Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2004 8:41 pm Posts: 1603 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Here are some beta pics from Sat-Tues last week, mostly around Tioga. Conditions were decent, though the snow is still transitional in some areas. Also some stuff was getting pretty warm and rotten, need some good melt-freeze cycles. Weather looks to be vacillating between above and below normal temps, so YMMV.
Most importantly, conditions at the Mo-mart are GOING OFF!!!
Dana plateau. V-bowl is burnt. Many of the upper chutes were getting ridden, then climbed back out. Mostly Coke, Ripper and Powerhouse. 3rd Pillar doesn't go.
Gibbs
Powerhouse. It was still worth doing to the bottom last weekend, but was going quick. The diagonal connector requires some walking on dirt to get into, and there's a burnt section between that and the top of the last snowfield above the cars. Probably not worth it anymore, it's just as easy to go straight down the drainage to where it ends and talus-hop to the road. Likely not worth doing to the bottom by this weekend.
Upper Powerhouse
Upper Powerhouse chute entrances felt steeper than normal due to low snowpack
Powerhouse exit
Ellery was looking pretty bony at the top of the bowl, and Chute Out requires a downclimb. Apparently it was riding pretty well though. Didn't ride in there myself but heard it was good, there were lots of people up there.
Third Pillar. Someone sideslipped about 100 ft down, then decided f*ck this and climbed back out. Two major chockstones completely block the choke.
Liberty. Huuuuge wet cornice, super tight entrance, crappy snow. What's not to like? (umm, not recommended...)
Unknown was in good shape. Looked like lots of folks hit it.
Top of the plateau. Still a decent amount of snow to skin on.
Glacier canyon.
Looking up towards Solstice entrance and Dana summit. Sounded like Solstice was riding really well. Not many reports on Dana other than give it time to soften up.
Dana and Solstice
View of Dana/Plateau/Ellery area from across the road by top of Greenstone area
Backside route up to Conness plateau
False White
White area
Saddlebag. Lake was still frozen and skinnable, not sure for how long. Road is patchy. More road than snow on first mile, then more snow than road 2nd mile.
Greenstone area looking good
Conness area
Snow finger/S couloir. S doesn't quite go from the top... but it is downclimbable.
Backside of North Peak. We were going to head over there and hit the chutes but bailed. Probably should have gone, I heard they are in good shape.
Flinty's
Bottom of Y couloir, and Conness summit chutes. Shrunds just starting to open.
Backside route up to top of Conness plateau
Top of Flinty's
Shots from the drive home. Dunderberg to Green Creek run looks worth doing, at least from here. Probably a decent amount of schwacking at the Green Creek exit.
Twin Lakes/Matterhorn area
Shot from near the hairpin turn on the west side of Sonora pass. Is the second one Leavitt/Y?
Joined: Thu Dec 02, 2004 4:26 pm Posts: 407 Location: S.F. Bay Area
Great beta and photo collection... Looks like there is still a lot of fun to be had, even if a little extra work is required to get to it...
Where was the second to last shot? The chutes in the background look fun... Now to see if these photos are enough to convince my wife to shift gears from beach volleyball back to the snow... Wish me luck...
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