I think is your number. Pls call, I want to take my fiancé to monitor tomorrow and would like some beta.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by harpo-the-skier

Hi vets, I left a phone message on what I think is your number. Pls call, I want to take my fiancé to monitor tomorrow and would like some beta.

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Drive to the top of Monitor, look for a small patch of snow and hike to it :wink:

You should pack your road bike with ya and have her meet you at the bottom after your hike!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by harpo-the-skier

Hi vets, I left a phone message on what I think is your number. Pls call, I want to take my fiancé to monitor tomorrow and would like some beta.

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Happy to provide beta.
There is access from the dirt road up to the Leviathan Peak Fire Lookout.
Hope that you have fun and that the snow isn't too funky.

Thanks for the beta vets, Kate and I had a blast!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by harpo-the-skier

Thanks for the beta vets, Kate and I had a blast!

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Glad to hear it, did you also ski?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by hutash

Glad to hear it, did you also ski?

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Indeed. Kate was having some doubts while hiking up the dry south side but everything made sense once we hit the snowfield on the north side of the lookout. Nice mellow day to take time to smell the roses and play with gear. Much mellower than the SE face of EB last week. Kate learned the falling leaf in the bushes down low. We traversed back to within 200? yards of the car. I will try to post pics after I get them from Kate.

Edit: at 2pm snow was soft and fun but not really corn.