April 22nd and 23rd, 2006
Skiing Across Desolation - Hwy 50 to Emerald Bay
Joe and Rich
Day #1 - Saturday, 4/22/06 - Highway 50 to Mt. Ralston to the Aloha Lake Snow Cave
Rich and I had originally planned to go south and ski a big 'ol eastside giant like Mount Humphreys. But an unsettled weather forecast convinced us to keep it more local. We had the hall pass and itch to do something big, so we decided to go for a point to point tour through Desolation Wilderness. We dropped my truck at the Emerald Bay closed gate on Hwy 89 and then drove in Rich's car over Echo Summit to the base of Ralston on Hwy 50. Our goal was to ski up and over as many Desolation peaks as we could in a two day / one night trip. The weather wasn't perfect, but the deep snowpack and surreal surroundings were incredible.
The starting point: Rich's car at the Aspen Tract pull out on Highway 50 (near Sierra at Tahoe).
Looking up the lower flanks of Ralston - our first summit.
Nearing the long summit ridges after the first steep 1,000':
Views improve and the world opens up:
2006 was a BIG year. No need to go stand on this cornice:
Ralston Summit:
Here I am perched above our first descent. We skied the rolling snowfields all the way down to frozen Ralston Lake:
Rich gears up:
Views looking East - Baldy, Talking Mt and Becker ridge
Ready to roll:
Ralston's north face was incredibly filled in. I've never been able to ski the headwall right off the top!
And here I go (Pyramid appearing in the background)
Maybe there wasn't quite as much snow as I thought....sorry Rich.
But it's all good from here!
Rich goes:
Usually this is a solid face of rock, but this year it's all buried.
Chundery pow was served and deserved.
Of course the sun appears after we ski off the summit:
A lot more to go in 'Heli Land' down to the lake:
Jacks and Dicks showing up in the background for the first time of the day:
I had some fun.
Rich and I went from chilling cold in the clouds on top to roasting in the convection oven sun at the bottom:
Nearing the lake:
First summit ski is done (Ralston Lake):
Ski, Stop, Strip clothes, sit down, squirt peanut butter on a bagel, stand up, skin - a routine this man has mastered.
One last look at our line off summit #1 - Mt. Ralston.
So we headed north towards Lake Aloha and the Crystal Range. The clouds stayed away during our trek offering us great views of our next objective. Our goal was to drop our overnight gear and try to ski Mount Price. If the weather stayed like this and we kept moving it shouldn't have been a problem.
Agassiz is the pointy summit on the left, Price is the high point on the right.
Jacks and Dicks came into view too. Day #2 would include skiing up and over both of these guys on our way out to Bayview Trailhead at Emerald Bay.
When we arrived at Aloha the clouds gathered and the weather worsened. We knew we need to find a camp site with some shelter before the storm pounded down on us:
We follow some old ski tracks to the bottom of a big wind drift and found this. A pimp snow cave ready for occupancy!
We unload our packs and ski north along Aloha, wondering if we'll get a shot to climb and ski Price.
Dude - it's way too fuggin' snowy to ski Price!
So happy, hippy powder turns were had on the mellow slopes at the north end of Aloha.
Pow in late April. 2006 rocked!
After a few laps it was back to the cave:
I i-snobbed with my noodles while Rich bonked/puked/rallied.....and we weren't even at 12,000'!?!
Clouds broke a bit for our viewing pleasure at sunset time:
Continue to: Day #2 - Desolation Crossing on Skis
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