St Patty’s Day BC (kind of) trip

Where to: Star Lake and Jobs Sister

When: Thursday, March 17, 2005 9:00 am sharp

Why such short notice: The snow is melting.

Meet at: Heavenly Ski Resort California base lodge at
the Base of Gunbarrell lift. I’ll try to be in the
cafeteria before that where we can do a bit of map
work. If you have never met me before, look for the
white guy in ski clothes. I should have a pack with
me and a quadrangle map on the table.

Which way: Purist will mock our cheating ways, but
this trip will take a route via ski lifts from
Heavenly ski resort.
I did a Nordic route of this planned trip today.
Even though I am often disgusted with our local
mountain, I will be skiing Heavenly forever and am
very careful not to get my pass taken away. Today,
the Fullstone Canyon back country gate was not
accessible due to Skyline Trail and all Nevada upper
mountain lifts were on wind hold. I stopped in the
main Heavenly ski patrol shack on top of Sky to ask
how I can have a legal access point. When I mentioned
I was going to Star Lake, the lock down patroller
looked baffled and asked me, “Why, would you want to
do that?” I told him I do this kind of shit all the
time. He told me to take off from the backside of
Monument Peak.
I thought Heavenly has a closed border with BC
gate access only, but I think the ski patrol isn’t
worried about the BC due to the low avalanche danger.
Like the rest of the passholders to this huge Nordic
Center, I am often confused with Vailcorps boundary
policy. If they question us, I can tell them what
their patroller told me.
We will rip down all the way to Monument Pass and
get on the Tahoe Rim Trail or we can take a high
traverse and straddle the county line on the Carson
range ridge. From there, we have a three mile
southward trek to Star Lake then skin up the northeast
aspect of Jobs Sister to ride the steep north facing
slopes/chutes until say 4:30 pm. Once we have a
bodycount, we can ski from Star Lake down
more than 3,000 vertical through High Meadows State
Park into Cold Creek Canyon ending up around Cold
Creek and Pioneer Trail. I live two hundred yards
from this area where I can shuttle people back to
there cars at the California Base Lodge. As long as
we don’t have to go to Barton Memorial Hospital after
the trip, I plan to BBQ at my house, so skiers as well
as day job non participants can join in that.

Total mileage from California Base Lodge to my house
minus laps on Jobs Sister: Today, I got back from
this route in five hours and figure eight to ten
miles- possibly more if we get lost.

Return time: Ideally before dark.

Why pervert the spirit of the Back Country and use
lift serve: Because I am one lazy mutha fucka
who wants to cut over 3,800 feet of climbing to one of
the more remote area in the Basin where theoretically,
we should have enough strength to do a few laps on the
north face of Jobs Sister.

Ski level of this trip: Super Duper Ultra Extreme
Expert quadruple black diamond skiers only- just
kidding, but this is a somewhat dangerous trip not
only becuase of the 40+ degree steep north face of
Jobs Sister (there is a plethra of less steep terrain
all over this area), but the return down is thick with
trees and a wide variety of snow conditions including
the forest floor which has magically appeared in the
past couple of weeks. In other words, expect core
shots. Be aware that lift serve resorts are subject
to closure. Call Heavenly in the morning and try to
actually talk to a person about what is really open.
If winter returns and the snow turns into glacial ice,
we can all put our heads together on Thursday morning
and figure out if this is just another stupid idea Dan
came up with. I promised Dave Beck I wouldn’t die
until I’m out of Avy 2. In all seriousness, safety
first. If we all decide the danger level is too high
to do the chutes, I am fine with that, it’s still a
great BC trip.

Weapon of choice: I used my tele set up today and
never once busted out the skins perferring to Nordic
skate much of the terrain. Tele gear would be ideal
for the route in. My traverse home was mostly
downhill and could be boarded with good pole work. I
haven’t made up my mind, but am leaning towards my
splitboard as I am more likely to survive the chutes
on a board than flailing on my 192 cm Karu Special
K’s. The problem with the split board is the rolling
three mile entry.

You elitist Gaper, do you think everyone has a pass to
Gaperville?: I realize that many of you do not have
passes to Heavenly. But with the recent summerlike
weather, comps are flying out the doors of many local
business establishments. In other words, ask around
town and you may be able to score a free lift ride up.
I have two $25 vouchers left that I’d give anyone who
wants to come on this trip. You could ask Heavenly
Ski Patrol and tell them you are digging snow pits,
and I’d imagine they’ll give you one in exchange for
your data. You don’t have to come with us through the
resort. The traditional route starts at Luther Pass
and you can meet us at Star Lake.

Bring: A butt plug for when you see these chutes
close up. Even though the avalanche danger is low,
these chutes are wind loaded If anyone has some
explosives, that would be key, we’ll have to do some
ski cutting before dropping in. If you have a cell
phone or two way radios, bring them. Bring a shovel,
probe, and beacon (if you don’t have a beacon borrow
one from some employed person that can’t make the trip
or rent one from Sierra Cycle Works for $10). Lunch,
flashlight, water. If you are thinking about doing
the chutes, bring a helmet, and possibly an ice ax.
We need at least 100 feet (ideally 150+) of rescue
ropes (8mm). I’ll bring a gun for the snowmobile
biatholon (no snowmobiles allowed up here) and wear a
life preserver as I couldn’t judge the ice depth of
Star Lake.

Call or write if you have any questions. Please
respond if you are planning on coming along.

-Dan Seufert
530-541-0319