Fairly skied out, but plenty of snow for this ski. A rarity. Park at the Sand Harbor Boat Ramp, pay for a parking pass, and walk across the street. An easy 2000' skin or so. We downclimbed into the run from the top due to rime and ice issues. You can more easily access the top of the ski a few hundred feet lower in the skin track. Pretty crusty a this point, but you can still shop around for good winter snow. You don't get that close to the lake at this elevation anywhere else. You're basically skiing beneath the bike portage spot on the flume trail.















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

Mike, Great shots ! I like the low fog/clouds in the background.

Jim

JM

today at the scratch. Sun got the snow by afternoon on this west exposure. Will be crusty tomorrow out of the shade. Plenty of snow and definately some powder to get in places. Steep skinning, but the views are obviously worth the effort!

the avy gully people usually ski and call Bear Scratch is the narrow runway on the right. You go right past the flume trail, in the spot where you have to dismount from your bike to walk over the slide debris.














Rose Knob Peak on the left, mt. Rose Peak on the right

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

Saw those tracks when I drove by yesterday. Glad to see it was Mike taking advantage. Looked nice.

It is fat right now, 25degree spine lines and unreal views. Woohoo!

great day with no one up there on 1-4-11. Possibly because everyone slayed it on a day or two earlier. We still found a place to come down away from all that, awsome day with logan, lynette, and roger.

This is a tough climb and descent. A little more than I remember each time I've gone. Low coverage down lower, steep skinning up higher, thick trees in spots, and the snow doesn't stay cold and dry for long. You probably shouldn't go. The view isn't that great either.

If you aren't good at skinning steeps, head around the north side of the avy path and begin a long journey through tight trees to find the summit.



A look at Desolation from the summit. Today 1-5-11 I went on the dick's tri-summit tour with eric and john. up the black line, down the blue. 8 beautiful hours.


Looking north at the Mt. Rose Wilderness


getting through the top of the avy path is a little challenging, but fun to figure out

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