Location: Lassen Peak, NE face aspects from the Devastated Area

Day 1:

on approach (participants hiding in the trees, lower left)




ascent of NE face, note the guy above the two climbers is glissading (read semi-controlled self arrest) from the summit wearing crampons


rider starts her turns near first line (right side)


2nd run tracks


Day 2: goal was to take it easy in preparation for Shasta...later beta would reveal high avy activity and a subsequent return to the N side of Lassen

view on approach


skin towards ridge


view of Shasta


turns




other turns


more turns...splitn da rocks


shimmering lines


Day 3:

3 splitters ascend to top of hourglass aspect


tracks


Good times n turns on a CA volcano.

_________________
Chris

wow. corn doesn't get better than that and you had the whole mountain to yourself too!

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

Yeah, the lack of people was quite surprising...and thoroughly savored 8)

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Chris

Last weekend was probably the best corn I've ever ridden. First day was this transitional snow that just sprayed and flowed down the mountain with you. Unreal!! Perfect weather each day without the high avi scare that Shasta had. Very few people were out and we were the only ones camping in the lot. Skinning from the car too.

It was cool to ride with you 96.

Likewise. Maybe I'll catch up to you on the East side of Shasta in the coming weeks.

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Chris

Skied Lassen NE side Devastated Area on Monday 5/18. Pretty good coverage up high with not much wet slide activity, pretty smooth snow surface. Warm temps with no overnight freeze didn't provide the best skiing conditions with punchy snow in spots all the way to the summit. There was about a 25 minute walk to enough snow to skin and this is melting out quickly, the trailhead on the devastated side is around 6500', could be a long walk when the road fully opens up.

Still firing some quality corn up there. Did the North side in primo corn at 10:00 AM and then the West side in even better corn at noon. Lots of snow to ski to and from the car at the south side, although booting is easier in the mornings if it freezes.

Anyone know if the road is plowed to the south face parking lot yet?

here's a shot of Lassen's east and northeast side taken on tuesday 5-26-09

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

It's plowed past the summit parking lot. But the road is only open to Bumpass Hell - as of last weekend. I have no clue why it's not open all the way through yet, seems like the plowing part is done. Parking at Bumpass Hell is nice since there is still plenty of snow to ski right back to the car and make the most of that little bit of extra vert. I heard there is quite a bit of dry travel to get to the NE side from the devastated area now.

Nice picture Mike. Lassen is mellow but nearly any aspect can be skied from any spot on any day.