Tahoe backcountry
April 11-12, 2009
youtube video

On Saturday, Karén and I went to Heavenly in the morning. There a few inches of fresh powder and there were some untouched places so we had a blast. At noon, we got down to the car and drove to the Mt Tallac parking lot and skinned up to the top. For some *(&(#@ reason, the access road was blocked so we had to walk down dry pavement for a couple of miles in our ski boots. The way to the top was a slog but we kept looking at the excellent turns people had made before us, fueling us for the ascent. Sadly by the time we were ready to ski down, it was already past 4pm and the temperatures had dropped creating a surface crust - not exactly the glorious snow we were hoping for. Oh well, lesson learned - next time we'll start early and not get greedy. :)

On Sunday, we met Pavel and Vendula at Kirkwood and left one car there, after which we drove the other one at Carson Pass. We went up Roundtop and skied down into the valley on the opposite side to a lake. We went up and down 2 more peaks until eventually making it to Kirkwood. We caught the last lift up the backside, which was a nice touch as we were sick of climbing by that point. We got the other car and the day was finished with great burgers at the Kirkwood Inn.

Here's a link to the GPS track and a map overview. Check out the motionbased.com stats too.

Another great weekend in California... my forehead got sunburnt quite a bit due to sweating too much - the sunscreen was wiped off. Lesson learned - wear a hat and apply more sunscreen when playing in the snow during spring time...

  We forgot the tent poles, so this is the improvised setup: guy lines between car and tree. Slogging up Mt Tallac Mt Tallac upper section. We are obviously late to the party!  
  We forgot the tent poles, so this is the improvised setup: guy lines between car and tree. Slogging up Mt Tallac Mt Tallac upper section. We are obviously late to the party!

  Skinning up the last section Lake Tahoe! the skin track  
  Skinning up the last section Lake Tahoe! the skin track

  Looking into the Desolation Wilderness on the other side of Tallac So much great terrain! Sandwich time  
  Looking into the Desolation Wilderness on the other side of Tallac So much great terrain! Sandwich time

  My skis like posing too Ripping down fresh snow Pavel and Vendula  
  My skis like posing too Ripping down fresh snow Pavel and Vendula

  Pavel and Karen approaching Roundtop Ski tracks on Roundtop Steep skinning  
  Pavel and Karen approaching Roundtop Ski tracks on Roundtop Steep skinning

  Vendula on the steep trail For about 30 minutes on the steepest part, it was too hot for a shirt... then it came back on, due to fear of sunburn!  
  Vendula on the steep trail For about 30 minutes on the steepest part, it was too hot for a shirt... then it came back on, due to fear of sunburn!

  Vendula with Lake Tahoe in the background  
  Vendula with Lake Tahoe in the background

  View from the Roundtop/Sisters col More views toward Kirkwood (on the right) Scrambling over to the next ridge  
  View from the Roundtop/Sisters col More views toward Kirkwood (on the right) Scrambling over to the next ridge

  Vendula portrait Karen portrait  
  Vendula portrait Karen portrait

  Switching from downhill to uphill mode  
  Switching from downhill to uphill mode

  Fooooood Another peak to go up... means more turns on the other side!  
  Fooooood Another peak to go up... means more turns on the other side!

  This is the way we came Pavel near the top of the 2nd peak Slog slog slog  
  This is the way we came Pavel near the top of the 2nd peak Slog slog slog

  We didn't get to that peak, this time... some other guys did The gang  
  We didn't get to that peak, this time... some other guys did The gang

  That was a beautiful descent Looking back at our tracks  
  That was a beautiful descent Looking back at our tracks

  G3 skin commercial (take that, summitpost!) More uphill... Looking back at our tracks from the 2nd peak  
  G3 skin commercial (take that, summitpost!) More uphill... Looking back at our tracks from the 2nd peak

  View of the first peak (left) and second peak (right) Going up the 3rd peak Third peak  
  View of the first peak (left) and second peak (right) Going up the 3rd peak Third peak

   
 

  The last drop, a decently sized run Looking down the chute we skied Kirkwood  
  The last drop, a decently sized run Looking down the chute we skied Kirkwood

  Our run down  
  Our run down

  And we made the last chair!  
  And we made the last chair!

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