April 12, 2006, Granite West

I thrashed up to 4400' feet on snowshoes yesterday in rain/snow.  No turns due to wrist injury so I will keep this brief.  I did a direct north, fall-line ascent starting from the 4th switchback after crossing the major creek on the Talapus lake trail that descends between Granite and Granite West.  Just keep the creek about 100 yards to the east and go straight up the hillside in the trees.  I hit continuous, likely skiable snow about 30 minutes above the trail.  The snow at 4400' was atrocious, a bottomless pile of soft, heavy whip that I was having trouble with even on snowshoes.  I want to go back in corn conditions because the snow level is decently low, its a short drive, and the meadowy areas starting at 4000' or so had nice contours and lines.