Schell Creek Range

 When I arrived in Ely I decided the skiing out of Duck Creek Valley would be tough owing to long approaches on snowed in roads, but I rechecked the maps last night and noticed the terrain above Snake Creek wasn't too far from the main road.

Fortunately I found a plowed road just south of Snake Creek that got me over a mile in. The tour started on gentle gladed slopes. The forest here had been chained or mowed presumably for cattle grazing.

 

A little higher I found an old road along the ridge that made for fast travel. Fortuitous since the forest was quite dense and would have been tedious to navigate without the road.

Pretty Mahogany groves. Apparently the road had not been used in some time as trees had grown over the road in several spots.

At last some fine looking ski terrain appeared.

The weather was constantly changing with everything from calm and sun to cloudy and snowing.

Up in the glades the lighting was fantastic.

The best snow was along the treeline. About of foot of nice light powder in there.

Great terrain above up to the crest of the Schell Creek Range. Someday!

It was cold and windy up here, so I ducked into the forest to transition. Fine timber.

 Poor light. Great skiing.

Last day of the trip and it was a good one!

Ely II

 The forecast called for a modest winter storm, so I planned for a short tour in treed glades right outside of town. 

Sure enough the snow began falling heavily around day break. This was the view from the hotel window. About 4" fell before turning showery mid morning.

The view up Elderberry Canyon from near the trailhead. Not nearly as impressive as our Elderberry, but pretty.

I quickly attained a ridge where the traveling seemed easiest.

After a short bit on the ridge I came to an old mining road going straight up.

As I got higher other mining roads crossed the slopes every couple hundred feet or so. Really annoying as they were steep on the high and low sides with a deep depression in between.

Here you can see the plethora of old roads.

I reached a small summit with cool views then decided to just follow the ridge back down as the glades were interrupted by the mining roads and were fairly short anyhow.

 The storm cleared rather quickly for my descent which was pretty darn fun. Kinda like skiing at a ski area with narrow trails.

 Was hoping for better skiing, but all in all a good day.

Ely Skiing

 Friday, gray day. From Ely I spied a small peak with a fine looking east facing bowl, but it was a long ways back so I decided to make a two day project of it.

The bowl left of center with the summit just above viewed from Ely.

 

The Forest Service road heading towards the peak was untracked. I had a long slog ahead of me! The peak is back above the grove of pines.

 

The road winds back to the location of the old Ward Mountain rope tow. Sweet little slopes.

Pretty, low angle glades along the way.

I skinned up to the top of this bowl where the snow became firm and the winds were blowing hard.

Had a good run in the bowl and down here in this serene terrain.

 Saturday, summit day! I got an early, cold start. Gorgeous morning.

Having the skin track in made for fast and efficient travel. I just zoned out and enjoyed my surroundings.

Yesterday's tracks left.

Up on the crest, the summit laid just beyond this treed bump.

Almost there.

Super views from the top. South to Ward Mountain, the high point of the Egan Range.

Southwest to the Pine Range.

Northeast to the Schell Creek Range and the town of Ely.

Southeast to the Snake Range with Wheeler Peak.

Time to ski!

Real fun run.

Great to see how much more snow is here. This year.

Last year.

 The great snowpack is a blessing and a curse. There's a lot of great ski options close to town, but the higher terrain requires very long approaches. A snowmobile would be most handy - or make it a two day project!

Cave Lake Park Skiing

 With high pressure rolling in and a lot of wind wrecked snow in the Sierra I headed out to Ely, Nevada looking for good powder skiing.

 Just 25 minutes outside of Ely is Cave Lake State Park. The park is far from the big peaks of the Schell Creek Range, but holds a lot of easily accessible glades.

As is often the case the stream crossing was the crux of the day. Almost got the skis wet here!

Lots of nice little glades on the skin up.

My destination was this nice long run. Looking down.

Looking up. This one skied quite well.

Got up to a small summit with real fine views. Looking across Spring Valley to the Snake Range with Wheeler Peak (Great Basin National Park) left.

The summit and the run from below.

Last fall I rode by and noted this peak. Thought it might be a good ski. It was!

 

Today I went back up. Nice to have a skin track in.

My first run was off the top to the northwest.

A little thin the first few turns, but good fun after that.

The view back from afar.

I still had a little energy left, so I went up and took another run in the shade to the left. Another good one. The exit through the little glades was pretty sweet too.

Total solitude, perfect weather, real nice snow. Yay!