Skiing Turnagain Pass

 Monday and Tuesday I ski toured in the Turnagain Pass area. The terrain is amazing, there was a huge amount of snow, and the weather was perfect.

 The first day I set out for a short tour to get a feel for the terrain and the conditions. I did a short climb up towards Tincan, then another up onto Center Ridge.

 Sunburst is the ridge on the right with Center Ridge left.

Looking down valley on the approach to Tincan. The snow surface was incredibly smooth.

I thought I could perhaps ski a south facing slope off of Tincan then head up the north side of Center Ridge. Nope! Tincan Creek gorge stopped the traffic.

So I skied almost all the way back to the parking lot and headed up Center Ridge where I took a nice run down this very gentle north facing slope.

Then back to the top to enjoy the expansive views. Kickstep Mountain left of center.

The surface was so smooth that just the slightest bit of melting made for ideal skiing.

Tuesday I decided to tour further back into the terrain I had eyed Monday. First I had to cross this bridge which wasn't too scary but got my attention. No fall zone!

I toured up and over Center Ridge into the upper Tincan Creek drainage. Kickstep Mountain left and Tincan Mountain center back.

It is shedding season here on south facing slopes.

I headed up into this beautiful little cirque below Kickstep.

Fine scenery looking back down canyon too.

Fascinating wind sculpture at the toe of the glacier.

I was pleased to find settled powder on these north facing slopes.

 

Fun, mostly low angle turns first on the shallow powder, then on delightful corn.

What a day! Would've liked to explore some steeper terrain, but being solo I kept it real mellow. No regrets though.
 

Arriving in Anchorage

 I have some catching up to do! Mary and I arrived in Anchorage late Saturday for skiing and sightseeing. Sunday we provisioned up and poked around near town.

 We went for a great little hike along the shoreline out near the airport.

Vast mudflats with chunks of ice everywhere.

Next we drove up Turnagain Arm, a long narrow inlet off of the larger Cook Inlet.

The waters were tranquil when we arrived.

The bore tide soon arrived and quickly the inlet turned into a raging torrent. An amazing sight!

We drove about ten miles further up the inlet where it took nearly an hour for the bore tide to arrive. Ocean and Mountains!

We met a pair of marine mammal biologists here looking for Beluga whales. The whales follow the bore tide hunting and foraging for food.

Sure enough the biologists sighted the whales about a half hour after the tidal wave rolled through. We had good binoculars with us, so we got several decent glimpses. A true thrill!
 

 

 

The Seesaw Continues

 The weather here continues its seesaw between winter and late spring. Last week saw near record heat, but Monday a cold front barrelled through dropping 5+" of snow and lowering the high elevation temps to near zero.

 Yesterday morning I was greeted by crisp air, plenty of sun, and only light wind. Honestly, the cold temps felt good.

Back to the Mammoth Lakes Basin. It's where the most snow accumulates during these small storms and the coverage is still quite good.

Took a real nice run on this slope.

My tracks on the left viewed while skinning back up.

Then took another great run in the open bowls and glades east of TJ Bowl proper. A little sloughing in the steep, playful terrain above TJ Lake.

Today I headed back up hoping for more of the same. Lake Mary and Mammoth Mountain.

I got more, but not exactly the same. High winds last night had moved a lot of snow. Yesterday's skin track besides rough, icy crust that had been exposed by the wind.

Still pretty darn good in here though. My tracks left.

One and done today. Found a bit more nice skiing lower near Lake Mary Ridge, but had to watch my aspect as a sun crust had developed on solar aspects.

Pretty nice couple of days in the high country. What's next?
 

Old Man's Bowl/Mono Jim Peak

 Yesterday the winds were a blowing over the high terrain, so I chose a tour that would be somewhat protected - at least for the most part. I was able to drive up the Tobacco Flat road clear to the gully on the east side of the peak known as Mono Jim (or Mini Morrison).

 The drive up offered up swell scenery. Tobacco Flat.

 

Convict Lake

The approach gully was nicely filled in only a few feet from the parking spot. The gully opens up about a half mile above.

Quickly I found myself at the mouth of Old Man's Bowl.

Easy skinning, then a couple of minutes of hiking brought me to the top of the bowl with this view of the stunning north face of Mt Morrison.

I was a bit early for ideal skiing, so I had time to hike out to the summit of Mono Jim Peak (right).

Views of Bloody Mtn (left) and Laurel Mtn (center) with the Pinner and mini Pinner couloirs.

The winds were indeed howling on the summit where it was difficult to stand without leaning on the ski poles. Snapped a couple photos and skedaddled. Looking down to Convict Lake.

The snow in the bowl had softened nicely. A little too bumpy to be called perfect corn, but still skied  really well.

Solid fun down here in the approach gully too.

Short but super sweet!
 

Mammoth Lakes Basin

Yesterday I elected to go for a mellow tour in the Mammoth Lakes Basin. I went to bed the night before with lofty ideas, but woke up feeling more in the mood for something less committing. 

 The firm spring surfaces made for fast, efficient travel. Soon I was at Emerald Lake. Already melting out.

For whatever reason I am drawn to this part of the basin. Blue Crag.

Views northwest from the col at the head of Coldwater Creek.

I dropped off the col (left) and up into this bowl. The smooth surface was still uncooked and produced roller balls, but the rest skied well.

Decent skiing down to Skelton Lake, but the exit was a bit "messy" with a mix of supportable corn, mush, and bottomless isothermal funk.

 Gorgeous day out in the basin. Darn warm!

Batch Plant Bowls

 Spent the last two days doing quick tours in the Batch Plant Bowls - so named because there is a concrete batch plant near the foot of the bowls.

 Ok, so this wasn't real inviting and to be honest, I seriously considered moving on to another locale. Glad I didn't! It was a pretty easy 20+ minute walk to the snow mostly on a closed 4wd drive.

Continuous, mostly supportable snow led to this run. High winds had blown a little snow and dirt into the right edge. Looks funky, but provided a nice smooth surface for skiing.

View from my high point. The sewage effluent ponds are on the left, batch plant center, airport right.

Despite the clouds, there was enough intermittent sun to soften the snow nicely.

Fun skiing was had top to bottom. Good to the last drop!

I had such a good time yesterday I went back again today. Yesterday I skied the shady line right of center and today I skied the next line right of that.

Looking northeast to Crowley Lake and the White Mountains.

Today I managed to top out and very much enjoyed the big views. Mt Morrison and Morrison Col.

Looking up Convict Creek to Red Slate Mountain.

The upper reaches of the run skied really well.

 Got a little heavy and sticky midway down, then improved again in the little snow tongue.

It's easy to drive by this zone, glance up, and dismiss the runs, but the terrain is bigger and more attractive than it looks from the highway. Hitting it a little earlier in the season when the dry hiking is shorter would be ideal, but I'm not complaining!