Forums Splitboard Talk Forum St Patty’s Day BC (kind of) trip Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total) Author Posts March 15, 2005 at 7:09 am #566525 Hodiedan 2 Posts 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 March 15, 2005 at 7:13 pm #580758 Ecobrad 2068 Posts I can’t make it but thanks for the invitation. Sounds like a great tour. Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total) You must be logged in to reply to this topic.