Thread: Eastern Sierra 2011-12: The 1000" Winter

Mammoth was good today. Surprisingly the wind left some of the top untouched. There were a lot of small slides set off by patrol though, so definitely be careful on wind-loaded slopes out in the BC.

Thoughts on skiing Whitney this year?

I'm well aware that Mt. Whitney, or at least the Mountaineers Route is a mediocre ski compared to the other offerings in the area. That said, I've never been to Whitney, would like to ski it someday (because it's there), and this seems like the kind of season to hit tick-list stuff just for shits and giggles.

That said, I don't want to lug my skis up there for nothing. I assume the Mountaineers Route is at least skiable? Also, it seems like there might be some fun stuff just around Iceberg Lake. Can someone confirm?


(On another topic, every time I read the thread title--"The 1000" Winter--I feel a little sad inside.)

I looked at the mountaineers route as I drove by on 395 on Friday and it looked pretty thin up there. It looked thinner then when I climbed it last late May, and would have been pretty bad then.

Wow, it must be a bad winter if AKBruin is thinking about Mt. Whitney ...

(BTW, I feel the same about the thread title.)

Time to start thinking about those spring trips to the Trinity Alps ...

Originally Posted by CA Dept of Water Resources

Electronic readings for the central Sierra show 51 percent of the April 1 average. The number for the southern Sierra is 39 percent. The statewide number is 55 percent.
On March 1, snowpack water content was only 34 percent of the April 1 average in the northern mountain ranges, 28 percent in the central Sierra, and 29 percent in the southern Sierra. Statewide, the early March snowpack water content was 30 percent of the April 1 seasonal average.
On April 1 last year, snowpack water content readings were 173 percent of the April 1 average in the northern mountains, 161 percent in the central ranges, 155 percent in the south, and 163 percent statewide.

Originally Posted by Franz Klammer

Wow, it must be a bad winter if AKBruin is thinking about Mt. Whitney ...

(BTW, I feel the same about the thread title.)

Ha. It must be a bad winter because I've only made it down there once (Bridgeport, at that) and it sucked.

Also open to other ideas: Red Slate? Ritter? Or maybe I should just say fuck it and go back to Shasta.

Honestly you are better served going to Shasta. Snowtels in the Southern Sierra imply marginal, at best, coverage. And down low will be a lot of walking.

On the positive spin, I am excited for the alpine rock and ice season this year - Tioga should open very early (hopefully) and approaches to rock routes will be quick and provide access usually left for August. Good stuff in my mind.

1000inches hahahaha...more like 1000 pitches in the gorge! Or at least trying LOL

tell me when to go!



AK, Red Slate is probably fine in the chute with questionable connectivity to the summit. Would not recommend Whitney unless a bunch more snow falls (even then it is a 2/5 star run, this is opinion of n > 50 descents in Sierra). Roads should open soon, maybe Gilbert/Thompson? Or do a cool multiday linkup/circumnavigation of Shasta.

Anyone thinking of going to the Mammy mini and looking to tour Thurs or Fri? I'll be in Palm Springs that week with the family, and looking for some shits and giggles. Not sure it will be worth the drive just to ski and pay for two days inbounds.

On another note - is there any snow at all at Baldy. The mrs. is trying to decide if we should bring her skis. She would not join me if I traveled north.

Originally Posted by bcd

Went up Point Powell yesterday. The coverage looks decent at the higher elevations. But getting there is brutal.

The Sabrina road is still gated at Aspendell, but is almost completely snow-free all the way to the lake. Hopefully those roads start opening soon.


Four hours into the day, and we still can't even see our destination:


Six hours, and we're at the base!


Looking into the middle portion of the Sabrina basin:


Looking south:


tracks:


this is where the fun starts:


descending back to Lake Sabrina was challenging. The thin snowpack was rotten to the ground, and many of the rivers are open. Thankfully, the higher elevation lakes are still frozen.

There's another storm brewing:

Solid TR

BCD - how is coverage in N. Couloir of Gilbert? Not to ski, but I wonder when/if it will burn down to blue ice this year. Past two years I have headed back there in the summer to get on it with ice, and just find neve as it never is able to melt all the way down. I figure this will be the alpine season to do it. Mendhall as well.

We couldn't quite see Gilbert. Point Powell is one mini-drainage over from there.

But all winter I have been encountering small sections of last year's ice that is already exposed. Mainly due to the wind, but the snowpack isn't very deep. It's gonna go fast this year. And I think you're right. It's going to be a good summer for alpine ice. Hard to say when that will form, but certainly earlier than normal.

you nerds need to get FS mountain bikes



(that is a huge winky by the way!)

Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio

you nerds need to get FS mountain bikes



(that is a huge winky by the way!)

A South Lake BC Ski/White Mountain shuttle bike combo trip would be tits. (As is the Shasta/Ashland combo.)

I am headed up next weekend (April 14-15) and I am looking for suggestions. Like AKBruin I am in box-ticking mode so maybe not the peaks that I have already done (Kid, Esha, Bloody, Wood, Dana, ...).

I got two days at Onion Valley this weekend. No photos, since the southern sierra is pretty ugly right now. But there is some skiing to be had at the moment.

The main gulley on Independence Peak is thin but skiable, with only a short walk to get to the snow. Lower part will go fast.

North face of University is awful, awful, awful. Couldn't see the east face, but I imagine it has to be a little better.

The approach to Gould is inconsistent. East face has snow and was actually pretty good yesterday. Just a bit of walking on dirt to get there.

Originally Posted by Franz Klammer

not the peaks that I have already done

Matterhorn? given that there's more snow north than south. Or powder skiing on the mountain? Due to family obligations I'll miss yet another good weekend . . .

what does a day ticket at Mammoth cost these days?

Originally Posted by telemike

what does a day ticket at Mammoth cost these days?

$89 per day retail, $69 BringAFriend.

Originally Posted by bcd

I got two days at Onion Valley this weekend. No photos, since the southern sierra is pretty ugly right now. But there is some skiing to be had at the moment.

The main gulley on Independence Peak is thin but skiable, with only a short walk to get to the snow. Lower part will go fast.

North face of University is awful, awful, awful. Couldn't see the east face, but I imagine it has to be a little better.

The approach to Gould is inconsistent. East face has snow and was actually pretty good yesterday. Just a bit of walking on dirt to get there.

awesome beta Dan ... ski back to the car?

I miss that 4 mile long run back down from the East face of University ...

I am heading up to Mammoth this afternoon. Resort/backcountry combination probably this weekend. Let me know if you want to join.

Anyone been on top of the Palm Springs tram this year? Considering poking around up there on Sunday, but I want to be able to at least ski a few hundred vertical somewhere. Otherwise, I'll just drink pool side.

Andy Lewicky has an update from Jean Peak (side peak on San Jacinto) from 3 weeks ago. Check sierradescents.com

Be carefull out in the BC, had a nice slab rip out on me in the Hemlocks

Originally Posted by Joey Bag O' Donuts

Be carefull out in the BC, had a nice slab rip out on me in the Hemlocks

As in June Lake sidecountry? Glad everything turned out OK. Interesting... we were out at the Negatives yesterday. Dug a pit at the base of Hourglass, and it was bomber. Rode one of the chutes and had great, stable snow. This was pretty late in the day, wonder if the snow had more time to stabilize by then? Though it was still pretty cold and stayed cloudy.