December 6, 2008
Up the Little Walker to Mount Emma
Joe, Toby
Many more mountains to be explored. Looking west from the summit of Mount Emma - 12/6/08
The skimpy December snow pack comes with few advantages for the addicted, afflicted skiers. One would be drivable access on roads that are usually buried in the winter. We had noticed the snow pack in the mountains up the Little Walker River valley looked good from 395. So we took a shot at driving the road, and surprisingly made it all the way to the end of it at the base of Mount Emma at (8,600'). From there we skinned, booted and stumbled our way up and around Mount Emma for a day of searching for good snow and few rocks. We did pretty good considering. Lots of good stuff to come back for around these parts. Probably wait until Spring though.
After emerging from the thick trees we got this view of Mount Emma (left) and surrounding ridges. We would ski this face of Emma and then Toby hit the ridge on the right while I rested my wimpy shin.
View looking North towards 395 and the Sweetwater Range. That is Walker Canyon on the left, the turnoff to Sonora Pass is the big meadow just below Walker Canyon. The Little Walker River road we drove up is visible in the Center/Right of the picture.
Looking West. Those distant peaks are the Sonora Pass area:
South. Walker Mountain (~11,500') is on the far right. Another road goes quite a ways up Burt Canyon towards the base of this guy. It looks worthy to me. I had hoped to get that rare and coveted view of the north facing peaks in Buckeye Canyon. But no dice. I think the distant, tallest peak on the left with two summits is Dunderberg.
Here is a picture I found on the internet of Buckeye Canyon. Eagle Peak is out of view to the left, Hunewill is the distant tall peak further up canyon. There is no road in there to drive right to the base of these guys, but there is 4,000' of steep vertical for those willing to venture back there. I think I'm willing.
Back to Emma....Had to downclimb to the snow fields on the NW face. More good turns than bad, but plenty of both.
My line. A long enough run with a nice fall line. Textured snow was good. Smooth snow was not.
Looking back at the chutes Toby skied. This place will be great with a full snow pack.
Toby took a quick mini lap on this adjacent ridge and found nice snow in the sheltered trees.
NW face of Emma:
We headed back up to ridge of Mount Emma to ski some soft snow in the trees back to the truck.
I'd call this *powder*....the desperation is setting in, isn't it?
Just a few more shots of December, 2008 in Tahoe. Hopefully it will be a whole lot whiter in a few weeks. Kids on Pie Shop in shorts and T-shirts!
