Trip Report
Sierra Ski Touring: Kuna Connection into Yosemite
Friday April 8, 2016 4:52pm
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Over 5 fun days, we skied a fun route from June Lake to Tioga Pass via the Kuna Connection. Usually this trip is done from Mammoth Mountain, but due to coverage we decided to get faster access to the high country and deeper snowpack by coming in via June Mountain and San Joaquin Ridge. This allowed for lower mileage days and some really fun skiing along the way.
We made camp below Summit Lake along the PCT, at Waugh Lake, the Headwaters of Kuna Creek below Lost Lakes Pass, and at Dana Meadows. Good coverage throughout, only having to take our skis off to walk once.
Our trip began with 2 guides and 4 guests sharing logistics, with half of our group leaving at Waugh to return via June Lake loop. I continued on towards Tioga with my guests, excited to get a good look at conditions in the Yosemite High Country. Things are looking good.
The crux, as always is the Kuna Connection, which crosses the Kuna Crest above Helen Lake. A large cornice is usually present, but we were able to get ourselves into the bowl without lingering under it. It is steep and firm for a bit, but then gave way to 1000' of great soft snow skiing.
After getting past Tioga we were able to ski to Ellery where snowline currently is. Plowing is underway, but there are some pretty big drifts from Ellery on up. For us, it was a long walk out on the road to our waiting shuttle, and cold beers.
Poor weather is on its way towards the Sierra putting a stop to a planned personal Trans-Sierra ski tour this week, but hopefully the weather cooperates later this month when I have a bit more time off scheduled for touring.
Hoots
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About the Author Ryan Huetter grew up near the coastal tidewaters of the Puget Sound in Washington State, but has since traded moss and rain for the sunshine and splitter cracks of the Sierra Nevada. Since graduating from Western Washington University in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in Outdoor Adventure Management, he has called the Sierra home. Working as a full time mountain guide while pursuing IFMGA certification, he is able to enjoy the unbelievable year round skiing and climbing the Sierra is known for. |
Comments
NutAgain!
Trad climber
https://nutagain.org
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Cool stuff! I was checking out an itinerary very close to this within the last few weeks. Need to firm up plans for a trip a few weeks from now, will have from a Thursday through a Sunday to bite off as much adventure as we can.
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10b4me
Social climber
Lida Junction
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Thanks for this. A nice report.
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pc
climber
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Thanks for sharing. Looks like great times.
Cheers,
pc
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Kalimon
Social climber
Ridgway, CO
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Hard to beat spring touring in the Sierra Nevada . . . Thanks for the nice share.
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Great outing thanks for sharing!
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Sweet ride Hoots! Thanks for posting.
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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Apr 10, 2016 - 04:50am PT
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Everyone needs to do a trip like that at least once in their life
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Ezra Ellis
Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
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Apr 10, 2016 - 09:45am PT
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Nice tour, thank you !
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Radish
Trad climber
SeKi, California
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Apr 10, 2016 - 11:06am PT
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Great dream trip! Good year for snow too....finally! Thanks for sharing.
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Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
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Apr 10, 2016 - 12:33pm PT
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Looked like a corn fest, thanks for posting.
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johntp
Trad climber
Punter, Little Rock
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Apr 15, 2016 - 08:27am PT
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Bump. Even better to do a ski tour during a full moon cycle.
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crankster
Trad climber
No. Tahoe
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Apr 15, 2016 - 09:02am PT
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Great pics - and weather.
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survival
Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
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Apr 15, 2016 - 09:12am PT
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Beautiful!! Almost makes me want to dig skis out!!
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The Lisa
Trad climber
Da Bronx, NY
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Apr 15, 2016 - 12:20pm PT
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What a fun tour! We got gypped here in the NE this winter, only toured a couple of days.
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ryankelly
climber
Bhumi
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Apr 15, 2016 - 01:29pm PT
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Nice one!
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Adamame
climber
Santa Cruz
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Apr 18, 2016 - 12:43am PT
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Such an awesome trip. That Kuna Bench is pretty mind blowing. Did the same trip in the opposite direction in January.
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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May 10, 2016 - 12:28pm PT
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Mungie like, MUNGIE LIKE!!!
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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May 10, 2016 - 12:39pm PT
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WOW!
John
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splitclimber
climber
Sonoma County
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May 19, 2016 - 04:17pm PT
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KUNA!!!
TFPU Hoots.
The crest has so much fun terrain.
what are we looking at here? Lost lakes/Blacktop?
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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May 19, 2016 - 05:21pm PT
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Thanks for that. The white stuff can keep on coming all spring, far as I'm concerned.
SLR, I agree totally that everyone should try a High Sierra winter trip at least once.
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Ed H
Trad climber
Santa Rosa, CA
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May 19, 2016 - 08:40pm PT
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Snow camping and ski touring! Yea! TFPU
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