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 thinnest you’d wanna walk out on. This week, you don’t wanna touch that ice.
The skiing on Sunday was good. We started our tour at about 10:30am in a very stiff breeze. We headed up the upper bowl to the south of the lakes where the breeze had kept the snow firm.
By the time we got on top, the snow had softened just enough for us to take a long break up top and drop into a fun dogleg chute. The chute was soft and fun and the apron was perfect. Our timing was accidentally spot on.
At the bottom of the bowl, we shouldered our skis and booted up to the top of the lower bowl that we’d skied last Monday. I skied the same chute I skied last time and it was perfect. Last time it had weird semi wintery snow, was sluffing like crazy, and I hit a rock in the middle of the chute and damn near fell off a cliff. This time, the chute had perfect corn snow, no sluff, and the rock I hit was sticking out and visible.
After I came out of the chute, the snow in the bowl was sticky and weird, but fun.
Duane and Ted skied a steep zone to the west in the same bowl and Sara skied the same chute she’d skied last time. She won again as that far east chute and the east side of the bowl had the best snow.
Virginia Lakes is a very fun little zone that I’m ashamed I’d never skied before last week. In the future, it’ll be on the Eastside tick list. On our way out we hit legendary Jolly Cone as well as the local hotsprings. Neither is to be missed.
We’ll be skiing Sonora Pass on Friday and we’ll let ya know how it is right here.
Nice work Miles! VL is a great zone and South Peak one of my favorites there, but it looks shot and burnt. Please post your Sonora report after your Friday foray. Heading down 395 next Wednesday and curious what you turn up there. Getting late for a low snow year – may just wind up at Jolly Cone and the hot springs and call it good. )
Powcruzer, thanks man. Yes, I’m on it. I’ll get that Sonora Pass report up on Friday evening once I get to Mammoth. Yes! Jolly Cone and the springs is all you need. You’re a wise man. I’m actually writing up a post about that right now. thanks.
Most excellent report there Miles. Looking forward to some Dunderberg northside and Conness sometime after resorts close.