Destination: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Terrain: Backcountry Skiing
Trip Rating: Intermediate-Advanced
30 minutes south of Lake Tahoe in California’s eastern Sierra Nevada is an area of abundant ski tours with low to medium angle glades, ridges, meadows, and passes for sublime tele/alpine turning. Situated on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada between Luther Pass, Hope Valley, and Carson Pass, the area is framed by peaks over 10,000 feet high and nestled within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Our tours will lie between 7,000 and 9,000 feet.
Ski tours are 15 to 30 minutes from our nearby lodging in Christmas Valley to Carson and Luther Passes and Hope Valley. Prime early spring snowpack and north-facing tree skiing make for great backcountry conditions. Skiable terrain is everywhere. Sno-parks and plowed pull-outs make it all accessible, while our distance from populated areas means winter recreationists are widely dispersed. Plan for three full days of daily tours, and for those arriving early or departing later, an additional two half-days of touring are possible prior to check-in at lodging or after morning check-out.
This trip is suitable for intermediate-advanced ski tourers with backcountry touring/tele or alpine skis for descents. We’ll select our tours based on snow and weather conditions. With many aspects to choose from, there will always be a fun and scenic option. From Carson Pass, we have two tour options along ridges, frozen lakes, and meadows north and south of the pass; from Luther Pass we’ll enjoy fantastic glades down Waterhouse Peak to Grass Lake, and Hope Valley offers miles of open meadow with side drainages and slopes. We will avoid avalanche hazard conditions/terrain. No beacons are necessary.
Lodging will be at a large VRBO home in Christmas Valley with a hot tub & sauna, just south of South Lake Tahoe and Meyers, where groceries and services are easily accessible before continuing on to the house. Four dinners will be potluck; participants are responsible for 4 breakfasts and 3-5 lunches. The house can sleep 13: 7 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms. Three rooms have one queen bed, and other rooms have multiple beds. Cell service and Wi-Fi are available.
Backcountry ski gear (NNN-BC, Xplore bindings, or better) is required for these intermediate to advanced tours. Participants should be able to ski 5-7 miles with 1500’ gain, have solid downhill ski skills (telemark, alpine, or stem Christy), and be able to navigate a map and compass or GPS app. A California Sno-Park pass is required and can be obtained online prior.
Trip limit: 12 participants, including trip leader
Cost: $860 per person. Includes 4 nights lodging. Excludes cost of travel and meals.
Travel miles: From Portland, 1200 miles round trip. Or fly to Reno and drive 1.5 hours to lodging via highways 395 and 88.
Trip Leader: Glenda Marsh
Co-Leader: TBD