We had a great time of ski mountaineering tours in the southern Eastside Sierra mountains in California, USA - this year late April / early May. Gi came all the way from Germany (his fourth or fifth spring-ski visit). Craig + Eric made the 7-hour drive from Utah. Several long-time ski partners made the really long (? 14+ hours ?) drive from Seattle.
southern Eastside Sierra delivered: good snow cover, stable sunny weather, fun turns on nicely-softened corn snow, spectacular peaks, quiet valley, fun exploring places not in the guidebooks. I’ve been there for spring skiing lotsa years, was glad to get back there again—and I hope some future springtime again.
what made this trip special for me:
* long 35-40 degree runs new for me, and long runs repeated from previous trips.
* first ski descent of a 4000-meter peak.
* hanging with old friends in the pleasant valley unlike any place near skiing in Europe.
* exploring new skiing places.
* bouldering/climbing on rock different from in Europe.
Ken
see also
* report with links to GPS + photos
* forum North American selected photos
* more photos from 2005 Sierra spring trip
I say “Eastside” because it’s a special little-populated part of California, next to Nevada - that’s off away from the big (west side) coastal cities. I say “southern” because I’m excluding the Tahoe area. We were based around Bishop.