TR: Roaming the Eastside

**highanxiety** · 01-30-2013, 07:12 PM

I just returned to reality after a few weeks of getting after it in the Eastern Sierra. 14 days on the splitboard, 2 days riding the lift at Mammoth, and a couple days of fun surfing in OC. The most fun I've had in a while. Those mountains draw me in. I can't help myself to want to explore and see whats around every bend. I've only been back to work for about 3 days now and I am already craving for more, trying to figure out how and when I will be able to return to the Eastside.. My list of goals out there are endless and will take me a lifetime to complete.

I linked up with Powerwhore7 who set himself up with a nice little nook in the mountains for the season. Hes been super motivated and was super cool about picking my ass up in Mammoth to go tour. Thanks for carting me around dude.. One of our main goals was to stay away from the shit show at Mammoth Mtn unless it was storming or the backcountry was un safe and needed to stabilize. It didn't snow more than a foot the entire time, but it remained pretty cold, snowpack was good, and not much for winds until the very end. Even when wind and warmer temps came into play, the north facing trees were still holding fun snow. It was a good run for sure, but always craving for more...

We're not into huge airs, rails, or moguls. Just love surfing the powder, windbuff, ripping through the trees, and spending time in the mountains and away from crowds. I love steep stuff, but have as much fun meadow skipping too.

Here is a video I put together sharing just a fraction of our adventures, WARNING its sort of long and has a mix of GoPro, 7D footage, and some stills mixed in as well.. If you prefer not to watch the video I've included some photos of the stokage below. Or better yet, let the video load while you enjoy the pics. Some may have seen a few of the shots in the Mammoth/Eastside Thread, but there are some new ones as well. ENJOY!

Aint no thing but a.........

PW7

Nonmag friend Mark

En route to one of my favs.

Powerwhore7 making some nice turns in the powder.

Time to drink beer and soak the muscles.

Back at it for a lap in oldman's bowl. As we approached the top a guy with skis on took off on a paragliding or speed wind. I watched it go by in extreme jealousy since i've dabbled in some paragliding recently. Think PW7 has a pic of him flying away.

Looking back at the top of the Col where we dropped in the previous tour above.

The Pinner has my full attention.. On the list for sure.

A quick sesh at Mammoth before heading to the Sherwins.

Climbing up to the Sherwin's..

Woot!

Next on our radar was this.

along the way

And down we go.

**highanxiety** · 01-30-2013, 07:13 PM

Then it snowed a little more, so we met up with our friend Joe Smith for some turns at Mammoth. The snow was super fluffy..

Can only take the resort for so long, so we headed back into the skinner for some easy laps.

Mrs. PW7

Jen

Time to head back to Mono Jim.

Looking for our entrance from the top.

And In…. Some clips from from this run in the middle of the video around 3:05 ish..

Our friend Greg feeling out the snow at the top.

PW7 following along Greg's tracks after the choke and into heaven. Probably my favorite line I've ridden this season.

Beer thirty was calling so it was time to head back down to Convict.

Resting and going over important safety matters at the top of Hemlock ridge.

**highanxiety** · 01-30-2013, 07:14 PM

Non friend Mark, PW7, and myself decided to go on an overnight to Mt Lewis. We messed up the approach by skinning up an extra ridge that we didn't plan on and the first day took a little longer then expected. Anyway its always fun to break trail for an extra couple hours with heavy packs. We did however make it out of the woods and into camp before dark. Before we knew it we were drinking beer, eating food and sitting by the fire… Good times.

In one direction we had freezing fog over mono lake.

Then turning toward the fire.

And turn some more we have our tent set up with Mt Lewis and the North Couloir which we plan to ride the next day.

Back toward Mono Lake

It stayed around 12 degs most the night. In the morning while thawing everything out I managed to melt my snowboard boot really bad by the fire, which sucks because I easily had another season or 2 left in them. The laces however didn't melt and they got the job done for that day just fine. I am pretty sure PW7 has a picture of the boot he could post.

Some rad shit near from the top of the ridge.

The snow was hit by some wind, so it was hard & chalky. Its not super steep so it was manageable.

After we picked up camp we got a fun long ski through the trees and back to the car.

until next time

**_Aaron_** · 01-30-2013, 07:30 PM

Stoke to the top!

**Neuro** · 01-30-2013, 07:41 PM

Quality stoke in there, thanks for sharing

**gimpy** · 01-30-2013, 08:07 PM

booom there it is. thanx for that. headin down for a daytripper manana. word is the n wind did its thing. any recent beta appreciated

**FussyDutchman** · 01-30-2013, 08:14 PM

Unreal HA, all I can say!

Sorry you had to come home to our current weather situation. Unfortunately, looks like you'll have some time to catch up on work without much distraction from conditions.

**liv2ski** · 01-31-2013, 08:18 AM

That was good stuff. Thanks for getting the wheels turning in my head. Hope to see you guys out there down the road.

**Moeghoul** · 01-31-2013, 08:39 AM

Another great TR and pix, HA. Bump to the top.

**Slaag Master** · 01-31-2013, 09:22 AM

rest and safety!!!!

**Binky** · 01-31-2013, 09:38 AM

Many thumbs up!

**I've seen black diamonds!** · 01-31-2013, 09:56 AM

Great stuff. Thanks.

**kevino** · 01-31-2013, 10:00 AM

Looks like a great time.

"We're not into huge airs, rails, or moguls. Just love surfing the powder, windbuff, ripping through the trees, and spending time in the mountains and away from crowds. I love steep stuff, but have as much fun meadow skipping too. "

Nicely worded, I can identify with that as well.

**Shadam** · 01-31-2013, 10:06 AM

STOKE !!!

I was so enjoying this TR until I saw one of those pesky skiers ...

is it normanly so thin in those partz?
just lack of snow, or wind?
and wot boards are you guys riding?

**PowerWhore7** · 01-31-2013, 10:32 AM

Right on HA, way to bring it once again. Thanks for all the tours and good times, it was my pleasure carting you around for the month. Looking forward to March.....
(I will post some of my pics when we get to the second page)

Originally Posted by Shadam

is it normanly so thin in those partz?
just lack of snow, or wind?
and wot boards are you guys riding?

I know it looks thin but there is a 9ft snowpack @ 9k, it just takes a shit ton of snow to fill everything in on the Eastside. The wind does strip a lot of slopes as well but we found mostly DEEP pow on all of our tours in January. We both have Never Summer splits, I have the SL and Highanxiety has the Summit, FKNA love my Summit.

**mtnbiker/boarder** · 01-31-2013, 10:43 AM

JUst AWESOME... thanks for making me drool on my key board......

**adimmen** · 01-31-2013, 12:18 PM

So much good skiing. I love the couloirs ending in the hanging apron.

**lynchdogger** · 01-31-2013, 01:26 PM

Sweet! Looks like a good time HA - welcome home! Thanks for the A+ stoke as always.

**cat in january** · 01-31-2013, 09:17 PM

I have poked around a bit out west and the East Side really has been my favorite-huge mountains, good stable snow with lots of sun, not too cold, low population density.

Appreciate the stoke!!