Good coverage in Bridgeport down to town and a nice calm sunny day on Tuesday.

Here's a link to the same ski tour a few years ago in March so you can see the snow coverage difference
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1560

thanks to the Crus Schieldz team who broke a skin track up to the glacier. They went up the climber's right chute and I went up the East Couloir with Steve and Danny from our shop. Snow was wind affected in the couloirs and a the snow coverage is pretty good for early Janurary!

Thanks Danny for these great pics











Here we are hanging out in the sun at the top of the East Couloir. This is the usual high point, offering a great view south into the Tuolmne High Country from Dana Peak to the Lyell Glacier. You also get a view to the North of the big peaks in Big Slide Canyon, which have good snow coverage right now as well.


We tried climbing up the backside of Matterhorn but there was pretty deep snow and it was a solar oven at 1pm. I've walked up there in 30 minutes before on firm snow and a faint summer trail, but this looked like a much longer adventure. I quit after 10 minutes of knee deep steps and tricky, slippery rock climbing moves. The summit is super cool, next time we will start earlier and get up there.


Looking north from the top of the East Couloir


Danny makes me look good in these pictures. In reality I survival turned most of the descent, only having a few hours of skiing in this season. Only way to get in shape is go kill yourself doing it though. Matterhorn is a 5000' climb and kind of long in mileage. Then add breaking trail up a couloir and I'm never expecting much. Snowboarding really makes a lot of sense on these longer ski descents.




Down lower we usually find our way into this great couloir. It looks steep and narrow from far away but is only about 35 degrees and wide enough for turns.

_________________
Mike Schwartz
www.thebackcountry.net
mike@thebackcountry.net

Cool - I was wondering how the coverage was looking down there. Skiers Dream looks filled in nicely. I haven't been in that area in a couple of years.

that chute is always a great exit

i heard it was -29 in bridgeport last Sunday night.

-5 at 10 o'clock this morning?.........