Emerald Lake Area

 I spent the last two days touring in the terrain above Emerald Lake in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. I love this area. There is almost always good skiing to be had either in the high bowls, the sheltered bowl below "Emerald Point", the trees, or the nearby alpine couloirs.

 Thursday I hooked up with my friend Patrick and we skinned up into moderate, prefrontal winds to find surprisingly good snow.

Patrick was on a splitboard. Super solid. Here he levitates into one of the small, high bowls near the col separating Coldwater Creek and Mammoth Creek.

Had to take secons run on an adjacent mini bowl. Even better than the first!

We also took two in the lower bowl beneath "Emerald Point" where the snow was more wind affected, but still a lot of fun.

Yesterday I went back up after the front passed and found 2" to 4" of light fresh snow. The morning was pure magic with the new snowfall, swirling winds, and cold fresh air.

Emerald Lake with Emerald Point left.

The crest was vivid!

Fresh skin track with Mammoth Mountain back right.

A long range view of the bowls near the col.

An easterly wind was still redistributing the light snow with small banners gracing the ridges.

The winds had loaded west facing slopes beneath the ridge causing this small avalanche.

I skied east off the col to Skelton Lake then around to the north run in Emerald Point bowl. Hit crust the upper half, but enjoyed good slightly wind packed powder lower.

Took a run westward off the col and found very good skiing on this short run.

Then back to Emerald Point bowl for a descent of the south run.

Nice skiing in there too.

 The day went from Winter to Spring in a hurry. Temps rose. The wind died. Got a fair bit of glomming on the second trip up. North facing snow stayed cold though. No rollerballs or wet slides, but I'm sure they're in abundance today (Saturday).

Looks like it's transition time. Hope that's not the last powder day of the season!