Second Reported Avalanche of the Season in California at Virginia Lakes, Eastern Sierra Following the huge snowfall in California earlier this week, a second avalanche has been reported in the Sierra Nevada. Related: Huge Snowstorm Brings First Reported Avalanche of the Season in California (Carson Pass Area) This slide was at Virgina Lakes in the Eastern Sierra, about 50-miles north of Mammoth Lakes, and occurred on Tuesday 26th October, 2021. Here’s the observation […] Avalanche AvyBrains | October 28, 2021 1 Comment
Eastern Sierra Backcountry Conditions: Virginia Lakes Our week in the Eastern Sierras came to and end last Sunday. On our way back to Tahoe, we decided to hit Virginia Lakes again due to the ease of access and the ability to have a quick tour. First thing we noticed was the large amount of snow that had melted away in the week since we’d been there. Second thing we noticed were the lakes. The lakes now have large open spots and nothing but thin ice where a week ago there were people ice fishing all over them and they were totally frozen over. We measured the lake ice thickness a week ago and found the ice to be 4” thick, which is the […] Miles Clark | May 6, 2014 4 Comments
Backcountry Trip Report & Photo Tour: Virginia Lakes, CA We awoke today with thoughts of Tioga Pass today but knew that highway 120 was closed only 4 miles west of the 395/120 junction so we weren’t sure where we’d end up. Our plan was to end up in Mammoth with some friends. We skied the Mt. Rose “Chutes” in the morning on a whim and had a blast on their steep terrain. After the Chutes we loaded back into the car and then randomly decided to check out Virginia Lakes on our way south. Neither of us had been there before […] Conditions Report SnowBrains | April 28, 2014 7 Comments
A Damn Good Week In The Sierra | Photos from Tioga Pass, Virginia Lakes & Carson Pass Most Cali shredders have already called the coroner on Ol’ Man Winter, pissed on the smoldering embers of the ski season and put away the boards for the bikes. If that’s you, might not want to see these photos from last week in the Sierra. Like a phoenix rising from the thin, dry ashes of a dismal season, winter roared […] Backcountry Guest Author | April 26, 2013 5 Comments
Bridgeport, CA: A High Sierra Backcountry Base Camp When I drive through Bridgeport, CA, and turn the corner toward the mountains, I am filled with excitement. This quaint little town, surrounded by green pastures and granite cliffs, is the northern gateway to the High Sierra. Bridgeport always brings a sense of nostalgia and is one of my favorite views of the Eastern Sierra. In my younger years, it […] Featured Article Katy Shipley | December 5, 2023 1 Comment
Lake Tahoe, CA Report: 10,300′ Round Top’s “Crescent Couloir” & Memories of the “Dogahawk” Report from May 11, 2022 Yesterday I awoke at 6am in the California delta. On the road by 7am headed directly to Mammoth to ski the afternoon. 24-hour fast day. I swerved around a crashed truck at 8am in the valley. Green grass and oak trees in the foothills. Snowy in the upper foothills. Then quite a bit of snow […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | May 11, 2022 1 Comment
Eastern Sierra Nevada, CA Conditions Report: The Virginia Lakes Zone looks to be going off, for early November, these conditions are definitely looking good! “In search of leftovers from the early week storm cycle, we headed out to the higher elevations offered by the Virginia Lakes zone. The skiing did not disappoint – after a pretty short hike we scored a mix of winter and spring […] Conditions Report Chris Wallner | November 8, 2016 0 Comments
12,397′ Dunderberg Peak, CA Conditions Report: Fresh Snow, Good Crowd, No Vis… We headed up to 12,397′ Dunderberg Peak, CA from Mammoth on Saturday. We met up with a terrific cast of characters and had an incredible time. About 4-8″ of new snow coated the mountain and a thick fog we hoped would lift clung to the mountain like glue all day. The new snow allowed skinning directly to the summit with no boot-packing. […] Trip Report Miles Clark | May 2, 2016 4 Comments