Skiing Tioga Pass / Ellery Bowl

Tioga Pass - the gateway to Yosemite from the Eastern Sierra - is one of the best places for quick access to steep spring/summer skiing in the USA. The road had only opened a week prior to our trip, so we knew there was still a ton of snow up there. We arrived at Ellery Lake around 11:30am on June 30th, and after scoping out the area, decided to ski Ellery Bowl, the area's premiere roadside attraction. Now, the term "bowl" doesn't exactly do this area justice - we found out that while the lower sections consisted of smooth, mellow corn skiing, the upper bowl was a STEEP 47-50 DEGREE HEADWALL in a total no-fall zone.

From the lake, we bootpacked straight up the thing. For the last 600 feet, the ice axes came out. I was deliberate in kicking a bomber staircase for Andrea to follow. The top of the ascent was actually a bit scary. But eventually we kicked our way to the top, and the views of the huge Dana Plateau and the Yosemite high country made it all worthwhile.

The descent off the top of the headwall was a test of faith and confidence. This was the steepest slope angle either of us had ever skied. I made 2 jump turns, then traversed over and watched Andrea nail her turns as well. From there, the skiing was exciting and fun. When we got to the bottom, we chatted with lots of tourists who had been watching us from below.

After lunch, we did a little sightseeing on the pass, then headed further south to June Lake for the night. We went for a run after checking into our hotel, and I remember our conversation pretty much only consisting of things like "Wow, that was really steep" and "Holy crap, can you believe how steep that was!"

Needless to say, I can't wait to go back and ski some of the other areas on Tioga Pass. Summer 2012 vacation in the works? :-)

Ellery Lake


The route








This doesn't even do justice to the steepness


Dana Plateau


The headwall and Yosemite's high country


"Don't fall there"


Traversing above some rocky/cliff area


Looking down after the traverse


Whoa! The look on her face says it all!






Done with the scary part!














Lunch time!


4.5 lbs of Snickers? Of course!


Tioga Lake

Next stop: Mammoth Lakes!!!

More pictures: Picasa - Tioga Pass

All of the 2011 Summer Vacation Links:

South Lake Tahoe

North Lake Tahoe

Tioga Pass

Mammoth Lakes

Time for a vacation

Preparations are under way for our summer vacation. We're headed back to California this Friday, but with no intentions of doing an 11 day hike like last year. Instead of the backpacking gear, we're loading up the jeep with all our ski gear, mountain bikes, and lots more food than we were able to take on the JMT! The plan is to hang out in Tahoe (we've never been there) for the first half of the trip (running, skiing, biking, and even maybe some relaxing!), the head down the Eastside of the Sierra Nevadas (one of the coolest places on earth!) for the second half of the trip.

The total drive will be about 1300 miles. A lot less than the original trip we had in mind, which would have taken us all the way to Mt Rainier in Washington state.

We're spending the first 5-6 days in the Lake Tahoe basin, then heading south to Mono Lake / Tioga Pass, then down to Mammoth Lakes.


There will still be plenty of snow in Tahoe for skiing...

We'll get to hang out at the beach... and the water will be super cold, so that will be good for post-run therapy...

And ride our mountain bikes...

Tioga Pass (the gateway to Yosemite) got plenty of snow this year as well... this photo was taken a few weeks ago as they were plowing the road... I think there will be some left for us!

We'll cap off the trip playing in the mountains in Mammoth Lakes, CA... we only briefly came through here last summer on our way to start the JMT, and have been itching to go back ever since...


Blood Mountain and the ultra-classic "Bloody Couloir" (the one split by the 2 giant rock outcrops) is one of the lines we are hoping to climb and ski while in Mammoth

Rumor has it that there is a one mile road race in Mammoth on July 4th... hmmmmmmmm... my friend Luke told me after the Utah Valley Marathon to "learn from Ryan Hall and don't jump in any one mile races right after the marathon"... but rumor also has it that my racing flats are already packed :-)

... oh, and the long term forecast isn't looking too shabby, either...