A Short Ski Tour in Desolation Wilderness, Feb 26-29/2021
Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2021 3:50 pm
I just returned last week from an abbreviated ski tour out to Lake Aloha where I had hoped to do some ski touring and climbing with my friend Bearzy. We parked in the Sno-Park lot near Echo Summit, which is off Hwy 50, near Johnson Pass. [the required Sno-Park passes are $5/day, $25/year] I got a late start, and in my hurry to camp up high, I shot myself in the foot by racing off on the first well-traveled ski trail out of the lot. It, of course, went over the right ridge in the wrong direction, and I killed a half-hour finding the correct trail to Echo Lakes where the route begins. In the wise words of Winnie the Poo's friend Eeyore, "Nooooo matter."
The summer trail parallels the eastern shore of the Echo Lakes, but is unnecessary now, when both Echo Lakes are so deeply, hopefully ? frozen. Skiing straight across saves a half mile, as long as you are careful not to break through and sink to the bottom along the way. I stripped the skins off at the first lake, and soon realized what the particular challenge of this trip would be- ICYNESS! I skittered along, and when I found open water between the two Echo Lakes, I barely made the detour. Even with my sharp, new, fish-scale patterned skis, I had to struggle mightily to get up a 10 foot, gradual incline...Curses! This was to be the bane of the trip, and the following day, it kept me from trying the long desired climb of Pyramid Peak. I left the full-skins on for all but the crossings of the big lakes, and on some soft surfaces here and there. On the climb I did manage- Mt Ralston, I used ski crampons for the first time, for even more security on the icy ridge. Reading the Tuolumne winter rangers recent post, I should have known. Laura Pilewski wrote that skiing was iffy, pointing out that it's not snow depth, but the surface conditions that really count. Bring pointy things! Luckily I had the new ski-crampons (which are cheap, light, and slip on and off w/o ski removal), and an ice-axe and boot crampons too. I used all of them to stay relatively safe.
I had planned for a 4 days, and 3 nights trip, but it changed to a 3 days, 4 nights trip... at least in my mind. I reckon that the 2 interminable nights should count for 4! Our nights were 6 PM to 7 AM, most of it rolling around in the tent. I read my novel twice. I woke up once at 1 AM, wide awake- so I did some sewing repairs, and talked with Bear.... They were very long nights indeed! I did enjoy three nice, long days in the mountains.
The lower slopes have impressive Juniper trees, and soon we were traveling through a forest of Western White Pines and Hemlock.
My first view of Mt. Ralston- one of the two mountains I hoped to ski up and down.
Mt. Ralston showing part of it's long northwest ridge- the route we skied.
The wind was strong enough to warrant jackets.
Mt. Ralston's northeastern slopes are popular ski and snowboard descents. (SNOOOW / Jon, didn't you ski it? And you too gazelle?)
Late in the day at our camp at the edge of Lake Aloha.
Sunset light on Cracked Crag in the foreground, and Jack's Peak in the back.
Pyramid Peak was the other mountain I hoped to climb.
When I look at the sleeping Bearzy, I imagine that I have a small bear in the tent with me.
Bearzy and I had skied in once before to Lake Aloha, and looked forward to returning to gaze at the Crystal Range. It is a north-south running group of peaks, so the morning sun shines on it beautifully... and then there was the Moon!!
The summer trail parallels the eastern shore of the Echo Lakes, but is unnecessary now, when both Echo Lakes are so deeply, hopefully ? frozen. Skiing straight across saves a half mile, as long as you are careful not to break through and sink to the bottom along the way. I stripped the skins off at the first lake, and soon realized what the particular challenge of this trip would be- ICYNESS! I skittered along, and when I found open water between the two Echo Lakes, I barely made the detour. Even with my sharp, new, fish-scale patterned skis, I had to struggle mightily to get up a 10 foot, gradual incline...Curses! This was to be the bane of the trip, and the following day, it kept me from trying the long desired climb of Pyramid Peak. I left the full-skins on for all but the crossings of the big lakes, and on some soft surfaces here and there. On the climb I did manage- Mt Ralston, I used ski crampons for the first time, for even more security on the icy ridge. Reading the Tuolumne winter rangers recent post, I should have known. Laura Pilewski wrote that skiing was iffy, pointing out that it's not snow depth, but the surface conditions that really count. Bring pointy things! Luckily I had the new ski-crampons (which are cheap, light, and slip on and off w/o ski removal), and an ice-axe and boot crampons too. I used all of them to stay relatively safe.
I had planned for a 4 days, and 3 nights trip, but it changed to a 3 days, 4 nights trip... at least in my mind. I reckon that the 2 interminable nights should count for 4! Our nights were 6 PM to 7 AM, most of it rolling around in the tent. I read my novel twice. I woke up once at 1 AM, wide awake- so I did some sewing repairs, and talked with Bear.... They were very long nights indeed! I did enjoy three nice, long days in the mountains.
The lower slopes have impressive Juniper trees, and soon we were traveling through a forest of Western White Pines and Hemlock.
My first view of Mt. Ralston- one of the two mountains I hoped to ski up and down.
Mt. Ralston showing part of it's long northwest ridge- the route we skied.
The wind was strong enough to warrant jackets.
Mt. Ralston's northeastern slopes are popular ski and snowboard descents. (SNOOOW / Jon, didn't you ski it? And you too gazelle?)
Late in the day at our camp at the edge of Lake Aloha.
Sunset light on Cracked Crag in the foreground, and Jack's Peak in the back.
Pyramid Peak was the other mountain I hoped to climb.
When I look at the sleeping Bearzy, I imagine that I have a small bear in the tent with me.
Bearzy and I had skied in once before to Lake Aloha, and looked forward to returning to gaze at the Crystal Range. It is a north-south running group of peaks, so the morning sun shines on it beautifully... and then there was the Moon!!