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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 15, 2009 - 08:24pm PT
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So Sugar Bowl and the other resort around Donner looks like a decent snow for x-country skiing. Is that accurate? 80 looks pretty clear too!
Anybody? I may pull a day trip there.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Topic Author's Reply - Dec 15, 2009 - 09:11pm PT
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Thanks, F.!
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Fogarty
climber
BITD
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Dec 15, 2009 - 09:53pm PT
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Have to start them young.
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xtrmecat
Big Wall climber
Kalispell, Montanagonia
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Dec 15, 2009 - 10:39pm PT
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Not x-country, but Rondo is close enough. Hey Kath, I got some good turns in already up here in the "Holy Mont". Looked for the ice to see if it is in condition, it is.(see blue at the bottom of photo)
Alpinglo shots are harder than one would think. P&S doesn't do it justice.
For your stoking pleasure, this is the view we had while taking in our late alpine lunch.
And the sunset 25 minutes later wasn't too bad either.
Get out there and do them turns. It aint the Sierra, but good enough for me.
Bob
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 6, 2010 - 08:58pm PT
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A couple of questions;
What's the best place to winter/snow-camp near Donner? Indian Springs? Donner Lake?
Anybody wanna go this weekend? I'm pondering it and don't wanna go solo.
Does 80 require chains? 4WD only okay? My tires are balding so I may bring the chains I think.
My buddies are going down-hilling, but I wanna do some x-c skiing, just don't want a resort but want a partner for off-trail stuff.
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Maysho
climber
Soda Springs, CA
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Hey Blue,
Up to you but snow camping at Indian Springs or Donner Lake would be camping in hearing range of big traffic, bummer IMHO. Good snow camping would be to head north a bit from the true summit on old 40, head out behind School Rock, just far enough to be out of sight of Donner Ski Ranch.
You might consider Clair Tappaan Lodge at the Summit. Cheap, bunks and meals, plus you would probably find someone to tour with. http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/lodges/ctl/
OR if not, you could safely solo some ski tour routes right out of the back of the lodge. I will actually be there this weekend, but busy with a youth group. but happy to show you routes on a map. Aside from our small group, I know it is not a busy weekend there.
No chains required right now, and only 30% chance of snow in forecast friday/saturday. You should carry chains, but probably won't need em.
Peter
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 6, 2010 - 09:19pm PT
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Thanks, Peter, you're always helpful. I'll ponder that. I might actually do the solo thing.
I'll let you know if I'll be up there.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Topic Author's Reply - Jan 6, 2010 - 10:32pm PT
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Hey Peter, if I were to camp behind schoolhouse, where is a cool parking spot?
What do you think? I may just play it safe and camp at Indian Springs or something, I dunno. I'm kinda anti-social, I don't know if the lodge thing would work out for me....
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HighTraverse
Trad climber
Bay Area
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bluey
Can't make a better suggestion than Claire Tappan I'm afraid.
If you want to "dirtbag" it, plenty of spots along the old Donner Pass Highway east of the summit (below snowshed wall)
Can be VERY cold at night.
Solo skiing: Ski as far as you like up towards Castle Peak. If you've got heavier gear you can ascend/descend the SW Ridge of Castle Peak. Lighter gear, head down towards Peter Grubb Hut.
HMMMM.... if you want to carry it all in, you might be able to get a space at Peter Grubb Hut. It's an easy 4-5 miles from the car. Reservations from Sierra Club/Tappan Lodge.
The trip to Peter Grubb hut is enjoyable even in sh#t weather. It's heavily traveled so you're not going to get totally lost or in trouble. And you can turn back at any time.
The Peter Grubb/Castle Peak trail starts North of 80 at the Boreal Exit. There's Sno Park parking on the south side of 80. You can buy a permit from the lodge there.
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miss.julienne
Trad climber
Capitola, California
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Jan 15, 2010 - 02:08pm PT
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Bump for my new found intrest in winter!!!
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aguacaliente
climber
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Nov 22, 2010 - 04:32am PT
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QITNL,
read up at these pages, DAVE'S NORDIC BACKCOUNTRY SKIING PAGE
http://home.comcast.net/~pinnah/DirtbagPinner/dirtbag.html
if you are thinking about skiing off set trails with a pack you may want the kind of touring gear Dave talks about rather than the very light regular XC ski gear. If you live near a place that rents XC skis (typically the light gear) go rent some and have fun for a day and see what's different.
XC gear is relatively inexpensive, at least compared to downhill, plus you can often find lightly used gear at craigslist, consignment places, even ebay sometimes. But you need to make sure you get boots that fit and then find skis/bindings that match, I think.
the telemarktips.com forum will talk about ski touring as well as alpine/downhill oriented telemarking.
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Urmas
Social climber
Sierra Eastside
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Nov 22, 2010 - 11:10am PT
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The Gear Exchange, Mammoth Mountaineering Supply's consignment store in Bishop has a lot of good cross country gear for sale. Their store in Mammoth has some good waxless touring skis for demo. It would be worth trying it out before you buy.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
SoCal
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Nov 22, 2010 - 12:10pm PT
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Snagged a pair of 195 cm alpine skiis at the thrift store for $4 yesterday.
Gonna slap my AT bindings on 'em. Skin up in the early season snow and thrash those old timer's good.
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ryanb
climber
Seattle, WA
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Nov 22, 2010 - 01:08pm PT
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We got into backcountry skiing last year via xcd/rugged touring and I have some thoughts on gear. A tipical ski day for us last year consisted of trucking around on old logging roads and through alpine meadows seeking out relatively mellow glades and hills to make tele turns through and occasionally doing a bit of bushwhacking.
I'd suggest getting relatively (by nordic standards) fat shaped, metal edged waxless skis. It is nice to be able to makes some turns on the way down and have some float for breaking trail instead of having to stick the groomed trails and snow mobile tracks.
Sierra trading posts seems to have good deal on atomic rainears a few times a year (sign up for their email list for additional coupons) my fiance has these and likes them:
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,1707K_Atomic-Rainier-Nordic-Touring-Skis-Posigrip-For-Men-and-Women.html
Some other good options would be some of the madshus or rossignols with similar designe or the discontinued karhu guides or 10th mountains (which are now the madshus.) I have the guides and like them except on ice... they have an issue with the edge bevel underfoot. Madshu's and rossignol's new models can be seen here:
http://www.rei.com/search?cat=4500288&cat=4501581&hist=cat,4500288:Metal-Edge+Touring^cat,4501581:Metal-Edge+Touring+Skis
We got voile 3-pin cabel bindings which are decent, reliable redundant (still work if the cables or the pins break) cheap and have kind of tour mode (unhook the cables and use just the pins). If buying again i would get the voile 3 pin hardwire cbr for the safety release as I jarred my knees a few times getting the skis caught in bushes or stream beds etc.
Get used two-three buckle plastic tele boots. Soft two buckle boots are perfect for rugged touring, we have the garmot velochess and scarpa t3s. You should be able to find a pair for less then one hundred as everyone into downhill is upgrading and they are warm and have enough oompf for mellow turning. Second ascent in seattle has a great selection (also of this sort of skis).
We eventually got skins as well as we started to run across steeper terrain... again sierra trading post has some great deals if you sign up for the coupons.
This year we are getting avi gear/education and looking at getting AT stuff for venturing out onto the ridge lines and summits etc.
http://www.turns-all-year.com/
http://www.telemarktalk.com/phpBB/index.php
Are decent sites with a backcountry touring contingent and good classified adds for gear.
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PhilG
Trad climber
The Circuit, Tonasket WA
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Nov 22, 2010 - 01:53pm PT
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Here's a picture to support our shared love of Cross Country Skiing
There's even good skiing above Tonasket!
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Maysho
climber
Soda Springs, CA
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Nov 22, 2010 - 02:26pm PT
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Sure Tele is graceful, elegant, and fun.
To each their own, but for my taste, I like to get fit, go light, and feel the sublime flow of flying up and down on the snowy landscape, sometimes on the groomed,
sometimes way way back there! (approaching Lamark Col - Evolution solo skate)
4 plus feet on the ground at my house, skiing is here!! However you want to slide -- just do it!
Peter
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Maysho
climber
Soda Springs, CA
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Nov 22, 2010 - 02:52pm PT
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I agree about the Dana Couloir! On skate skis I would contour around the backside.
I had a heads up thrilling time on that couloir on some old Fischer GT's and leather boots, a few days later someone showed me that my skis were bent!
Would be nice to do it again on the modern stuff.
Come back to Tahoe for a visit Craig! Plenty of room at my place on Donner Summit.
Cheers,
Peter
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Nov 22, 2010 - 08:29pm PT
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Peter, when I lived in Vail I got into a bunch of backcountry/ski mountaineering, kinda stuff on skate skis. it is is amazing what you can do with the right hardpack/crust; 13k' peaks 'n stuff.
Another, final frontier!
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R.B.
Big Wall climber
Land of the Lahar
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Nov 22, 2010 - 09:04pm PT
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I x-c skied last night and will tonight at about sea level here in WA. Gotta love arctic air!
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