FWIW on Saturday afternoon we drove up to glacier lodge road and ran into a guy just coming out at 4:15pm or so who said he had just skied one of the Kid N chutes and it was 4K’ of perfect corn. He didn’t give off the vibe of exaggerating.
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FWIW on Saturday afternoon we drove up to glacier lodge road and ran into a guy just coming out at 4:15pm or so who said he had just skied one of the Kid N chutes and it was 4K’ of perfect corn. He didn’t give off the vibe of exaggerating.
Rode there today. Almost 4k' run as well, top is all rock. First 1k' was pretty rippy new snow, between dust on crust and pow. Then another 500-1000' of dust on crust and corn after that. Bottom is getting pretty bad though, snow is getting brown. Think I'm going to head down south for more consistent snow.Quote:
Originally Posted by jorion
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Edit: this is actually crater crest, completely different area but they look the same on a topo map
Driving back south, I think Warren/Warren Fin had the best looking fresh snow. Something to keep in mind for Sunday if the random front tomorrow drops decent snow. (Lundy would be your best bet? I don't think you can see Gilcrest from 395 driving south, maybe hankey can help me out with conditions spotting here).
Going to be up at Red Mountain tomorrow trying to get the east facing corn lap around 11/noon. Look for a splitboarder with orange atomica backlands(hardboot) if you want to find me.
Red is no good(from Rock Creek)
Glacier lodge is open to the end. Could ski from south fork all the way down to the bridge at the day lot as of yesterday on continuous snow (well, maybe one little gingerly step across some dirt). Damn there is so much snow back in Kings Canyon NP this year. It looks like Greenland -- just granite spires sticking out of the snow and ice as far as the eye can see.
Virginia lakes gate was open and looked plowed when I drove by yesterday.
For those of you in the area this week, Dave Nettle will be giving a presentation on backcountry skiing then and now at my bar in June Lake on Wednesday at 7:30pm. Dave is a total bad ass, a funny storyteller and has been ski touring since most of us have been in diapers.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dave-ne...s-629659136427
Heh, I saw you on this day. I was in the party of 4 that went around the corner and climbed The End. We topped out just in time to watch you make your final turns down the gully. We all admired your tracks when we came back around the corner and climbed the gully you skied, to then ski another one of the gullies further North along the ridgeline.Quote:
Originally Posted by whatsupdoc
Nice! Sounds like a great day. Better than our 1 and done day.Quote:
Originally Posted by thefrush
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Skinned to the top of Excelsior on Sunday from the end of the plowing in Lundy. About a mile of pavement walking each way. Found winter snow in the NE shot off the top, and corn thinly overlaid with pow on the E shot downstream of Burro Lake. The area near the waterfall where you climb north out of Lundy didn’t have many days of coverage left, and Lundy will get progressively more melted out, but a great day nonetheless.
I think I saw your party that morning, I rode Gilcrest(top 1000' was good pow, then it was dust on crust/avvy debris that didn't soften on north facing). I was expecting a bit bettter conditions after scoring good pow to corn north facing transition on Friday in Twin Lakes :/Quote:
Originally Posted by ShakeMeUp
Saturday got blown off Dana plateau. Skinning from the power plant.
Sunday enjoyed corn on basin e couloir. Buttermilk Road is in the same condition. Can park and camp at the bathrooms (we did) or do the unsanctioned drive around the mud bog to get another mile up the road (we didn’t).
Monday went to check out Gibbs but didn’t want to get blown off yet another peak. The road goes basically to the aspen grove. Instead we settled for perfect corn on McGee - skinning from the road.
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Love the moon set shot!
Did the East facing couloirs on Dana plateau looked in good shape?
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Well I assume they are fatter than they have ever been. I couldn’t see them until we were back on 120 and took this shot:Quote:
Originally Posted by rod9301
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Whitney Portal Rd is open FYI
https://www.inyocounty.us/sites/defa...%205.10.23.pdf
On 5/9 I camped at 10,800' below Norman Clyde Couloir with partner Colin. That night, at high elevations, about 6" fell after we got to camp. We woke up and proceeded to climb/ski the Couloir and enjoy some afternoon laps the lower flanks before exiting back to Glacier Lodge TH. Amazing cap to an incredible season.
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"Clyde Camp" at 10,800'
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The view looking deeper West into the range from the top of the ski line.
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awesomeQuote:
Originally Posted by ThisAintCheckerz
Skied Ripper today on excellent conditions, and was able to skin 5 minutes from the bridge.
And Mt Dana is looking greathttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...d9913722d3.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...71bcffc1de.jpg
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Nice work! Could you drive all that way or did you have to bike?
Does anyone have recent beta on Virginia lakes / Dunderberg access?
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I started at the bridge, and skinned v bowl, then all the way to the ripper apron, then an easy boot pack to the top.
The last 10 feet were STEEP.
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And yes, to can drive to the bridge.
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Ime the easiest way to get to the plateau is almost always to use the well established booter in coke chute and then a short walk/ski over to your line of choice, just fyi
Yep, true. But it is more fun to climb a steep couloir.
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Copied from someone else on facebookQuote:
Originally Posted by GKWood
Quote:
FYI for the folks that were asking about Virginia lakes road conditions: It’s gonna be a while.From what I saw first hand today 5/12 (see pic), nothing up high is plowed, and according to folks I met that came from that side, they are still at the first turn from the winter closure near 395.
For those willing to get a little earlier start, multiple access from Lundy to Virginia still go (the low angle gully near the dam, and the Southpeak chute on the W. end of the dam. You lose about 300ft dropping back to virginia, but the skiing is good from V down to Lundy. Might not be the typical kegs in the parking lot vlakes experience, but a good option to skin from the car and hit direct south (if we get a freeze).Lundy road is fully plowed both lanes to the W end, but for some reason is still gated at the dam (as of 5/12). Still 2+ft of snow at the bathrooms/parking at lundy.
Best snow still is on direct S and SE. Northerly still hasn’t fully transitioned, but there is no more dry snow at least. Corn window today was ~10-2pm, but it’s gonna be warmer on the weekend.
Lundy lovelinessAttachment 458892
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I hit the main south east face of Dunderberg today. Was good. but obviously a (easy) slog in given the road is closed maybe .5 miles from 395. I rode down from the summit around 1230 and that was probably the end of the good window. There was an east wind that kept it from warming up too too quickly. I randomly got picked up by the snowcat on the road on the way back which was much appreciated.
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FKNA looks nice.Quote:
Originally Posted by enlosandes
Great stoke in here all.
Nice!! This looks like a lot harder climbing than a few weeks ago and way more fun skiing!Quote:
Originally Posted by ThisAintCheckerz
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Friday went in to ski Gibbs east face with a friend and then went back up solo for the north couloir. Had my friend pick me up on Poole power plant road for a really fun little point to point. After scoping the north couloir last year from kidney, I’ve had it in my mind ever since. It did NOT disappoint. 2-3” of wintery snow and beautiful views. No one around and dead calm air gave it a very pristine, peaceful feel. Very grateful for this day. Parked at the end of the road for Gibbs with a little bit of an uphill mud rampage. Skied to within a half mile of the bridge below v bowl with a little bit of dirt skimming.
Saturday skied the east face of Tinemaha. Wow, what a cool peak with incredible skiing. We were a little worried it was getting too warm but was basically perfect corn from the summit at 12,500 to around 9200 where it turned to complete mush - but still fun. Took a lifted 4wd jeep and a skilled operator to get to the TH. Otherwise you’re walking from a big mud bog at birch creek.
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Fuckin’ A enginerd!
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What's the couloir that shows between the two skis?
Looks enticing.
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^Split kook!
Hey all - I am looking to tap into the collective wisdom of those that are experienced in this area. I have never ski toured in the Sierras, but have wanted to for quite some time. I have plans to go out this weekend, but it looks like it's going to be HOT! At the levels of the forecasted heat (15-20 degrees above avg. for this time of year) are the touring options pretty much done due to lack of decent overnight freeze - or are there still options - just higher up? Any thoughts, suggestions - appreciated.
Thanks!
Do it.
You can actually get pretty good corn snow even if it doesn't dip below freezing overnight. The high elevation plus radiative cooling mean that if you have clear skies and temps even in the high thirties you can get enough of an overnight reset to ski well. This won't work in treed areas, tighter couloirs, or if there are clouds overnight. Aim for wide open faces and pay attention to the overnight cloud cover. Even more so than normal plan to start early and end early. Big Pine/Glacier lodge probably has the best current high elevation access although the areas mammoth and north seem to have a lower chance of precip for next weekend at the moment. Lots of options to choose from.
The point forecast function on the NOAA website is helpful as it lists the elevation the forecast is for. The hourly graph also shows cloud cover. https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClic...ite=all&smap=1
Also Sierra is plural so "Sierras" is a frowned upon.
Thanks! - esp for the pro tip de las sierra!
I’d add that:Quote:
Originally Posted by jsnowut
1- you want to be early not late, for safety reasons and so you don’t completely trash whatever you’re skiing for the next group
2- I notice folks from other mtn ranges don’t fully appreciate the heat we can have here. Stay hydrated and protected from the sun.
3- I’d avoid anything with hangfire above you, expect isothermic slop below 10k at least maybe higher, and did I mention you want to be early not late?
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This^^
Quote:
Originally Posted by jrf
Thanks all for the feedback and info. It kind of confirmed my suspicions. And I'm a crusty old fuck about not skiing corn late.
While there are always benefits in going, i'll probably hang and shoot for a window where it's a bit easier to hit the mark.
Very much appreciated! Cheers!
This was money beta, thank you!! Had a great ski up Big Pine today. Crazy how casual some folks are about starting late. Some people heading up when we were finishing, seems nuts. Done by noon was about right today.Attachment 459210Attachment 459212Attachment 459213Quote:
Originally Posted by Blaster
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