Sierra Trip Reports

Locations: (1) Hall of the Gods, Indian Cliff Chutes and (2) Angora Peak to Angora Lake

Date: Sunday, March 8, 2009

Skiers: Frank, Colin D. & Nick

Photographers: Nick (except where otherwise noted as Frank or Colin D.)

Weather: Started out warm and partly-cloudy in the morning. As the day progressed, the skies became overcast, temps dropped and the wind picked up. Around 3:30 on the top of Angora Peak, wind was gusting strong out of the SW, W.

Avalanche Conditions: From the Sierra Avalanche Center: Near and above tree line on open, wind-loaded slopes 37 degrees and steeper, isolated pockets of MODERATE avalanche danger could develop on NW-N-NE-E-SE aspects. Below tree line, avalanche danger is LOW.

We found a stable snow pack. Some loose-snow sluffs on steeper aspects, but that was the only visible instability. On shaded northerly aspects, from boot to knee-deep soft powder. Lower elevations and southern aspects had a breakable crust.

Frank and Colin D. looking up towards Angora Peak:

Lower portion of Angora bowl down to Angora Lake. We skied this at the end of the day. Upper portions (out of picture to lookers right) had awesome knee deep powder. Towards the very end in the cliffs it became somewhat heavier slop:

Colin D. setting a boot pack up Angora. Going this direct, steep route ended up adding some spiciness (and about 3 extra hours) to the day:

With that said, Colin D. broke trail the entire day and was a machine on the skin track. Nick, as usual, kept a “leisurely pace” about 20 minutes behind.

Putting the skins back on 1/2 up Angora:

Some scenics:

Mt. Tallac with Lake Tahoe:

Desolation Wilderness, a backcountry paradise:

Random descent of Hall of the Gods from top of left entrance of Halls. Photo: Colin D.:

Unfortunately, at this point upon reaching the top the left entrance of Halls, we realized the rocks were not filled in. Getting down into Halls from that point would be an UBER sketch down climb over boulders with no rope, no pro and no falls.

Therefore, we had to descend down into Angora Bowl and skin back up to Angora Summit for the middle entrance to Halls.

Frank on the top of the chute for our descent into Angora bowl. It was steeper than Halls, and as Frank was soon to find out, had a crux that was too narrow to get through with skis on:

Frank at the crux… A nice butt slide and a warning to Colin D. and I to just down climb, and Frank was through:

Colin D. down climbing… Type 2 fun:

Nick down climbing in the crux. You can also see Colin D. below and to the right under a rock putting the skis back on. Photo: Frank:

Nothing like a fun 3 hour side project!

On to Halls. Snow was great – about knee deep, cold powder. Although Halls had been hit by several other groups that day (and I am sure on Friday and Saturday as well, it was SUH-WEET! Great, great line.

We descended middle Halls. Frank dropping through the upper portion into the narrower coolie below:

Frank looking down into Halls. Photo: Frank:

Colin D. standing on a platform above the narrower, steeper section of Halls. Pic taken from the upper portion:

Colin D. dropping in. Photo: Frank:

Nick dropping in…… into the White Room. Photo: Colin D.:

Colin D. exiting Halls into the lower bowls. Photo: Frank:

Nick doing the same. Photo: Frank:

Frank opening up on the lower bowls. Photo: Colin D.:

Looking back at Halls:

Once again, Colin D. setting a skin track, Nick leisurely (read: exhausted) behind:

Frank dropping through one of the cliff bands:

I think somewhere in here, I hit the only patch of ice this side of Vermont….. $$$ Pirouette resulted as I am sure one of the others can attest:

Another 45 minutes of skiing through super mank crust in the forest, a great tip-diving face plant by yours truly and we were back to the trailhead.

All in all, a great line through Halls, a great tour and a great day.