Sierra Trip Reports

Locations: Dick’s Peak, Janine’s Ridge, Maggie’s Peaks (Desolation Wilderness)

Dates: Saturday, January 30 – Sunday, January 31, 2010

Skiers/Riders: Alex & Nick

Photographers: Nick, unless noted as Alex (although Alex’s shots pretty much blow mine away! Time for me to get a new camera and learn how to use it…)

Weather: Saturday was the tail end of a small Low system that was moving through Tahoe. Skies were grey-bird with intermittent, light snow. Winds started the day slow, but were howling up at Dick’s Peak. Temps at night got to around 10-15 degrees at 9,000 ft. Sunday was blue-bird and generally warm, although once again the ridge top winds at Dick’s Peak were consistent 30 mph. Janine’s and Maggie’s had no wind, fortunately.

Avalanche Conditions:
From the Sierra Avalanche Center:

On Saturday, near and above treeline, pockets of moderate avalanche danger will form in wind loaded areas on NW-N-NE-E aspects, 37 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, avalanche danger is low in wind protected areas.

On Sunday, near and above treeline, pockets of moderate avalanche danger remain on wind-loaded, NW-N-NE-E aspects, 37 degrees and steeper. Below treeline, avalanche danger is low in wind protected areas.

We found the snow to generally be very stable at both Maggie’s and Janine’s. As discussed further below, Dick’s was very wind-effected and in most areas had 6-inch wind-slabs sitting on lower density snow. We were able to ski cut and otherwise trigger some small, very slow moving wind-slabs on Dick’s N face.

Synopsis: With Alex and I both about to turn the dredded 30 (me, well, today actually, and Alex on Friday), we figured a good early present would be to get back into Desolation Wilderness and get in some powder skiing. Nothing better than avoiding the fact you are turning 30 by essentially continuing to “live the dream” so to speak. Was a great trip and a good early present.

Warning: There are a lot of scenic pics in the TR, but some great skiing ones near the end as well.

Topo map of the trip:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30th

Our transportation for the weekend, at the Bayview trailhead. Photo: Alex

Entering Desolation Wilderness on the Maggie’s skin track.

Skin track on Maggie’s, looking out at Treth’s Chute. Photo: Alex

At this point in the story, we will point to my navigational error. Once a trip, I always find that one decision is made that costs some time. We followed the skin track which clearly split in two directions. Looking at the topo, it was clear we wanted to say down by Granite Lake and follow the summer trail over the saddle between the two Maggie’s Peaks.

After noting that to Alex, we continued up higher thinking we could skin to the top of the right Maggie’s Peak, and find a passable route down off the backside. Haha. When you see the pictures further below or if you are familiar with Maggie’s, you will understand the comedy in that thought process.

Needless to say, we skinned, skied back down to the lake, and skinned back up the appropriate trail. Added about an hour or so.

“Who needs Silverado chair when we have a mini Verbier Bec des Roses in our backyard?” – Alex. Photo: Alex

Emerald Bay Chutes from the Maggie’s skin track. Storm clouds just starting to roll in.

Alex on the top of Maggie’s. Uh, Nick – not sure this goes……

But I thought there was something passable off the backside of this…. Photo: Alex

Nope. At that point, we were standing on the top of the prominent out cropping in this picture. Didn’t have my Ski BASE setup handy….. Maybe next year’s birthday request???? (nope.)

At this point the Low system was clouding up. Made for some interesting traveling during the day when light was non-existent.

Picture of Janine’s Ridge. We would ski this on Sunday. Long story short, it is holding awesome, cold powder that was not wind affected.

On the way past Janine’s we dug a quick pit on a nice test slope that had been clearly wind-affected. ECT NR, elevation 8,000 ft, N aspect, 37 degree slope. We measured the snowpack at over 300cm deep here due to the wind-drift. For the upper 120cm of the snowpack, the temp gradient was very consistent. Knee boot penetration.

Cool afternoon light breaking through the storm. Photo: Alex

Setting up our camp for the evening, next to Dick’s Lake.

We then headed up to Dick’s. The light was extremely flat due to the clouds and late afternoon. Don’t really have many pictures of skiing Dick’s the first day as we essentially came down by headlamp to help with the light.

Alex on the skin up Dick’s Peak.

Note: On the skin up, we were noticing small wind-slabs around 4-6 inches on the top of the snowpack, typically sitting on lower-density snow. Pretty easy to wind with ski pole tests and quick hand shear tests on the skin up. Due to this and the light, on Saturday we skied a lower-angle shot on Dick’s and decided to come back the next morning so we could check out the snow before skiing steeper terrain.

Cooking some grub.

It was a full-moon Saturday night and the clouds made for some amazing scenery. Alex got some great pictures of the moon rise over Janine’s Ridge. Photos: Alex

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31st (I swear there are action pictures here)

Morning light at Dick’s Lake. Photo: Alex

I love the stillness of the backcountry at very early morning when the light is starting to hit the peaks. Photos: Alex & Nick, respectively

We had set two skin tracks the day before to confuse/bewilder people!

The Dick’s Peaklet. We would ski the fall line just to the right of the upper rock outcropping.

Alex skinning next to Dick’s Lake.

Nick doing the same. Photo: Alex

Nick checking out the clearly wind-loaded terrain to the right of Dick’s Peak. Photo: Alex

As stated above, the winds were pretty strong throughout late Saturday night and Sunday morning. Snow was visible transporting on the Dick’s ridge line, but not large amounts. We decided to head up to Dick’s Peaklet and drop a couple of cornices to further check stability.

“Offshore winds at Dick’s Peak break.” – Alex. Photo: Alex

Looking back at the Carson Pass area from the summit of Dick’s Peaklet.

Jack’s Peak next to Dick’s. Looked very wind-loaded to me, but I heard others skied this on Sunday and were setting of some surface wind-slabs.

Dick’s Lake, Jake’s and Lake Tahoe. Photo: Alex

Mt. Rose across the Lake Photo: Alex

Nick above the rocky headwall on Dick’s Peaklet, pointing back to Alex which cornices we should cut and how far back they come. Photo: Alex

After dropping two 150-175 lb cornices (which took a while), nothing moved on the slope. We were aware there were some surface windslabs, but were comfortable they would be surface action and slow moving. During the descent, Alex set off one that had a 2-3 inch crown and only slid about 20 feet. He saw the slab begin to ripple downslope so he made a hard board-cut and rode off to the side to let it go.

I also set off a 6-inch crown wind-slab that was 50 feet across and probably ran 30-40 feet down slope. I had stopped above a convex roll near rocks, did a kick turn and then put a hard ski cut actually trying to get something to move.

We also witnessed a third party set off another micro slab near the ridge line. In all cases, the initiated in thinner areas of the snowpack by rock bands that were clearly wind-affected. The vast majority of the N-NW bowl under Dick’s Peaklet was stable, although wind-affected. None of the wind-slabs were near the fall lines where we dropped the cornices.

Sequence of Alex dropping into the upper bowl:

Alex treating himself to an early birthday present – shoulder pow on Dick’s. Alex carving the shoulder in Dick’s bowl.

Nick dropping in from the ridgeline. Note the wind. Photo: Alex

Alex rocking the bowl down to the Lake.

Good picture of post-ski cut wind slab. After it started moving (very slowly), I stopped and let the slab go. It broke apart after about 5 feet of travel, and then I started skiing behind it. Here is a picture of me skiing behind the slab. Note the highest point in the crown (6 inches) was near the rocks to the right. Photo: Alex

“Nick sees the light and follows it to the Lake.” – Alex. Photo: Alex

Nick on the runout down to Dick’s Lake. Although the snow in the upper portions of Dick’s Peaklet was variable and wind-affected, the lower half was creamy goodness! Photo: Alex

Good photo of Dicks’s Peaklet. We cut the two cornices and dropped in next to the high-point on the ridge. You can see the wind-slab slide I ski cut near the rock-outcropping about 2/3rds of the way down. Photo: Alex

We then broke down camp and linked up with a fresh skin-track a large group just set up the back-side of Janine’s Ridge. They had followed our skin track up to Dick’s as well.

Alex following on the skin up the back-side of Janine’s. Heavy packs back on!

Looking back at Dick’s.

Janinie’s Ridge was holding amazing snow! It was not wind-affected in the sense that there were not any hard wind-slabs. Just soft, untouched pow. Really the best ski of the trip in my opinion.

Upper Janine’s Ridge. Photo: Alex

Nick checking out the upper portion. Looking good!

Nick says – Why don’t we go ski THAT instead! Does anyone ever hit that couloir on the backside of Tallac? Seems you would need a huge snow year for that to go as it is southernly facing somewhat. Photo: Alex

Nick drops into Janine’s – a happy pre-birthday present…. to myself! Photo: Alex

Insert Lake Tahoe Ad ski picture here (Note: I skied past the wrong side of Alex on this – he was not pumped and explained the picture he had set up). Photo: Alex

Nick responds: Well how bout some of this dude? Photos: Alex

“Finding great powder in the long shadows coming down Janine’s Ridge.” – Alex. Photo: Alex

As we started to head back to Maggie’s, we knew we were in for a treat. The N-treed runs there would be holding equally good snow to Janine’s, if not better.

On the way, we were treated to “The Zen Hour” light:

“Nice light on the last uphill skin of the day.” – Alex. Photo: Alex

At the end, Maggie’s delivered – and then some. Great, untracked, soft pow.

Alex dropping in:

Alex getting deep (see him by the tree line).

Nick says – “This mountain is PURE SNOW. Do you know what the street value is of this stuff????” Photos: Alex

Alex answering with a trail of cold smoke.

This picture is apropos to end the TR. Alex – airing it out down to Granite Lake, heavy pack and all!