Sierra Trip Reports

Date: Saturday, March 14, 2015

Location: Matterhorn Peak, Eastern Sierra

Skiers: Jon & Nick

Photos: Jon & Nick (as noted)

Synopsis: As the “winter” has progressed here in California, I have been doing a lot of road biking… Long periods of high pressure, sunny skies and warm temps have largely dictated February and March. California was treated to a much needed storm about a week ago, which provided some moisture for the state and a blanket of low-density snow at high elevation. While not the base-building, heavy cement we really needed, no one was in a position to complain.

However, as quickly as the storm came, high pressure and warming temps generally returned. On Wednesday, another storm came across the Sierra that provided several more inches of snow, followed by a warming trend and high pressure. The weekend called for great weather for a mission down to the Eastern Sierra, in search of remaining “wintery” snow at high elevation, north-aspects.

Jon and I drove down from North Lake Tahoe Saturday morning at O-Dark-Thirty to get to the Twin Lakes trailhead at dawn. Photo: Nick

Our plan was to head up Horse Creek drainage and explore the areas around Matterhorn Peak, focusing on several of the couloir options once we got a better sense of snow conditions. It was warm at the trailhead at approximately 6,000 feet, but we were hoping to find some powder remaining up at 11,000-12,000 feet.

The approach up Horse Creek drainage until around 9,000 feet was completely melted out, which actually made for a very fast approach. Rather than skinning through thin snow coverage, we just headed up the well established trail in our shoes with our skis and boots on our packs. It was really quite painless to be honest and quick moving. Photo: Nick

It’s always great to get the first look at your objective in the distance, with morning light cresting upon the summit apex. Photo: Jon

Around 9,000 feet the continuous snow line starts, and we booted up and started skinning, first coming into the Twin Peaks drainage. Photo: Nick

We continued climbing on, heading into the Matterhorn Peak drainage. Nick is off in the distance, with Matterhorn Peak ahead. The East Couloir on the left and the West Couloir on the right were the two initial possibilities. Photo: Jon

The Doodad (I think?) off to the Northeast of Matterhorn Peak. Photo: Nick

As we approach a bit closer, we took a look at the two primary couloirs. The West Couloir looked to be in great shape and didn’t appear to have any wind effect. The East Couloir appeared to be a bit wind scoured up top, so we opted to head towards the West Couloir and check out the conditions a bit further. In this photo are the two branches of the West Couloir (the East Couloir is hidden from view). We ultimately climbed and descended the right branch. Photo: Jon

Nick on the approach, with a really cool circular rainbow above. Photo: Jon

We approached by circling around the drainage to get a better feeling of the snow conditions (both from a warming standpoint and overall stability standpoint). We also wanted to check out the base of Skiers Dream Couloir (which is to snow ramp to the left in this photo) as we were going to head up that later in the day. The snow stablility overall was excellent throughout the day, with only pockets of very small (1-2 inch) wind slabs which were not reactive or really cohesive, and were very sporadic. Overall, the couloirs held great winter snow, and the aprons were transitioning into corn snow. Photo: Jon

Nick and Jon heading across the apron towards the base of the West Couloir. Photos: Jon & Nick, respectively

Nick heading up the West Couloir. Photo: Jon

Jon following up. Photo: Nick

The West Couloir is super aesthetic, with huge granite walls on both sides. Photos: Jon & Nick, respectively

Looking SW out of the top of the West Couloir, the Incredible Hulk off in the distance (home of the Red Dihedral, a 5 Star High Sierra ultra classic climb still on my wish list). Photo: Nick

We discussed our descent on the top before dropping in. Photos: Jon

The upper 30 feet or snow was a bit wind affected, but the remaining 95% of the West Couloir skied fantastic with nice, soft wintery powder. It was quite amazing that the altitude and shaded nature of the couloir had maintained such good snow for essentially over a week and a half (despite the warm temps).

Jon enjoying the fruits of our labor. Photos: Nick

Nick following down. Photos: Jon

It was a fantastic descent of great snow. Photos: Nick, Jon, Jon & Nick, respectively

We then bypassed the East Couloir on account of the obvious wind scouring and headed over to Skiers Dream, which looked to be in good condition. Photo: Jon

There is an obvious reason why this area of the Sierra is called the Sawtooths. Photo: Jon

After finishing booting up Skiers Dream, Nick was pumped for the expansive view and pending descent. Photo: Jon

A couple of multi-shot panoramas I stitched together, with the first looking North down Horse Creek drainage (where we approached from), and the second looking South out into Yosemite National Park and Tuolumne Meadows. Click each for the full sized versions. Photos: Nick

Jon got some close-ups looking South, with Tuolumne Meadows first, and North Peak and Mount Conness in the second. Photos: Jon

The weather at the top was absolutely perfect and it was very early in the day still, so we ate some food and chilled out for a moment. Photo: Jon

Jon gearing up for the descent. Based on our approach up the couloir, we could tell it was in great condition and it was going to be an amazing descent. Photos: Nick

It definitely was. Photo: Nick

Nick gearing up, while Jon gets in position below. Photo: Nick

Nick heading down into the shadows of Skiers Dream Couloir. Photo: Jon

We continued to work our way further down. Jon enjoying the snow, and Nick following suit. Photos: Nick & Jon, respectively

All in all, it was a great day out and we were blessed with an awesome, safe day in the mountains. Photos: Nick, Jon, Nick & Jon

We skied out the apron and looked back at our tracks. Photo: Jon

As we descending, we quickly transitioned from winter snow, to corn to absolute mank near the snow line. The corn zone did ski great, however. Photos: Nick, Jon & Jon, respectively

The further we descended, the quicker it warmed up. Fortunately, I was able to shed layers and throw on the running shorts! Photo: Jon

It’s crazy to think it is March in the High Sierra when looking at a temperature reading like this at 6,000 feet in mid-afternoon! Even crazier in that we were skiing powder about 1.5 hours before. Photo: Jon

It was a great day in the mountains – hoping to do it again soon.