Nov 4, '06 -- Sierra Nevada, CA/NV (Tahoe area)
11/15/06
US elsewhere
2351
1
This report is from the Mt Rose area between Tahoe and Reno, NV.
The Mt. Rose Highway is the highest year-round Sierra Pass (at 8,900'), hence we have a better chance of getting the white stuff first. I drove up Fri. pm and measured 3". I figured I could get some walking in, on my rando set-up the next morning. Conditions were X-country-able as it froze good that night.
There is a little knoll, setback behind the walking/hiking trails. I went there after a few laps of striding. As I reached the knoll I could see some tracks (turns) and I was amazed. It looked like the turns were done on skinnies. I checked out the knoll a little more and found the best spot wasn't touched. I had skins in my fanny-pack but I just shouldered my boards up and proceeded to start a new season. I got about 12 - 14 turns on the minimal snowpack. I almost had to pinch myself. I did about 4 or 5 more laps. I put the skins on and did a short jaunt -- I was able to go straight up as the pitch was very mellow. The granite sand knoll with the 3" of bonded snow were the ingredients for a shallow-pack of turns.
I would have called this a trip report but this is basically my backyard above South Reno.
I would highly recommend for you Pac-Norwesters to come down to the Mammoth area in May/June to sample the corn snow. A good reference book is John Moynier's Back-country skiing the High Sierra (by Falcon Guidebooks). PS- Mammoth Mtn is always open through May.
- Happy Trails
The Mt. Rose Highway is the highest year-round Sierra Pass (at 8,900'), hence we have a better chance of getting the white stuff first. I drove up Fri. pm and measured 3". I figured I could get some walking in, on my rando set-up the next morning. Conditions were X-country-able as it froze good that night.
There is a little knoll, setback behind the walking/hiking trails. I went there after a few laps of striding. As I reached the knoll I could see some tracks (turns) and I was amazed. It looked like the turns were done on skinnies. I checked out the knoll a little more and found the best spot wasn't touched. I had skins in my fanny-pack but I just shouldered my boards up and proceeded to start a new season. I got about 12 - 14 turns on the minimal snowpack. I almost had to pinch myself. I did about 4 or 5 more laps. I put the skins on and did a short jaunt -- I was able to go straight up as the pitch was very mellow. The granite sand knoll with the 3" of bonded snow were the ingredients for a shallow-pack of turns.
I would have called this a trip report but this is basically my backyard above South Reno.
I would highly recommend for you Pac-Norwesters to come down to the Mammoth area in May/June to sample the corn snow. A good reference book is John Moynier's Back-country skiing the High Sierra (by Falcon Guidebooks). PS- Mammoth Mtn is always open through May.
- Happy Trails
Nice to know there's some snow falling somewhere while we get deluged with rain up here in the PNW.
Having spent some time living down in California, I remember the spring corn quite well and try to make a point of getting down there at least once a year in the spring for an extended tour of some type. Last year, it was a circumnavigation of Whitney and the year before a great trip through the Palisades. It really is a great place to explore with great extended touring options throughout the range.
Here's a link to my friend's TR from last year's trip to help pass the time with all bad weather right now: http://homepage.mac.com/markchin1/whitneymay06prologue.html
Having spent some time living down in California, I remember the spring corn quite well and try to make a point of getting down there at least once a year in the spring for an extended tour of some type. Last year, it was a circumnavigation of Whitney and the year before a great trip through the Palisades. It really is a great place to explore with great extended touring options throughout the range.
Here's a link to my friend's TR from last year's trip to help pass the time with all bad weather right now: http://homepage.mac.com/markchin1/whitneymay06prologue.html
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