ski touring at mount charleston

Sara Weimar wrote: Anyone interested in skinning up the North Loop area and Wild Horse tomorrow? Probably will go to Raintree too. Probably get up there around 10 am, maybe a little earlier.

As for the Sisters, we’ll go up from Old Mill to the ridgeline, up to South Sister, then if we have the energy, we’ll pick our way across to North Sister, then down its NE ridgeline to the saddle and then back down to the highway. 

Sent a PM.

Sara Weimar wrote: Anyone interested in skinning up the North Loop area and Wild Horse tomorrow? Probably will go to Raintree too. Probably get up there around 10 am, maybe a little earlier.

As for the Sisters, we’ll go up from Old Mill to the ridgeline, up to South Sister, then if we have the energy, we’ll pick our way across to North Sister, then down its NE ridgeline to the saddle and then back down to the highway. 

Could you post how conditions are in wild hose if you go. I’ve been up bristlecone and Griffith and both are still deep with great snow. Just debating where to go this weekend and conditions report would be much appreciated.

Wild Horse was holding good snow on the northern aspects, somewhat heavier and wetter powder the lower in elevation one goes. East aspects weren’t too bad either.

How were avy conditions for Griffith? Did you ski it from the ridge, in vicinity of South Loop Trail? Also, how was the parking? I may try to go up there on Tuesday if it’s good. 

Went up little falls last weekend in what can only be described as a soul crushing wallow looking to climb ice.  Its compleatly filled in and super soft snow, was kicking myself for not bringing skis.  Got in one pitch of WI4 at the top (super delaminated, thin and no pro).  Rolled over to echo falls and fought through deep snow (like half the climb was burried) to bag it.  It was my first time up there ever and will deff be back.  May head back on skies from the charelston lodge area early next week.

Jeff

Anyone down for a tour this weekend? Also any recommendations for best ski mounter near town for a pair of carbon skis? 

Summited and skied Charleston last weekend. About 15 turns on the main east face, then a hard left into the Hourglass. Decent corn most of the way, but definitely getting to be dicey wet snow conditions down low. Still great coverage for this time of year, though.

Mark T wrote:

Summited and skied Charleston last weekend. About 15 turns on the main east face, then a hard left into the Hourglass. Decent corn most of the way, but definitely getting to be dicey wet snow conditions down low. Still great coverage for this time of year, though.

thats awesome! good photo too, thanks. What route did you take to the summit and what was your time roughly?

We skinned up the Lee Canyon runs and then climbed up the far climber’s right chute above the ski resort to the ridge. After that we worked out way along the ridge on what is the North Loop trail (which is tricky in winter conditions with ski boots and skis on the pack), climbed a fairly dicey section up and over Devil’s Thumb and then up the north ridge to the summit. Climb time was 9 hours, but we were route finding a lot, took time taking pictures and taking our time on the trickier sections, so I think you could do it in 6-7 hours if you knew exactly where you were going and didn’t delay much.

Mark T wrote: We skinned up the Lee Canyon runs and then climbed up the far climber’s right chute above the ski resort to the ridge. After that we worked out way along the ridge on what is the North Loop trail (which is tricky in winter conditions with ski boots and skis on the pack), climbed a fairly dicey section up and over Devil’s Thumb and then up the north ridge to the summit. Climb time was 9 hours, but we were route finding a lot, took time taking pictures and taking our time on the trickier sections, so I think you could do it in 6-7 hours if you knew exactly where you were going and didn’t delay much.

Pics, let's see pics!! I've been nursing a right knee injury for about 7 weeks now, so I might need to just break out crampons and ice axe rather than skiing the rest of the local season. :(

Summited Mummy Mtn yesterday and coming back down the east face would have been amazing skiing. No tracks  anywhere either. Seems like an easy approach for big reward.

How did you get up there? North Loop Trail? Was the snow rotten at all for skinning/walking? Lots of postholing or no?

I left the car at 6:40 am...walked up thru the Deer Creek Picnic area until it meets up with the Cougar Trail Road, aka Forest Service Road 068. At the third hair pin turn there is a small creek which drains the 3 main chutes when looking at Mummy Mountain's (MM) East face, which you can take all the way up. I came down this way, and actually took the gully just to the left up which I feel is the easier of the two (less steep, wider, and only one big step) to go up at least.  If you want more beta, happy to send out some screen shots of google maps. Right now MP says I can't upload screen shots of topos.... I did not posthole at all, I didn't even put on crampons until I was at the base of the cliffs just before the summit of MM as there was a small weather system that came thru on Monday and dropped a nice inch and a half layer of powder up there that was easy to kick into. I hung out up there until about noon or so, and 12:30 - 1:00 I was back on the main face and was kicking my self for not hauling up my snowboard, it would have been PRIME conditions, just perfect for coming down on skis or a board. My objective was to explore south and East of the main ridge between MM and what others refer to as "MJ Peak". The MJ registry only had like10 names on it back to like 1995, so it doesn't see a lot of foot traffic. But I wanted to explore more of that area and try and find some ice in the steeper chutes so carrying extra equipment wasn't conducive for efficiency on this trip. Next time though...I'll pack it up and ditch it at the base of the cliffs, go explore and just have to come back to it for the ride down. I saw on the news today though that Charlie was expecting temps as high as 66 degrees... so its going to be melting off fast if it is getting that warm. When I was up there the peak was in the 30's but back at the car at 2:00 it said 50 degrees. 

Anyone interested for a Sierra trip to go for a summit & ski of Mt Whitney via the mountaineers route? Very psyched on it. Thinking about driving out from LV next Friday afternoon 5/10, bivy at trailhead and go for an alpine start day push on Saturday 5/11. Back in Vegas by Sat night. I’m a Ski Patroller in OR with lots of backcountry experience, in Vegas til June and wanna get up in some big mountain snow while it’s good!

Heading to Vegas tonight from San Diego. I'm going to be headed up to Lee Canyon area in the morning and wanted to see were a good place would be to hike and hopefully snowboard. Looks like there was plenty of snow left from recent pictures.  I've only been to Lee Canyon once this March and had a great time hiking dolomite and bristlecone.ridge. Any info would be appreciated and would be stoked for a partner if anyone is up for it.

Anyone get out and ski since the storm last week? Was thinking of trying Giffith or Upper Bristlecone - wanted to just skin the Lee Canyon ski area but it is closed for construction. Looking for some advice if I should bring my touring stuff or if it is too thin (flying out tomorrow). Thank you in advance!

We have snow.
This is from 11/28/19
https://youtu.be/96_Mut-9l2s

I went Friday and Saturday near the North Loop Trail and Cougar Ridge...there’s enough powder, but you just have to be careful about hidden obstacles. Should be even better up by the ski resort...not sure, but you still might be able to park up there and then go skin outside the boundary. 

Thank you both for the info! Got my ski stuff together and hope to get some turns in :)

North facing slopes around upper bristlecone harbored great soft snow on Thursday. Fun time exploring a new area and no core shots haha