A Trip to the Eastern Sierra

 Catching up. Again!

Early February I took a trip back to Bishop. Skiing! 

 First up was a tour in the South Fork of Bishop Creek. Most popular zones had been skied pretty heavily, but I seldom see tracks up in this place.

 After some slow, difficult skinning down low in thin, hollow facets, the trailbreaking improved here.

The views opened up as I got higher.

Someone else's tracks! Still lots of room for me though

These glades skied especially well

Love this zone!

 Next up was a tour with my buddy Chris. Also up the South Fork, but this time on the west side of the canyon. This area was more wind and sun affected, but travel was relatively easy.

Looking over to the Green Lake/Brown Lake region. Cloudripper Peak on the right.

 Good skiing in protected areas.

Some quality bushwhacking too!

We had a lot of laughs! 

The weather warmed while I was there, so by the end of the trip I decided to look for corn on south aspects. The backside of Mammoth Mountain was my choice. 

A good choice too! I found fun skiing here. Old tracks here and there, but largely avoidable.

 

I also skied lifts. Two days at June and one at Mammoth (here). 

 

Nice to see a healthy snowpack here. Skiing!!

Berry Creek Camp and Ski

 This week I packed up my truck camper for a couple of days skiing up Berry Creek. This area is not out of the question as a day trip from Ely, but doing the drive two days in a row would seem tedious. Plus it was a good trial run for bigger/longer trips in the future.

 I chose to ski a line I had done previously on my first ski trip out to Ely in 2022. click here. First I skinned up a beautiful, shady trail/road next to the creek. Thin though with lots of fallen trees to cross.

After a bit the views open now and then.

The skinning was not easy in the bottom part of the drainage.

Eventually the terrain opens up.

On my last visit I slogged up the headwall and while the views were great up there, it seemed like a lot of work for only a few extra turns. This trip I spied some pleasant glades leading up to a ridge looker's left.

As I gained the ridge this old giant greeted me. 

The skiing through the forest was fantastic - as it was below in this low angle meadow.

Afternoon views from camp. 

That night I weighted my options and decided to use my skin track and check out a nice couloir that descended from the ridge I attained.

Full disclosure. Not all of the skiing was peaches and cream. Exiting the drainage was full on jungle skiing on poor coverage. Ski carefully! 

Higher up, though, was pure bliss. Yesterday's handiwork with a glimpse of the glades upper right.

In the wide opening beneath the glades were a series of bare rock patches. Puzzling. The snow was a good two feet deep around them. Certainly didn't seem wind scoured. They weren't springs. The rocks were dry. Stumped!

Conveniently, there was a good, safe entrance to the couloir from yesterday's high point. The upper section was fairly steep with a choke below, but once through that, it opened up and eased off. I could relax and take a few photos!

South Schell Peak

 

The view back up.

Zoomed in.

 The choke was indeed spicy requiring some careful billgoating, but the skiing was very nice above and below it. As a bonus, the exit did not require any jungle skiing and was pleasant all the way to the trail.

Good times for sure! 

Ski Season Begins!

 Here in Ely we didn't get that "big dump" like the Sierra did which instantly started their season. Instead we got a series of small storms. Each adding inches. Until, finally, there was enough to ski. 

 Below 9000' there's only a few inches on the ground, so the approaches can be unpleasant, the exits downright dangerous. Higher it's still low tide, but the snow is good and the scenery is your typical winter beauty.

Last week the temperatures were cold. Perfect for hoar development along the creek. Winter beauty for sure! 

For the first tour of the season I headed into the Schell Creek Range and opted for mellow, open slopes.

It was cold. Snow was good. Morale high.

Coverage was decent. Better high up. Down here I hit bushes, branches, and one rock. 

Darn happy to be on skis, in the mountains!

 

I took a day off, then went back to the same drainage. Last year I "discovered" the Aspens there. A magical zone with fun skiing. Figured it was time for another visit.

The skiing was phenomenal in here. Lighter and deeper than my first tour.

Looking up canyon. More terrific ski terrain!

This one's taken from my high point at 10600'. A touch wind affected here and there, but easy to read.

 Glorious! Bumped wood pretty often, so had to keep the speed down, but that hardly dampened the joy.

 

Red Hills, Nevada

 The Red Hills is a small range in central Nevada nestled among the much larger and well known Snake and Schell Creek ranges. It's a short drive from Ely (my home), remote, with lots of good riding and hiking options. Pefect!

 I drove out, set camp, and went for a short afternoon exploratory ride. Looking down Spring Valley with the Snake Range on the left. Mt Wheeler distant.

 I rode to the top of a shallow pass and was rewarded with this view north into Antelope Valley with the Antelope Range left.

I followed the spin with a meal and a short sunset stroll. Snake Range

Red Hills

I awoke the next morning to cold temperatures and wispy high clouds. I got out early and quickly spied a wild horse. The first of several I would see during this trip.

The Schell Creek Range

The Red Hills

Spring Valley

The Schell Creek Range

I regrouped at camp and let it warm up before setting out to explore the east side of the Red Hills on bike. The Kern Range.

I visited some mining ruins. Lead and Silver were the primary products.

Another view of the Kern Range

A view to the northwest into Antelope Valley with the Antelope Range behind.

An isolated peak. Huge boulders have toppled from its summit!

I came across this spring, or perhaps, a well on the way back to camp. Amazing in the midst of this dry landscape!

Hiking day! Some of the Juniper have a lot of character.

Visited more mining ruins near the crest of the range. A mine shaft next to a collapsed cabin.

Another shaft.

A short hike from the ruins brought me to the high point of the range. Views!

Looking back at the summit with an old mine claim post.

Some shafts had warning signs posted at their entrance. Most did not.

Hiking back to camp I noticed footprints heading over to a wash, so I figured I'd follow them. Found this scene.

When I got home I did a little research and found out Juniper bark is thought to be medicinal, even a potential cancer cure. Maybe that's what they were up to? Long ways to go to get it!

 

Interesting end to an incredible trip! I love this landscape!!