TJ Bowl

 With Mammoth Mountain reporting 3" to 4" of new snow I figured I'd check out the Mammoth Lakes Basin hoping to find some powder skiing.

I started early just in case the sun came out and started wrecking conditions. It proved unnecessary, but it sure was pretty and quiet.

Lake Mary and the eastern Mammoth Crest

 The sun peeked out a few times, but for the most part it stayed cloudy all day. Crystal Crag. Tracks on the open slopes below. Folks had been out in force the day before.

TJ Bowl over TJ Lake. I took two runs in the trees upper left and the last run down the left side of the bowl.

Another shot of Crystal Crag over TJ Lake.

 It was a legitimate winter day with temps at treeline staying in the high teens all morning along with a brisk north wind.

Happily I found 6" to 8" of  fairly light snow up here. The lower angle runs in the trees (right in photo) provided terrific skiing. On the steeper pitches in TJ Bowl I hit the old crust beneath, but it still skied pretty darn well.

Last gasp for old man winter? Who knows, but I sure did enjoy it!

White Fang Zone

Yesterday I got out relatively early to go ski in Rock Creek only to find the gate still closed at East Fork (apparently opened later in the day), so I came up with Plan B, driving up Tobacco Flat.

 

The road was in good shape with one short 4x4 section and took me all the way to the approach gully beneath mini Morrison. On snow just a few yards from the truck. Cool!

 

Although filled with lumpy avy debris, the snow was continuous clear up to the mouth of Old Man's Bowl....

which itself was not at all inviting. Solar aspects burned off and the remainder highly textured.

So I kept heading up the drainage. The Hippy Chutes were also fairly well textured except for the biggest/middle which looked smooth with windboard and/or recent windblown snow.

Kept heading up the valley. East Face of Mt Morrison is pretty well burned out.

Snow sculpt and White Fang

It's been a while since I've been back in this zone. Click here. Love the scenery.

Honestly, there aren't any real good skiable lines left back here except the Hippy Chutes, but I made the most of it by skinning up to the base of White Fang and skiing the slope just left of the rocky rib center. 

Found real nice snow there.

Once again it was crucial to find the slightly solar aspects where the snow was smooth and soft.

Lower down the lumpy snow had softened. I wouldn't call it fantastic skiing, but enjoyable enough right to the truck.

Bonus view on the drive out!

 Nice day for sure!

 

 

 

Treasure Bowls

 After a great ski tour on Saturday I was eager to get back in the mountains, so yesterday I again headed up above South Lake. This time up to the Treasure Bowls (center in photo).

 Solar aspects are corning up, some north aspects hold smooth windboard and/or wintery snow. but many aspects are covered with "penitentes", 2" to 6" fin like features caused by melting from the sun. Frozen they provide poor skiing.  Melted they ski a little better, but not nearly as good as velvety corn.

This little southeast facing drainage is transitioning to smooth corn providing fair to occasionally good skiing.

A steady south breeze kept it cool at higher elevations, so I found a little shelter and soaked in the scenery.

The "main attraction" in the Treasure Bowls area is this fine run down to the northwestern most of the Treasure Lakes chain. I found good turns on winter snow the top half, then traversed far right to find good corn snow.

Lower down I stumbled upon this interesting snow sculpture formed by warm, sticky snow rolling down a slope.

 Soon followed by a sweet Bald Eagle sighting over South Lake. Another enjoyable day in the hills!

Bishop Pass

 Yesterday was one of those days that almost didn't happen. I woke up late. Didn't have any partners much less a plan, but I eventually decided to head up to Lake Sabrina for a peek since the road crew had recently cleared the road all the way to the dam.

Lake Sabrina wasn't inviting, so I headed back over to the South Fork. The road is still closed at Parcher's, so I put on the walking shoes and pounded pavement up to the dam.

 At least the scenery is kinda nice on the way up!

This is the view from the parking area. The lake still seems safe to travel on, but it's starting to look sketchy in spots.

Patches are forming in the meadows. Vegetation is showing and will soon be greening up. Springtime!

Long Lake (far) and Spearhead Lake (near). Travel on the lakes up here is safe, efficient, and beautiful.

Mt Not Goode above the Timberline Tarns

One reason for heading up towards Bishop Pass was to scope out coverage on the south side of Mt Goode (right of center). Looks thin.

The snow surveyors cabin below the lakes. Sweet gig.

Mt Aggasiz and Bishop Pass. I headed up the broad snowfield to the right.

I was pleased to find up to 6" of new snow over smooth windboard up here.

Not exactly powder skiing but still super fun.

The clouds built slightly in the afternoon providing stunning light.

I again did the short climb to the shoulder of Mt Hurd and found good skiing down to the summer trail bridge at around 10080'. It's key to find the aspects that have gotten sun. Even a few degrees of the compass can make all the difference.

Getting patchy the last few hundred feet above the lake with a couple of dry spots. Small price for a truly memorable day. Glad I rallied.

Ski Mountaineers Peak

During my last tour I got a good look at Ski Mountaineer's Peak also known as Skier's Peak on the Thompson Ridge. I showed Rick the photos and he was game to give it a try.

Here's the best pic I had. Skiers Peak is the snowy hump center.

We met at 6:30am, walked up the road, and were on the lake a bit after 7:00am. It's still quite easy to get around/over the lake on the ice. 

We hopped over the ridge on the right sky line just in front of the sharp tooth.

Our first views of the day's objective.

We came across several ice flows. Cool patches of blue.

The Gilbert/Thompson Cirque is breathtaking.

Not the year for the Gilbert Couloir.

Not much better for the Thompson Chutes although the right one may go.

Felt great to be on a tall Sierra summit again! Rick.

 Me.

We dropped off the summit right at noon. The first few turns off the top were a little thick but the majority of the big slope provided good skiing.

The exit required several long, high traverses to avoid uphill travel mixed in with short descents on fair to occasionally good snow. 

Besides the big slope off the summit, the skiing wasn't much to rave about, but the scenery and the feeling of standing on top of a high peak were exceptional!

Chocolate Peak Circumnav

After Thursday's tour with Rick I was itching to get back up into the high country above South Lake again, so yesterday I took a mellow solo tour up and around Chocolate Peak.

Meadow skipping, granola touring, a hike with skis on - whatever you want to call it, I donned the lightweight gear and headed in.

 After the obligatory, for now, half hour walk up the road I reached South Lake with fine views.

I followed the well trodden summer trail before veering off to Lake Mary Louise enjoying pleasant and efficient travel.

Bull Lake with Mt Hurd (left) and Ski Mountaineers Peak (distant right).

Looking back to the northern reach of Thompson Ridge.

Next I meandered up into the Chocolate Lakes basin with the Inconsolable Range looming overhead.

Pleasing perspective on the beautiful north face of Mt Goode.

After a little "billy goating" through the patchy/rocky south facing slopes above Ruwau Lake I enjoyed a fun little run down to Long Lake then a short climb to the bench east of Hurd Peak.

Long Lake, Chocolate Peak and the northern Inconsolables.

Splendid granite on Hurd Peak

The Hurd Peak chutes. Not so splendid from a skiers perspective.

 From this shoulder I did manage to find some good skiing on solar aspects clear down to South Lake with only a short bouldery treed section. North aspects are mostly similar to the above pic with a wintery mix of windboard, breakable crust, and recycled powder - not inviting.

Super tour. Beautiful day. Saw no one out there. Good one.