ski touring at mount charleston

Anyone know if there are ever Avy 1 courses held at/around Mount Charleston?  I'm moving to the area from somewhere that avalanches aren't much of a concern as my touring is mostly through lowish angle trees with no real alpine terrain. Is there every something run locally or will I need to figure out where it's being offered up in Utah/CA/AZ?

Tim M wrote: Anyone know if there are ever Avy 1 courses held at/around Mount Charleston?  I'm moving to the area from somewhere that avalanches aren't much of a concern as my touring is mostly through lowish angle trees with no real alpine terrain. Is there every something run locally or will I need to figure out where it's being offered up in Utah/CA/AZ?

https://aiare.info/course_list.php

nope, you go to the sierra or slc to take em...2 different snowpacks. Pick the the type range you plan on being in the most....or just pick SLC, because its sketchier and might teach you more in a short period. BTW we tend to have a really sketchy snowpack here, so def bone up on it.

FrankPS wrote:

https://aiare.info/course_list.php

Thanks! I'd found that, but as there weren't any classes in Utah at all, I wasn't sure if it was comprehensive or if it was missing the Utah (and maybe NV) classes.

Big B wrote: nope, you go to the sierra or slc to take em...2 different snowpacks. Pick the the type range you plan on being in the most....or just pick SLC, because its sketchier and might teach you more in a short period. BTW we tend to have a really sketchy snowpack here, so def bone up on it.

Thanks. I will definitely be boning up. I've got an academic knowledge, but won't be going out until I get a class with some snow time. I read through this thread and saw the sketchy snowpack remarked upon a lot, so that really reinforces that. I am not necessarily looking for big ski mountaineering objectives, but I want to be able to do my more modest touring as safely as possible.

Tim M wrote:

Thanks! I'd found that, but as there weren't any classes in Utah at all, I wasn't sure if it was comprehensive or if it was missing the Utah (and maybe NV) classes.

Look at the Utah Avalanche forecast center page under education 

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I was just out snowshoeing yesterday to the summit of Fletcher Peak via Wildhorse Canyon. Northern facing slopes still holding snow, mainly from last big storm several weeks ago. All South and west facing slopes a dry/melted at this time.  Snow surface conditions on North and NW slopes are varied, at best. Some melting snow corn conditions are interlaced with horrible ice surface, icy especially in the morning before afternoon melting.  I wouldn't go BC skiing right now, but snowshoes were at least fun while climbing.

Tim M wrote: Anyone know if there are ever Avy 1 courses held at/around Mount Charleston?  I'm moving to the area from somewhere that avalanches aren't much of a concern as my touring is mostly through lowish angle trees with no real alpine terrain. Is there every something run locally or will I need to figure out where it's being offered up in Utah/CA/AZ?

There is almost no local/organized AVI knowledge or training for the Spring Mountains, that I am aware of...I've been doing BC for decades and have lived locally for over 10 years now. Anyone else know?? The local Forest Service have no idea what they are doing as well. Anytime it  snows hard, they just publicly tell "everyone" to stay off the mountain...LOL. They don't do any snow slope analysis and never leave the offices or plowed roads.

Michael Benedict wrote:

There is almost no local/organized AVI knowledge or training for the Spring Mountains, that I am aware of...I've been doing BC for decades and have lived locally for over 10 years now. Anyone else know?? The local Forest Service have no idea what they are doing as well. Anytime it  snows hard, they just publicly tell "everyone" to stay off the mountain...LOL. They don't do any snow slope analysis and never leave the offices or plowed roads.

Well that makes things a bit more difficult, but I'm still excited that backcountry opportunities exist pretty nearby. I accepted the job thinking that my skiing would be taking a hit, but it sounds like there is some fun stuff around (depending on the year). I don't need Alaskan spines. A couple of zones where I can do a few laps away from the hustle and bustle of life and I'm a happy man. Anything above that is a bonus.

Thanks a lot, everyone.

Tim M wrote:

Well that makes things a bit more difficult, but I'm still excited that backcountry opportunities exist pretty nearby. I accepted the job thinking that my skiing would be taking a hit, but it sounds like there is some fun stuff around (depending on the year). I don't need Alaskan spines. A couple of zones where I can do a few laps away from the hustle and bustle of life and I'm a happy man. Anything above that is a bonus.

Thanks a lot, everyone.

actually if you're willing to drive a few hours, we have incredible opportunities for bc 

Big B wrote:

actually if you're willing to drive a few hours, we have incredible opportunities for bc 

I absolutely am and have been doing some research one some of the options (mostly in Southern Utah so far). I'm just particularly excited for there to be an option within an hour or so as it means that I'll be able to get out more. 

Heading out to vegas for work this week and was wondering how your snowpack is this year and how that last storm treated the mountain. The storm last week snowed up to 9 feet in the southern california mountains. Anyone want to hike on Wednesday and snowboard at least 6 feet apart let me know.  

Jason Murray wrote: Heading out to vegas for work this week and was wondering how your snowpack is this year and how that last storm treated the mountain. The storm last week snowed up to 9 feet in the southern california mountains. Anyone want to hike on Wednesday and snowboard at least 6 feet apart let me know.  

That storm didn't affect us too much, as far as I can tell. Anyone else been out this week? It NEVER snows 9 feet here at a time on the Spring Mountains, even on the summit. 

Jason Murray wrote: Heading out to vegas for work this week and was wondering how your snowpack is this year and how that last storm treated the mountain. The storm last week snowed up to 9 feet in the southern california mountains. Anyone want to hike on Wednesday and snowboard at least 6 feet apart let me know.  

I was at North Loop Trail this past Sunday. Hiked up to 9,000 feet. In snow nearly all the way but it did not impair walking. The trial is in good springtime condition. Off trail was post holing, waist deep in some places. Going higher might get enough depth to ski/ride on N facing slopes, but I'm hanging up my boards for this year [sad face]

Heading to Vegas with all my gear tomorrow. (From Snoqualmie Pass, WA. Wondering if anyone tours this early in the season or what the community is like post-pandemic. I will def be riding Lees Canyon chairlifts on 13th or 14th with a friend. Debating weather or not to pack the split board gear. I am a very experienced snowboarder. Beacon shovel probes is my most important gear. AIARE level 1. I make very conservative decisions in backcountry. Looking for folks to tour with even if it’s not this trip.

this thread has been dead a while but it seems to come alive every now and again so I’m reaching out and giving it a shot!

Thanks in advance!

Hi Kramer, it's been a fairly warm and nearly bone dry winter so far, I'm not sure there's enough snow up there for you right now.  No precipitation in the forecast for the foreseeable future, either.  Lee Canyon is reporting very few trails open and I think the base being reported is generous.  https://www.leecanyonlv.com/the-mountain/conditions-weather/lift-and-trail-report

Didn't want you coming down here super stoked to only be disappointed.

Hey Kramer, I’m also a split boarder in the valley. Just like Kevin said you really shouldn’t bother. Telescope peak is shaping up to have some good conditions end of January if your around. Otherwise my buddy and I usually go to convict lake (Bishop/mammoth area). If you Mtn bike or climb tis the season for either right now.

Ditto the above. Drove back from some touring in Tahoe this weekend, and it was too dry on pretty much everything from Galena to Grant (just west of Walker Lake) much less the Spring Mountains here, for any backcountry skinning or turns.

Skied Lee Canyon two weeks ago and was pretty sad. Left at noon. They haven't received any precip in the interim. 

Closest good snow for touring is probably up near Beaver Mountain / Eagle Point right now. Might head that way next weekend if anyone is up for it. 

I'd be down for a snowshoe summit in the greater area whenever.

Daniel McGuirewrote:

Closest good snow for touring is probably up near Beaver Mountain / Eagle Point right now. Might head that way next weekend if anyone is up for it. 

It's still pretty thin up there.  I'd wait for another foot or two.