Ruby Mountains, NV

[mattj]

I'll be in the vicinity of the Ruby Mountains in Nevada in a couple of weeks and I'm wondering if anyone here has ever done any touring there and can give me any recommendations for, well, anything really. Where to start, where to head, where to stay, any info is good info. Thanks!


-m

[StumpJumper]

Ruby Mountain Heli Skiiing operates up there, I know you want to go touring but there is good snow up there. Check it out http://www.helicopterskiing.com/

[mtnjam]

get a hold of dhm over on ttips and I'm sure he'll tour with you...

Don't know how far up Lamoille Canyon one is able to drive at this stage in the game, but if you can get up there a ways there's some good touring near Liberty Pass and Penny? Lakes...

[muted]

Go to Lamoille Canyon. Start skinning up but bring a tow rope. When snowmobilers go by, stick your thumb out. Maybe bring a 6-er for them. As you are being towed up the road, look to your right. When you see something good, stop and go for it. You will see some really big chutes up there.

If you go all the way to end of this dead-end canyon (not literally but it has an end), there are mellow powder fields, many cliffs, and big open avalanche-prone slopes. And it's where a lot of snowmachiners will be farting around, so it may be noisy there more than anywhere. So if you cut off early on the road and do some big chutes or even the powder (actually most likely to be windblown) fields below the chutes, you won't deal with snowmachiners because it's too steep for them on the right side. They are headed to the wilderness area or the 'dead end' playground more often than not.

As for conditions, you will be driving right near the heli-ski op on your way to Lamoille Canyon. I'd recommend asking them what's up with the snowpack, as they are very friendly. Snowpack there is generally sketch more often than not, so be careful.

Do a google search for 'Lamoille Canyon ski' and you'll find more specific ski info. But it's pretty easy to find stuff up in the canyon.

[mattj]

Thanks for all the amazing tips so far folks!


Do the snowmobilers generally only go on weekends or are there weekday users too?

Also, this is a longshot, but here goes. I'm trying to possible see if I can ski this chute I saw in a Powder magazine probably 10 years ago. My wife has used it to make a valentine's card way back in the day and I've never been able to shake the image out of my mind. If I scan and post it, do you guys think you might be able to recognize it and give more specific tips?

Oh yeah, one last question - what's the etiquette of touring in a heli skiing area?


-m

[muted]

There's a few weekday users snomobiling. I doubt you will run into heli-skiers, Lamoille Canyon is just one zone of many in the Rubys.

I'm guessing the chute in the pic is called 'Heart Attack' (or something similar) and is off to the right of the road. But I m talking out of my ass, definitely post it.

[flatlander420]

Cumline?

[DharmaBum]

^^^ Jeezus, is that in the Rubys? Makes me horny.

[gimpy]

i believe its called terminal cancer

[mattj]

That's definitely the one flatlander thanks!

Anyone want to join my wife and I in the rubies on either Sunday, January 6th or Monday January 7th?

Also, if anyone is able to give directions to that cumline chute I would be tremendously grateful.


-m

[Jim S]

Subscribing. Good thread.

[flatlander420]

That's definitely the one flatlander thanks!

Anyone want to join my wife and I in the rubies on either Sunday, January 6th or Monday January 7th?

Also, if anyone is able to give directions to that cumline chute I would be tremendously grateful.


-m

That thing is pretty far back in the range. You should email the guy at RMH, Joe Royer ,and see if he will cough up some info.

[jwolter7]

I can tell you where it is is, it is out the East side of the range. If you drive from Wells NV going to secret pass you will see it right above the north/south gravel road under the range near the end of road 729. The area is great, just like the Sierra's a road goes north to south right at the edge of the range. The only problem is the snowpack can be hit or miss on that side of the range. I'm about to go to bed tonight If you are really interested answer back and I will dig out my maps. of the area and tell you exactly where it is. I have pictures of it but not in digital form to post here. You might want to check out the angel lake area above Wells, if the road is open.

[powdork]

Here is another pic, that shows more of the surroundings

and here is a topo, the shot starts between the m and the a of Silliman

[jwolter7]

Wow, there is another run very similar to it on the other side of the range. I'm not making this up I also have pictures, but not in digital form.

[Bob O]

sketchy snowpack, big terrain, ballsy snowmobilers.......be careful and have fun. the rubys rock.

[mattj]

I can tell you where it is is, it is out the East side of the range. If you drive from Wells NV going to secret pass you will see it right above the north/south gravel road under the range near the end of road 729. The area is great, just like the Sierra's a road goes north to south right at the edge of the range. The only problem is the snowpack can be hit or miss on that side of the range. I'm about to go to bed tonight If you are really interested answer back and I will dig out my maps. of the area and tell you exactly where it is. I have pictures of it but not in digital form to post here. You might want to check out the angel lake area above Wells, if the road is open.

That's intriguing. We'll be driving from Vancouver to Vegas and passing right by the Rubies. By my calculations we'll be there in the middle of the day so it should be very easy to do some driving around and seeing what's visible.

Any other info you're able to dig up would be greatly appreciated. Again, we have no itinerary for this trip or this location so anything is game and nothing is mandatory. Just hoping to get to check off one of the "to do" tasks on my life's list and ski this chute.

Powdork thanks a lot for the map. It's very useful especially when compared to the photo you posted. I'm having a very hard time figuring out where on google maps that area you posted is though (I don't have google earth, and only can use the free maps online).

Well I'll do a lot more pouring over maps tomorrow at work. Thanks again for all this great info guys. Definitely a much different experience from trying to get internet directions for biking trails.


-m

[gaijin]

Wow, there is another run very similar to it on the other side of the range. I'm not making this up I also have pictures, but not in digital form.

Not to hijack this thread, but that's geography. There is a couloir in the Bridger range in MT that spans three different peaks.

I wonder if somebody would be so kind as to post a pic. IIRC, it's only a few miles north of Bridger Bowl.

[AKPogue]

That's intriguing. We'll be driving from Vancouver to Vegas and passing right by the Rubies. By my calculations we'll be there in the middle of the day so it should be very easy to do some driving around and seeing what's visible.

Any other info you're able to dig up would be greatly appreciated. Again, we have no itinerary for this trip or this location so anything is game and nothing is mandatory. Just hoping to get to check off one of the "to do" tasks on my life's list and ski this chute.

Powdork thanks a lot for the map. It's very useful especially when compared to the photo you posted. I'm having a very hard time figuring out where on google maps that area you posted is though (I don't have google earth, and only can use the free maps online).

Well I'll do a lot more pouring over maps tomorrow at work. Thanks again for all this great info guys. Definitely a much different experience from trying to get internet directions for biking trails.


-m

How come you don't have googleearth it's free?

[P_McPoser]

What kind of experience are you looking for as for where to stay? I lived in Elko for quite some time and can let you know where you want to stay. you looking for a casino? Something quiet and slightly high end? Something cheap and nice? or Ghetto?

Let me know.

[mattj]

Cheap and nice or quiet and high end would be more to our taste. We're going on this trip to ski and ski only.

Thanks for any info you can send my way.

PS Downloading google earth now...


-m

[chaka]

If you do stop by RMH for conditions info, see if Tom Carter is there... exceptionally cool and knowledgable guy, think he is still a lead guide for RMH.

[Bob O]

Elko is the shit. Go eat at The Star.....hands down some of the best home cookin I've had. basque style.

[VC]

Anybody have sled skiing experience or beta?

[davey]

Elko is the shit. Go eat at The Star.....hands down some of the best home cookin I've had. basque style.

I ate there a couple years ago, shit was really fucking good