There are better photos and beta on a few Dick's Peak threads on this forum. Use the search feature. Also check the guidebook part of the forum stuck at the top of all the trip reports. I drew some popular routes on a topo map you can print out.
Dick's Peak is your goal. Big and in the middle of Desolation. If you go all the way out there however, you're going to want to try to ski some other stuff on the way out. Otherwise it's a long way to go for a 2000' shot that is usually wind affected. It's pretty obvious to come back over the Janine ridge down to Azure Lake in a long day tour. Or go overnight and see the other Crystal Range Peaks from a camp near half moon lake or something.
Here's the view from Bear Scratch on the East shore taken yesterday 1-4-11. black line is our climb. Over Maggies, around the north side of the Janine Ridge, and up the center of Dick's. Then we skied back over the high point of Janine and Maggies. I think this tour is about 5000' vert. We spent 8 hours lovin it out there. Great boot deep powder, and no tracks past Janine Ridge.
Skinning right up the center of the north face looks unlikely from far away, but this is it right here. You'll usually have to walk for 200' near the top and just hold your skis, due to wind hardened snow.
Eric and John coming up to the summit on the right. Maggies' Peaks are the two treed bumps in the center. We spent 4 hours getting to the top from Bayview Trailhead. No sno park permit required. It's a little faster in firmer snow conditions, and certainly longer with a big group or less experienced friends.
View of Roudtop on the left (Crescent Couloir) and Kirkwood on the right. Tahoe is plastered white. The most snow I've seen by this time of year.
Halls couloirs and Echo Peak
Pyramid Peak on the right is just shy of 10k. Neighboring Jack's Peak in the forground on the right, and the steep flank of terrain above Half Moon Lake I keep saying I'm going to check out.
left pic is Eric coming off the summit of Dick's Peak on a narrow East passage that usually isn't filled in enough to ski. The pic on the right is down by Dick's Lake.
rewind a few minutes. great powder on north exposures around tahoe right now. This is coming down to dick's lake before we skinned up through those trees on the right for Janine
View from Janine Ridge high point looking back at Dick's (right) and Jack's (center). Some good pics of Jack's Peak on various threads, very cool mellow descents if you're in for a long day.
West side of Mt. Tallac
