Page 8 of 11 FirstFirst ... 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 LastLast
Results 176 to 200 of 258
  1. #176
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    In the sewers of Folsom
    Posts
    207
    Gimpy, here's the pic. Courtesy of Jin Joo's FB:
    https://scontent.fsac1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...64&oe=60B3CBF1
    Unknown isn't in view, but by the looks of everything else, i'd assume it'd be pretty boney too.

  2. #177
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    June Lake
    Posts
    2,624
    Drove up to Tioga Pass for a sunset tour. Pretty low tide, about what you'd expect for end of April in a drought year.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	20210430_181936.jpg 
Views:	105 
Size:	1.32 MB 
ID:	373164   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	20210430_163250.jpg 
Views:	113 
Size:	1.48 MB 
ID:	373165   Click image for larger version. 

Name:	20210430_193622.jpg 
Views:	93 
Size:	1.64 MB 
ID:	373166  

  3. #178
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Posts
    26
    Quote Originally Posted by mr. hankey View Post
    Gimpy, here's the pic. Courtesy of Jin Joo's FB:
    https://scontent.fsac1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...64&oe=60B3CBF1
    Unknown isn't in view, but by the looks of everything else, i'd assume it'd be pretty boney too.
    Came here lurking for tioga beta, and realized my month old pics of couloirs on dana are of interest to people. Here are pics cropped from the originals of solstice and dana couloirs. Maybe they'll retain some more detail. Backstory: These were taken first weekend of April, almost exactly a month ago on the plateau on the way from top of coke chute to kidney. It seemed that the couloirs were wind stripped on top of the low snow year. Top of solstice shows rocks, and it seemed like a rock band spanned the entrance to dana couloir. Since April didn't have much snow, I'd be surprised if the low tide story in these couloirs has changed dramatically from a month ago. I'm hoping there's less wind-stripped objectives in the area!

    Solstice Couloir, April 3, 2021
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_4006_cropped.jpg 
Views:	114 
Size:	647.2 KB 
ID:	373260

    Dana Couloir, April 3, 2021
    Name:  IMG_4005_cropped.jpg
Views: 1055
Size:  210.8 KB

  4. #179
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    tahoe
    Posts
    3,428
    Opening weekend tioga.......bailed on classic dana tour cuz nuking westerly so went across the street
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_7372.jpg 
Views:	85 
Size:	1.19 MB 
ID:	373456Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_7393.jpg 
Views:	85 
Size:	1.50 MB 
ID:	373457Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_7477.jpg 
Views:	83 
Size:	1.71 MB 
ID:	373458Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_7514.jpg 
Views:	89 
Size:	1.52 MB 
ID:	373459



    Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

  5. #180
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    8,938
    Nice! How's saddlebag lake road?

    Sent from my SPH-L710 using TGR Forums mobile app

  6. #181
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    the Low Sierra
    Posts
    17,810
    open
    I didn't believe in reincarnation when I was your age either.

  7. #182
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    1,633

  8. #183
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    tahoe de chingao
    Posts
    848
    beautiful pic splitter

    also oof

  9. #184
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    1,633
    Quote Originally Posted by sruffian View Post
    beautiful pic splitter

    also oof
    Definitely not out of focus. Maybe it's having a hard time resolving due to the size. You can zoom in on multiple locations and see individual skiers ascending. I've included a crop of the bench below False White for reference.


  10. #185
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    tahoe de chingao
    Posts
    848
    oh bro! i just meant "oof" there's no snow

    I had no idea that was a photog acronym for out of focus

    I thoroughly enjoy your pics (especially around 431) and was expressing my gratitude!

  11. #186
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    1,633
    Quote Originally Posted by sruffian View Post
    oh bro! i just meant "oof" there's no snow

    I had no idea that was a photog acronym for out of focus

    I thoroughly enjoy your pics (especially around 431) and was expressing my gratitude!
    And now that seems so obvious.

  12. #187
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    774
    I spent a week on the East Side last week and had an incredible time despite the meager snowpack.

    After skiing the Hulk Tuesday (photos a few posts back), I drove down to June Lake to meet up with Canuck P, a ski bud who is posting up there in April and May after spending the winter living in Revelstoke and skiing Rogers Pass, the fortunate bastard.

    Early Wednesday we drove down to Onion Valley Road, knowing full well that reports of conditions from down thataway were dire, but for us Bay Area peeps not getting much chance to ski south of Mammoth Lakes, we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to go somewhere a little farther flung. Plus we figured the road would be open to the top -- which was correct -- and that coverage seemed to be decent in general on high elevation eastern aspects, so University's East face might work. Or might be terrible, but whatever. You don't know if you don't go right?

    We were rewarded with a pretty great day, all things considered. Coverage was generally pretty good and there was minimal dry hiking to get up onto the bench.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_3255.jpg 
Views:	127 
Size:	1.47 MB 
ID:	373656

    Of course the flats were burnt out and there was much talus hopping. Spring sierra skiing 2021 everybody!

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_3258.jpg 
Views:	130 
Size:	1.98 MB 
ID:	373657

    But travel in general was pretty easy. What may have been a late drop normally was fine with the day's cool temps and a breeze.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_3264.jpg 
Views:	125 
Size:	1.87 MB 
ID:	373658

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_3268.jpg 
Views:	117 
Size:	1.83 MB 
ID:	373659

    The snow was still a little transitional -- there seemed to have been more in the weekend storm than had been forecasted -- but it was pretty fun skiing. I'm not sure that the chute just north of the peak that we skied is the traditional line, but it was a nice line and the face below the summit seemed burnt, although it was hard to tell.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_3276.jpg 
Views:	118 
Size:	1.32 MB 
ID:	373660

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_4216.jpg 
Views:	114 
Size:	1.07 MB 
ID:	373662

    All in all a pretty great day and better than we could have hoped for given the state of things this year.

  13. #188
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    774
    After some burgers and beers in Bishop we headed to Pine Creek to post up for the evening with the intention of an alpine start the next morning and an attempt to ski the Feather couloir. Meanwhile, Austrian P was driving up from the peninsula to join in on the fun. He left work at 4 and got to the trailhead after midnight for a 5am wakeup call. The man is a beast.

    I didn't have a great sense of how long the approach would take, but AKBruin had warned me not to underestimate its length, which, well if that dude thinks it's long I figured it must be a fucking slog. Feeling a little tired already from the previous two days and not sleeping great I thought the day was a bit of a hail mary, but at least it would be pretty right?

    We got going around 6:15 and were pleasantly surprised by the good time we were able to make, even though the distance was as long as expected. We flew up the dry trail and didn't have an inordinate amount of sidehilling on off-camber snow-covered trail at the top. Some of it felt super sketchy to me and I realized that I really need new trailrunners since the tread was mostly gone and I wasn't getting much traction at all. The Ps were completely nonplussed though.

    Classic mine shot:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1178.jpg 
Views:	71 
Size:	1.89 MB 
ID:	373664

    An example of the sidehilling. This photo is mellow but there were sections that were a bit dicey and I wasn't sure I'd be able to avoid falling down the hill if I slipped on the icy morning snow. At one point I was basically crawling up a short steep pitch on hands and knees using my whippet, much to the amusement of Austrian P.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_3285.jpg 
Views:	71 
Size:	1.48 MB 
ID:	373665

    The approach is legit. If you zoom in you can just see the tip of Feather peeking out over the col way in the distance.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1190.jpg 
Views:	74 
Size:	1.32 MB 
ID:	373666

    A little bit to my surprise though we made great time and were set up to get to the base of the couloir before noon. The east-facing chute between Royce and Feather looked to be in great condition:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1195.jpg 
Views:	68 
Size:	963.8 KB 
ID:	373667

    The couloir was still not in sight as we worked our way around. Feather Mountain and Royce Lakes sure are stunning:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_3315.jpg 
Views:	69 
Size:	1.11 MB 
ID:	373668

    We felt plenty strong and stoke was high. Shit, were we actually going to get this done?

    And then we turned the corner and...[RECORD SCRATCH]

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1197.jpg 
Views:	86 
Size:	1.39 MB 
ID:	373669

    Tons of water ice glistening in the sun in the upper third. Looking through Austrian P's binoculars (the dude drives all night, sleeps a few hours, then does a six-hour approach with all kinds of non-essentials, what a guy) it looked like maybe there was a way to skirt around the rock in between the two huge patches of ice in the crux, and maybe what some of you savages think of as a good time, but not for me thanks! Oh well, at least nobody in the sierra was having lunch in a prettier place than we were:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_3324.jpg 
Views:	73 
Size:	693.9 KB 
ID:	373671

    At this point I was leaning towards just heading on the long journey back to the car, but Austrian P convinced us to climb the other short chute, if not so much for the manky-ass snow as for the views from the top, which would undoubtedly be great. He forged the way through the kind of crappy sidehill approach, and we were just about to put crampons to climb the last couple hundred feet when a few big roller balls came tumbling down in front of us and a tiny wet slide splooged out right above us. Sigh.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_3352.jpg 
Views:	65 
Size:	1.11 MB 
ID:	373674

    Some very manky turns were made and we successfully kept our ligaments and boots in place as the snow grabbed our bases. At least the setting was amazing.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1210.jpg 
Views:	66 
Size:	1.15 MB 
ID:	373676

    Sarcastically celebrating our exit from Feather:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1223.jpg 
Views:	62 
Size:	993.4 KB 
ID:	373677

    There was actually some kind of fun wiggling on the way out, and getting back was uneventful and relatively painless. We were drinking beers by just after 5 and wrapping our heads around how amazing a day it was despite what felt like basically zero real skiing. I'm looking forward to heading back without skis this summer, and then getting Feather in a better year in the future.

  14. #189
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    774
    After a day off Thursday in June Lake that included lunchtime beers and Hawaiian food, dinner-time beers and June pie, a little bit of work and a bunch of packing scattered in between, we set off early Friday back down south to Rock Creek for a weekend camping trip to Treasure Lakes.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0167.JPG 
Views:	64 
Size:	1.28 MB 
ID:	373704

    After the Feather Peak approach, it was nice to have a mellow stroll from the Rock Creek pack station (where the gate was closed) to Treasure Lakes, less than 4 miles and 1500' of climbing from the car. Lots of dry hiking on the way in, but from a distance coverage looked solid enough.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0165.JPG 
Views:	76 
Size:	1.46 MB 
ID:	373705

    On the way in a couple of Portlanders heading out from a week-long stay told us that there was plenty of skiing but that none of the big lines were in, which wasn't that surprising. I was surprised that not even le Petit Griffon went according to them, but I was plenty content to relax a couple of days and hopefully ski some decent corn bowls.

    We arrived by lunchtime and scored an impossibly beautiful campsite. Such a great zone. There was even a tiny corner of the lake melted out so we could get water and not have to melt snow.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0169.JPG 
Views:	74 
Size:	1.13 MB 
ID:	373706

    After having some lunch we decided on a late afternoon ski of the hourglass since it was staring right at us. We thought maybe the snow would be cooked by being in the sun all day, but we were surprised to find some pretty great corn.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0162 2.JPG 
Views:	64 
Size:	1.21 MB 
ID:	373708

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0168.JPG 
Views:	71 
Size:	953.0 KB 
ID:	373709

    After a bunch of transitional and variable snow all week, it was nice to have near-perfect corn and just mindlessly rip a lap. Zooming back to camp:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1339.jpg 
Views:	66 
Size:	1.43 MB 
ID:	373710

    We dug out a bench and had a sick spot for après beach beers. (In the background notice Austrian P's spiffy cordelette laundry line).

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1350.jpg 
Views:	82 
Size:	1.59 MB 
ID:	373711

    Austrian P decided it would be nice to take an icy bath so he dug out a place for extreme skinny dipping. Us North Americans were too soft so we just kept drinking beers.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0531.JPG 
Views:	74 
Size:	1.28 MB 
ID:	373713

    Once the sun went down we retired to the mid for a civilized dinner, whiskey and Austrian stone pine schnapps. Canuck P and I were pretty stoked on our palatial digs. I had been worried there wouldn't be enough snow to dig out foot troughs and benches, but there was just barely enough, to the point that we hit dirt right at the bottom of the footwells.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0192.JPG 
Views:	72 
Size:	864.2 KB 
ID:	373714

    Did I mention that this place was impossibly beautiful?

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1357.jpg 
Views:	69 
Size:	1.29 MB 
ID:	373715

  15. #190
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    774
    Day 2 we decided to head up to Cox Col and possibly take a stab at the East Face of Gabb.

    Heading up towards the top of the col:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1373.jpg 
Views:	66 
Size:	1.10 MB 
ID:	373719

    Unfortunately, once we got to the top we found a less-than-inspiring view down into the beautiful Lake Italy Basin. The Gabb chutes (far right) were kinda-sorta-not-really in.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0557.JPG 
Views:	66 
Size:	991.8 KB 
ID:	373717

    It didn't seem worth it to negotiate the potentially very burned-out, definitely icy west-facing cliff maze lower down the far side of the col just to ski probably worse snow than was directly beneath us, so we bailed and did a couple laps beneath Pipsqueak Spire. The views from the col back to our camp (the tiny dots behind and to the left of the largest of the four Treasure Lakes at the top of the frame) were almost as nice as vice versa.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0172.JPG 
Views:	66 
Size:	1.30 MB 
ID:	373718

    It was another cool day and there was nice skiing on both runs. It must have been good because we didn't bother to stop and take any pictures.

  16. #191
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    774
    For our last day we wanted to get out before late afternoon so that Austrian P and I could get home to the Bay Area at a resonable hour. We debated between going back up the hourglass for a morning corn run, or instead packing up camp right away and climbing up Treasure Col to exit via the parallel drainage that would allow for some new sights and probably a lot more time on skis. We decided on the latter, effectively doing the reverse of the loop in the Moynier book, and we were glad we did.

    Some very pretty rock on Treasure Peak as we climbed up to the col:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0256.JPG 
Views:	66 
Size:	1.16 MB 
ID:	373720

    Exiting this way we got to take a look at the lines on Dade and Abbott. Cat Ears was very much not in:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0267.JPG 
Views:	74 
Size:	749.5 KB 
ID:	373721

    The North couloir and le Petit Griffon on Abbott on the other hand, while certainly not looking great, did not look as bad as the guys on the way in had suggested, and if we had had more time we would have gone and checked them out. Of course, they were still pretty marginal and we definitely aren't super bummed about missing out on them in their current shape.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0296.JPG 
Views:	68 
Size:	980.3 KB 
ID:	373723

    The skiing on the rest of the way out was surprisingly fun, and we even had a good time stubbornly connecting thin strips of snow with our heavy packs down the last steep bit from Ruby Lake down to Heart Lake, where we transitioned back to shoes. I've come to actually enjoy those weird rocky obstacle courses with dry side-stepping and surgical turns through dry patches and trees. Oh, and the Ruby Wall is super cool, and was rad to take in. Didn't get any cool pics though.

    Austrian P, who had the smallest pack but the most gear between the three of us, had an especially hilarious rig for the hike out, particularly after the strap on his ski crampon bag broke so he had to hang them from his hip belt. He took our good-natured ribbing well and I shouldn't make fun of him in public, but I can't resist sharing this:

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0298.JPG 
Views:	75 
Size:	2.10 MB 
ID:	373725

    We were back to the car by 1:30 and reveled in the thick air and warm sunshine as we enjoyed the beers we had stashed in the snow by the car.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_1432.jpg 
Views:	67 
Size:	1.97 MB 
ID:	373726

    After gathering up the rest of our gear from Canuck P's place in June Lake, we made one last stop at the Mo Mart for margaritas and an early dinner before Austrian P and I headed home. This was probably my last Sierra trip of the ski season, and the camping trip was a great way to send it off. The snowpack might leave a lot to be desired this year, but man it was a great season for me, and even this last trip exceeded expectations. It was such an amazing time that we kind of wanted to blow off work, reload with some more food and head right back into another zone to camp and ski a few more days.

    Here's to a bigger 21/22 season so we can tick off some bigger objectives!

  17. #192
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    California
    Posts
    2,820
    Golf Clap, well done...
    Three fundamentals of every extreme skier, total disregard for personal saftey, amphetamines, and lots and lots of malt liquor......-jack handy

  18. #193
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    29
    Awesome TR, thanks!

    (You think it will still be going in two weeks?)

  19. #194
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Location
    beaverhead county
    Posts
    4,482
    good shit, indeed.
    swing your fucking sword.

  20. #195
    Join Date
    Dec 2020
    Location
    Arroyo Seco
    Posts
    195
    Thanks for sharing Jorion! Good on you for making the most of this marginal eastside season

  21. #196
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Posts
    9,825
    OUTSTANDING!!!!

  22. #197
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Truckee, CA
    Posts
    8,768
    Top Notch, Jorian!

    Quote Originally Posted by jorion View Post
    ...I've come to actually enjoy those weird rocky obstacle courses with dry side-stepping and surgical turns through dry patches and trees...
    Sounds like you are ready for some patch skiing with me and Vets!!!
    "Man, we killin' elephants in the back yard..."

    https://www.blizzard-tecnica.com/us/en

  23. #198
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    In the sewers of Folsom
    Posts
    207
    Outstanding work and great TR Jorion! Great way to end your east side season

  24. #199
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Posts
    1,633

    Eastern Sierra Backcountry Thread 2020-21

    Helluva trip!

  25. #200
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Tahoe
    Posts
    1,095
    Awesome photos and TR Jorion. Sounds like a rad trip despite the meager snowpack

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •