Eastside Conditions Thread

[Jack Burton]

Esha approach 15 min on Monday, creek crossing , ski javelin test skied ~ 1pm snow was dang good as is coverage wine glass on Sunday was a very easy access (snow bridge won't be there long) snow up high was perfect it was a combination of sun cups, goat poop, and old slide debris down low, fun run. I think 11 people ended up skiing it pretty much at the same time, some went up the chute and some came in from Esha, all good fun, snow was good & bomber. . Saturday had us on ripper, that was a blast, nice soft snow,
Madturtle moving through the ripper. From ripper it was to Aspen chutes which was a solid hour of schwacking. Not sure it's possible to do but I recall seeing a post years ago about going from the apron of 3rd pillar skiers left and climbing up to the plateau to climbers right of 3rd pillar chute and climbers left of powerhouse, drive by on Monday evening says there's plenty of snow at the moment and I think the bottom of powerhouse has more snow than the bottom of Aspen chutes. New firefighter from lee vining joined for the ripper and Aspen for some fun, some boot pack leading and post ski beers & food, good skiing with you

[AKbruin]

UCL: Looking forward to your TR!

Jack Burton: You got the photo! Good job on Ripper, Esha, and Wineglass. We had a fabulous weekend, but I was a little jealous of you guys!

Hutash: Bummer about Wood. When we drove by, I was thinking that Wood looked like it'd be great this weekend.

[Ottime]

This is the tread to watch. Y'all are killing it this season.

[meter-man]

Will post up some pics tonight, but quick report on conditions:

Sat 5/27: Lundy Canyon - skied Mt. Scowden's Dog Leg chute. Road was clear to base of the Scowden (past the lodge). Left the TH at dawn, I mean, 11:45 AM. On top by 2. Money corn up top all the way down to the Dog Leg where the chute turned to rock-pitted sun cups. Snow was very stable. Need to get this line again with the lower part in good shape still. Very cool, aesthetic, and long line. We were all surprised by how awesome it was.

Sun 5/28: South Lake, Bishop Creek. Skied most of Mt. Thompson, where we were stopped by a chockstone in the center chute, wet snow and high temps, and the mondo overhanging cornice. Climbers were descending the left-hand chute which went cleanly, so we stayed away from that and stuck to the center, but that left-hand chute looked like the only line to the summit with no overhanging hazard (dirty snow in the choke though). Right-hand chute looked awesome, but didn't look like you could top out due to a cornice. Point release wet slide in the center chute when skied. Skied some laps on NE bowls thereafter. Very hot. Decent refreeze Sat night.

Mon 5/29: South Lake, Bishop Creek. Skied Hurd Peak. On top at 10:30 AM, which was corn o'clock. Perfect corn. Solid refreeze down low, but mediocre on upper elevations. Did I mention the corn was good? Corn-tastic.

Overall: starting to suncup pretty aggressively below 10,500, but excellent snow conditions prevail above that level. Get some while there's some getting to be gat.

ETA: UCL those pics are ridiculous.

[406]

Don't get as many bro points as #vanlife when you sleep in your wife's prius, but can't complain about trip average mpg of 48 and sleeping at 9000 ft in a no camping lot:


Saturday May 27, Sierra sunrise:


Route up was nice and easy, went like I was going to the col. At the top of Mt. Lamarck around 10 am:


The north side drops off rather abruptly:


The snow was perfect in the couloir down except for the shady part:


Bit of a slog getting around Grass Lake on the way out. But awesome couloir and day.

[406]

Sunday May 28, East Chute University Peak, another sunrise while hiking:


Was tempted by 1000-oak's run, but the walking was easy and it was early so kept going up canyon:


Cool basin when you get above Robinson Lake:


Topped out just above 13000 ft just after 9 am:


Me:


Hero snow:






Opening it up a little on the lower half:


Stayed skiers left in the canyon on the way out and sun cups were not bad. Passed several groups going up who were at least an hour to the top, so would guess snow was mank by the time they skied. But maybe they moved faster up the chute since I put in the boot pack.

Switch to the road:

[Ottime]

Wow. I skied the east Chute of university the first week of April last season, and that is waaaaay more snow that I had last year. I was able to ski down to the upper basin but then had to scramble rocks for 100+ yards to get back to snow heading down to the th. I followed skiers left as well and found awesome snow along that flank. And I too was tempted by the Chute 1000 oaks skied, but the walking up the drainage was good.

I'll likely be driving 395 in a few months. With the family, so it does not look like I'll get to skin. But maybe collect beta for getting out there a few weeks later.

[gimpy]

Ripper on sat??? U notice any freshly laid tracks? Heh!!! Yes powerhouse goes all the way down and is the awesome as is most everything up there. Third pillar smooth and in great shape till the turn where it gets runnelled but spicy climb back up. Ripper was easiest boot back up. I heard maybe next weekend for east gate.
We found nothing but perfect snow fri-sun in northern zones. Va lakes>Excelsior>Lundy still in top form. more south/skiers right entrance most filled exit though middle still barely goes too. Burro lake exit is a waterfall. Crux of weekend was trying to cross raging water in Lundy. Do it way high

[CaliKid]

Anyone know how burnt out the S/SE access is for Dunderberg and where the snowline is in Green Creek?

[whatsupdoc]

Dunderberg goes from the car. Never had to come out of my skis last Friday

Anyone know how burnt out the S/SE access is for Dunderberg and where the snowline is in Green Creek?

[TEXASS]

Anybody looking for a partner for this weekend? Independence to Bridgeport ? Im game

[CaliKid]

Dunderberg goes from the car. Never had to come out of my skis last Friday

Thanks!

[somethingclever...]

Green creek chute went all the way to the boulders and aspens a couple hundred vertical above the creek last Thursday. As the doc said coverage at VA lakes is a non issue.

Anyone know how burnt out the S/SE access is for Dunderberg and where the snowline is in Green Creek?

[whatsupdoc]

Good stuff 406 & Jack Burton.

Some pics from Saturday at Tioga with Gimpy and JayTe:

Skinning up Powerhouse:


JayTe booting up PH:


Gimpy on the booter:


JayTe skiing Ripper:



Gimpy in Ripper:


Climbing back out of Ripper:



Gimpy dropping into the Third Pillar Chute:



Excellent corn on Powerhouse:

[Piggity]

Sick photo of gimpy dropping into third pillar

[Jack Burton]

"Ripper on sat??? U notice any freshly laid tracks? Heh!!!" - Hell Yes, sweet booter too :-), then to 3rd pillar, way to get it. Had to love that SOFT & FORGIVING snow up there last weekend

[claymond]

Ha, watching explosions on a ski tour! Wild place for sure

[Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer]

Finally got around to sorting photos and putting together a TR from Enginerd's and my recent 5-day trip in to the Eastside. Link to the TR Forum in the photo below:

[TEXASS]

Damn that was an Epic Trip UCL. Great Recovery on the boot latch too.

I went up to Onion Valley Saturday and did the East Chute of University , the same line 406 did . Was a great day weather wise. Skinned out of the parking lot at 7am on my first solo BC day.
The parking lot headwall heading up to Robinson Lake is burnt. Lots of rocks/trees and big ass sucups.
The suncup convention continues in full force all the way up the drainage to the lake.
Steeper aspects are still smooth but getting back to the truck is a shake down .
And speaking of shake downs, got back to my truck and for the fist time ever in the BC

SOME ASSHOLE BROKE INTO MY CAMPERSHELL

you are a fucktard !!

missing- one 13 year old Mountain Hardwear Banshee zero degree down bag. Who the hell would want somebodys sleeping bag??
a pair of Mountain hardware snowboard pants
an old Eddie Bauer puffy
Socket/wrench set
Coleman stove

Thanks Goodness they didn't get my weed stash. That would have made for an even more ass burner.

So, lock your shit up boys, their is a thief out there

[Piggity]

^saw your tracks to the parking lot yesterday, looked like rough riding in core shot city

[CaliKid]

Did VA lakes (north couloir of Dunderberg) to Green Creek on Sat. Fun day but probably 1-1.5 hr late timing wise.

Also, anyone know the name of this peak, Virginia maybe?

[AKbruin]

Texass: That's sucks! Fucking assholes. Man, I leave a ton of crap in the back of my truck. I guess I need to be more careful. Anyhow, I hope your stuff is at least covered by insurance.

406: Again, sweet trip. I love that couloir.

whatsupdoc's photos of gimpy climbing up Ripper and descending Third Pillar are outrageous.

Anyhoo . . . .

************************************************** ******

Danger Zone!


The plan Saturday was to try Third Pillar with whatsupdoc and Dhelihiker. But it was downright balmy that morning (mid-50's) and there was no real refreeze. A third of the way up Powerhouse, we found knee-deep unconsolidated crap. I decided that it was safe enough to ski Powerhouse itself, which was a weird combination of ice and wet-slidey snow. Managing sluff was pretty critical halfway down.


Yesterday, whatsupdoc and I ventured up Rock Creek to try Cat's Ear's Couloir.


The approach involved about 5 miles of suncup skinning followed by some corn skinning. It was tough.


I'm 0/3 on Cat's Ears attempts: 2011 (realized I had forgot my skins after a mile of dry hiking); 2016 (didn't go); April (avy danger too high).


I need to ski Feather at some point.


Treasure Peak and Rock Creek valley.


I must have knocked my GoPro because the angle was nauseatingly focused on my boots.


The guidebook says Cat's Ears is a 40-degree C:3 line. I'd personally peg it at a 45-degree C:4 line.



The snow was not terrible but not great either. It was kind of a chunky mix of wet-slidey snow and mild iciness.


whatsupdoc strikes a guidebook pose under our line.


The way out was not entirely unfun.


whatsupdoc beneath Ruby Peak.


That's probably it for me this season. It's been a good one!

[Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer]

Ha, is that a pond skim AK? Excellent!

Hats off to you this season... you basically CRUSHED the Eastside this year.

Texass- that really stinks. When I was on our trip, we had a (closed) bag with like 3 complete racks, 2 ropes and a ton of other climbing gear in case a weird shift in the weather at the last minute forced us to go climb in Indian Creek. I would break down in a cry if all that got stolen.

[whatsupdoc]

Calikid, that is Virginia Peak.

UCL, that is one rad looking trip!!

I'll add my pics here from yesterday's trip to do Cat Ears.








Taking a snack break beneath Bear Creek Spire:

[whatsupdoc]

Booting:


View from the top of the line:


Sizing up the entrance:


Skiing:




The line:


Standing beneath Mt. Abbot and Le Petit Griffon:


Slogging out: