Checked out a new to me area on Saturday 3/30, Chute #2 on Tahquitz Peak. I had never seen any info on someone skiing back there, but after the trip found a mountaineering website with info on the 3 chutes off the NW ridge. Kind of a boring name for such an awesome chute, but I guess that is what happens when the mountaineers get to name things.
2005 I first noticed the area and had been wanting to get back in there and check it out, this photo I took in April 2005:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/devils...0410050003.jpg
This winter was good, but no 2005. Found this photo online from 3/23 and I knew there would be a lot of melting midweek, so was on the fence about going:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/201903...7197062036.jpg
Figured it would bug me all summer if I didn't go check it out, so drove up, but looked bleak from the trailhead. Such a scenic area and moon above Lily Rock, I figured might as well go for a hike with the skis:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_081106.jpg
Had a navigation mistake and spent a bunch of time bush whacking:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_084757.jpg
Easy going after getting on patchy snow around 6800 ft. First skiable option came into view, good looking bowl:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_095836.jpg
Chute 1, with some 5th class at the top:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_094633.jpg
half way up Chute 2, love the high quality granite walls:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_103516.jpg
The crux was a solid 45 degrees and ~3 ft wide with mixed snow conditions:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_104828.jpg
After that, easy walk up to the fire look out:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_112750.jpg
Had the POV camera going for the down climb, but encountered some technology issues and was to puckered and impatient to deal with the video camera until I got down to the ~40 degree section. Seemed easy on the way up, but was scary on the down climb:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_120613.jpg
Dug out a ledge to click into the dynafiddles:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/20190330_120610.jpg
Felt much better having skis on, made a few turns and then got the video camera working:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/MAH00854_480.mp4
Snow was perfect. Rejoined the drainage at 7600 and that was actually a fun ski down to 7080:
http://umtgriz.com/forum/2019/MAH00856_480.mp4
Cool area, would like to get back in there next good winter and check out the other chutes and bowls. Snow is melting fast!