This run has such allure because of it’s unique formation, a couple thousand feet of 12-20ft wide nearly symmetrical walls make for a very unique experience.

As mentioned in my previous post, we parked out in the desert. Starting early we planned to skin up the road until we saw a run to go up. Three hours and 4+ miles later we found one, TC. When you see it, it’s obvious.

Peeking around the corner we found no other obvious options except a scary looking line, (more to to come on this one)!

Backtracking we crossed the creek and started skinning to the base of the bugger. It had already been skied, these guys got it the day before us. Dang.

Three hours later we find ourselves still skinning, too deep to boot-pack.

We tried to compute the number of switchbacks. People with more mathematical aptitude may argue with me. Every switchback gained us 2-4 vertical feet, call it 3. The chute is probably 2,000 ft long, (low snow year). A yes, 666 switchbacks.

Hours later we topped out and turned around to go down the thing. A 50ft rocky down-climb with skis, then Linking turns in places, playing hop-and-stop in others,I scrapped the walls twice with my tails.

Now every other run feels wide and luxurious, never again will I complain of switch-backs being too close.

Back to the car at sunset. Boom, rad day!

Matt, Moose and I finally made it our mission and charged out. Elko is currently a booming mining town, however a $60 motel can still be had, along with some awesome pasties. Plus the ever-present casinos ensure dirtbaggery.

Skiing is most important, after a 5 am leave from Reno we arrived at the Lamoille canyon road a bit confused by the state of the road. It was only plowed 2 miles, (out of 14) after getting the hyundai turned around in the snow ruts we “skied up” and began the walk towards the mountains.

As the clouds blew in and out we could see ski tracks on one of the front range mountains and concluded a very ambitions tourer got a ton of laps, nope it was the heli opperation.

Snow machines unloaded and flew up the road past us as we plodded on.

Turning the corner past first hill we saw nothing resembling ski terrain and decided first hill was our only viable option now that it was close to noon.

I proposed a climb time of 2 hours, “it’s just right there”

3k later; still walking.

up

The Ruby’s are strange, especially for the first time in a clearing storm. The mountains seem to fall away on all sides. Unknown ski runs beckon and close-out into huge cliffs. Respect.

We got one drop right from the summit, splitting the farmed out heli tracks. It wasn’t enough, back up. So deep and light. Following our down-track back up was the only option.

The Western slope of a range is an amazing change, an extra 1/2 hour of light and spectacular sunsets.

Have you ever seen purple snow?

Purple Pow.

The light began to fade quickly as we made our escape. Over-the-head snow had Moose tired, I had to carry him down the last 1k of vertical. Turns out, skiing deep powder with a 65 lb dog in your arms is super hard.

Well it wasn’t exactly deep, and the aspect was too northerly for perfect light.

We still had a good time and scored a few turns in cold April snow.

It was a day I will be dreaming of come October.

Turns out bouldering ice above a running river isn’t exactly Robbie’s first choice of fun. So we did a bit of probing around and he climbed a bit. Next time we’ll bring a rope and another climber to make things safe.

Gripped!

Mt. Houghton sits high next to Mt. Rose and offers some excellent bowl skiing in a protected northerly aspect, most of the upper terrain is shorter runs, so multiple laps can be had. We had a great crew of people that day, Dayton (Barretts older brother) was in from Alaska, Joe was visiting family, and Morales was visiting his fiance, Plus the Wizard, Spirit Caveman, Moose and I. We had a crew of shredders.

On a side note, Morales snowshoes, have you ever seen a snowshoer keep up with a skier ? Yeah me neither, poor guy was absolutely annihilated at the end of the day and we 2:1 lapped him.

A north facing chute right to Carson Valley. The first two thousand feet were awesome steep skiing pow and wind board mixed, not too much of either. Moose took the I’m out of control and can’t stop line, skipping the straight line going right for the ice-cliff air, he stuck the landing, good dog. He stayed pretty close to me after that.

After the steeps, we reveled in 3,000ft of powder skiing. Cold winter pow, ahhh so good. A quick road ski brought us back to the car and an epic Apre.

A shout to the friends who joined me on this one, Spirit Cave Man, The Wizard, Sir Skiizy Treezy, The Scorpion, Moose Man & The Prophet (me, yes I join myself)

We skied emerald peak twice this day, first the classic “extreme” line to the road, then the super deep tree run right down the main gully, both runs were so good and amazingly deep, all-time was Hatchett’s call.

I skied the emerald chute a few years ago with Hatchett, also in awesome pow.  I was tentative last time, this time no problem. Find the steepest part above cliffs with a straight-line, drop in.  It’s nice to see improvements in life, technically, mentally, and physically.

Matt Church (telemark) was also a part of this voyage (to another dimension), another awesome day in the mountains with great friends.

dang south shore steepies

After reaching the hully gully and deeming it thin and not worth it, we headed for the summit ridge of Rose. The wind was blowing and loading a couple of chutes that looked ski able. At the top of the prospective runs I kicked off my skis to do a bit of avalanche recon.  Walking towards the edge, suddenly I was airborne, I spun a quick 90 kicked my feet and dug my fists into the snow coming to a stop after 4 feet of elevator down. From Matt’s perspective I was gone, disappearing into the abyss. The cornice failure triggered the slope and snow washed down over the cliffs and rock run-out below, had I gone with it…. I kicked steps and used my pole handles as anchors to get back to the ridge, we went to the next chute to see if we could ski that one. We couldn’t get it to trigger so we let it be and opted for safety, there was no glory to be gained.

It’s a strange thing to purposely put yourself in harms way, self expression?

Then we skied a couple grand of light pow on top of smooth edge-able ice. It was rad!

Matt agreed to suffer with me and take moose on a walk while I made photos, we then headed to mammoth to drop off my photo gear and camp at the hot springs. During January the “hot” springs can be one of the coldest places around due to inversions. It’s also one of the best places to camp for free without provocation from the law.

We arrived at the campsite just as the temperatures started to really drop.  A bit of whiskey helped us set up the tiny tent and make a warm meal. The jet boil then succumb to the cold and died for the night, no warm bottles for our bags.

Shortly after squeezing into the tent a sheriffs deputy showed up, concerned for our safety she informed us it would hit at least -15 that night. Unconcerned Moose greeted her with a pounce. The cold cold night passed without too much trouble, although I eventually had to tie moose to the car to stop him from frolicking, his coat kept him plenty warm.

The next morning I got up early with the sun and inversion fog, movement seemed necessary, my camera quickly froze as I tried to capture the cold light on a digital sensor that cares not.

We agreed that a stop at Stellar Brew (somehow mammoth has a better coffee shop than Reno?) was needed to warm the soul and fuel for the day, we lounged among the mammoth elite in our puffy clothes, swilling coffee and slamming egg burritos while hassling the ski guides.

That day we skied the Mammoth Crest, and spied some spring runs that demand attention. Matt found out what overflow is, we dropped into the wrong line, skied above a scary cliff line what sloughed to the bottom with a ski cut, oh and got good pow too !

That night I picked up my camera gear from Brandon and we headed to a motel in Lee Vining, our morality needed a boost and out clothes needed drying.

After an awesome rest we woke up early-ish and met Barrett and Kristyn at Twin Lakes for a stab at the Hulk, a perpetually windy ski line next to an amazing rock climb! I tried to ski it a couple years ago but wind board on top of sugar snow kept me from the top, climbing wind board above cliffs is hard on the mind.

A cold start and awesome snow conditions down low gave a good vibe to the start, stratugi and scour up high demanded we turn around after the first choke. However Moose decided he wanted to go higher and then not come down, I nearly had to leave my furry friend, after 20 minutes he made a down-climb work.

Another memorable Sierra ski – photo adventure in the bag.