March 21, 2006, Huckleberry Canyon,Sierra at Tahoe

The snow advisory of the previous evening forecast 6 to 10 inches of new snow overnight, so we spent the evening at the Blackwood Canyon Sno Park. Our plan was to ski the Homewood glades in the morning (Homewood is about 2 miles south of the Sno Park). We woke with high expectations that were quickly dashed when we looked out the window and saw a mere 2 inches of new snow. I started calling all of the ski reports and found that the storm had deposited 2 inches north of South Lake Tahoe and 6 to 10 inches south with chains required. New plan eat quickly and drive south to Sierra-at-Tahoe (SAT). As we approached Meyers, where chain control usually begins, the chain control people were just removing the CHAINS REQUIRED sign. We were in luck so we did not have to install our chains. We missed the first hour at SAT, but the treed terrain was still largely untracked with 6- 10 inches of new, sunny skies and temps in the 20s. We put on beacons, carried shovels and probes, and headed for the entry gates to Huckleberry Canyon. There are 5 control gates and our first run was through gate #1 which is the lowest. The terrain is wonderfully treed. We traversed skier right but you could head straight down and work left because the area is so vast. You finally reach the catch track (basically a snowmobile track) for the run back to the ski area. Gate #2 had a sign stating NOT ADVISED, not sure what that means so we passed on it. We then entered gate #3 which is very close to the summit restaurant. The entry is steep and we traversed skier right thru the cliff bands until we found a tree and rock lined chute into the bowl. Wow, there was knee deep powder to the base of the bowl. From the base you could see the entry points for gates #4 and 5. From the bowl it is a long traverse left, ski down 100 feet and finally hit the snowmobile catch track back. The traverse out is long and not worth the amount of turns through gates #3, 4 or 5 in our opinion. We found that gate #1 (and probably gate #2) provides the best terrain and number of turns with the shortest traverse out. The views north from SAT to Desolation Wilderness and Pyramid and Ralston Peaks are impressive. Zap & Jill<br><br>Huckleberry Canyon Powder<br> <br><br>A Powder Grin from Grandma Jill<br>