I'll admit it... I'm a crazy kook (month 45... barely)

It's been a lean snow year here in California... but some things just gotta be done...

First off, we brought the wrong car. If we had the 4x4, things would have been much easier (and this story would be shorter)...

Anyway, we needed to get our June turns in to keep our 44 month-in-a-row Sierra skiing streak going, so we headed up to Sonora Pass Saturday morning to camp at Leavitt Lake. We forgot, however, what a hell-a-va road it is to get in there. After driving 450+ miles, ripping the underbody off the Solara, and wasting a lot of time, we knew we had to rethink our plans.

As there was no visible snow left in the Sonora area, we headed back down to the 395. From there, we kept our eyes open for ANY patch of snow to accommodate our 10+ turns. We knew we could probably take the boat off of Saddlebag Lake if we needed to, but it was getting late and we needed to get this done.

Finally, as we were driving past the Virginia Lakes turn-off we spied a patch of snow that seemed to be a possibility. We decided to go for it. Once again... we had brought the wrong car, as the Tahoe could have gone up the 4x4 road, but with the Solara we were going to have to hike it.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183414656
We knew we were nearing the end of June... so, we packed up our gear quickly (it was about 4:30) and started hiking up the road... (notice how there is NO snow to be seen... :()

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183415353
About a mile in, we were feeling the weight on our backs and the heat of the sun... Have I mentioned that it was a STEEP road?

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183415456
At about a mile and 1/2 we finally spied our intended snow patch. It still looked to be miles away though...

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183415537
Hallelujah! Our Chairlift arrived!!! A wonderful man named Mike came driving up about an hour into our hike and offered to give us a lift. Bless him! :)

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183415622
My view from the chairlift!!!

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183415719
Mike offered to take us well beyond our first little snowpatch... he took us all the way to the top of the saddle at the base of Dunderberg Peak. Quite the 4x4 experience!!! Jeeps are awesome!

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183415824
The view from the saddle was breathtaking!

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183415887
Looking the other way...

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183415946
Mike dropped us off parallel to the highest snow patch... now it was just a matter of a talus slog to get to it. THANK YOU MIKE!!!

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183416053
Finally snow!!! Once we hit the snowfield, we just had to traverse over to the top... a piece of cake! (Notice the 4x4 road at the tip of Mark's skis... that lake was about 2+ miles in from our car).

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183416175
We spent a little while celebrating at the top before heading down. The sun was nearing the tops of the mountains, so we figured we'd better get a move on.

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183416441
A little suncuppy...

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183416487
But the first run was 15 turns and you can't beat the view!

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183416572
We traversed over a little and got our second set of 10+ turns...

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183416615
It was a lot bigger patch than the first one we spied... we actually got three different sets of 10+ turns on the one run (with a little traversing).

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...g?t=1183416701
The jeep ride up was both a blessing and a curse, as we had an extra mile or so to walk out... but as the sun was setting in the west, I had to think back and say "Another awesome day skiing in the Sierra!" No butt-pinching couloirs or super-steeps... but they were June turns, none-the-less. :biggrin:

We were too tired Sunday, though, to get in our July turns (if only we had the Tahoe)... but hopefully we will be back sometime in the next 29 days (and hopefully the snow lasts just a little longer)...

If any of you know of any Eastern Sierra snow stashes that stay around during drought years, I'd really appreciate a holler! Thanks!

Hope you all had a great June and I wish you a happy July!

you guys kick ass.
only maggots would be in Cali on fat skis in june, july and august.

-aaron

agreed. :) however, I'm impressed w/your streak and loved the pics. One thing is sure... that will not be happening in the Northeast...

:)

what possibly possessed you to take the Solara and not the Tahoe??? :)

nice dedication.

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Originally Posted by valleygirl

One thing is sure... that will not be happening in the Northeast...

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..actually, there is still snow in the state of N.H. There were people skiing a patch of snow up in Tuckerman Ravine a week ago. I ended my streak at 8 months by not going up there. I was dissuaded by a chance of showers in the afternoon and a vehicle w/o wipers at the moment. Nice work sandygal. No more summers for me in places w/o snow.

yeah i got turns in the ravine about 2 weeks ago, but i'm quite sure its all gone now. anyone know of anything on the EC that would hold late? possibly in the chic chocs? or a steep hill outside an ice rink?

Well played - Great Summer Stoke!!!

King Ravine off the N. of Adams on Rte. 2. maybe.

wow, that is commitment - nice work!

Saw this on another board from saturday 6/30 at Loon mt in NH.
I guess they had a man made jump.

http://photos-924.ll.facebook.com/ph...04498_4255.jpg.

This is confirmed skiing still at Tuckerman's from yesterday

Dedication, nicely done.

Is that area where you parked your car where the Marmots eat electrical wiring?

Great summer stoke it has me wondering whether or not i can make july turns this year.

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Originally Posted by BushwackerinPA

Great summer stoke it has me wondering whether or not i can make july turns this year.

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yes you can make them..its up to you. I say go for it.
http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/vi...212829fa683540

A lot of effort to get in some turns. Looks like it was worth it and your streak is holding. Can't beat that. Good luck with July! ;)

There is still some snow to be had at carson pass. it's a long but easy entry (3 miles). Easier is the patch above forestdale divide road. It's at the damn of Red Lake on the west side of Carson Pass and heads to Blue Lakes. The patch is pretty obvious as there are usually rails and such. I'm guessing there's still snow. I think I might hit it up with the 2 youngest tomorrow if the Subaru is up to it. You'd rather have the Tahoe.
It's not much, but it will get your July turns.

Asandygal, without a doubt, there is something wrong with you

800-900 miles roundtrip for a couple dozen turns to keep a streak alive - that is awesome!

(my parents don't understand me either.)

Want that!

(suncappy or not...looks like a good time)

Sprite

That's quite an effort!

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Originally Posted by samthaman

possibly in the chic chocs?

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Maybe, I heard that they can sometimes hold snow until late July but its tought to get any good beta. Also moose migration or some shit like that closes alot of the park after april.

Asandygal, Way to go get some and keep the streak going! I skied near there three years ago. The road can be brutal. Our streak numbers are tied. I'm also at 44 months. I'll keep the streak going when I get back from Philadelphia.
Keep it up.

crazy kooks?
maybe, but definitely the good kind!

Nice work on getting in your turns... we're looking at some possibilities for tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by Walter Sobchak

If the first step is admitting to being a kook, the next step is check out Kook Chute on the ridge SE of North Peak near Saddlebag Lake. I think there was a TR from a few weeks ago and I've skied it mid-September. You could also link it up with the patch above Greenstone Lake, which is closer to Saddlebag Lake. Search here and T-tips or PM me or another summer skiing CA kook for details and beta, etc. Plus if you're (un?)lucky, you might meet the Kook himself.

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I skied Kook two years ago. Walter provided great beta.
I may have been the one to post a TR a few weeks ago when I returned there with ja surf. Here is a link to the TR.
It isn't as filled in as it was two years ago. However, it doesn't get much direct sun, so hopefully it is still holding up for crazy kooks to still make some turns there.