Eastern Sierra, CA Backcountry Report: Power House Chutes | Tioga Pass, CA

Miles Clark | Post Tag for BackcountryBackcountry | Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report
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Miles atop the Power House Chutes with Mono Lake in the background. image: Tall Carl

Report from June 5th, 2019

After yesterday’s scary icefall in North Couloir on Mt. Emerson, CA we decided to go hit the monolithic chutes of Tioga Pass, CA today.

We cruised up Ellery Bowl in about 1.5 hours, walking across the Dana Plateau, and peeked into the Power House Chutes.

The views from the rim of the Dana Plateau were simply spectacular today with puffy clouds, a glassy Mono Lake, gorgeous Sierra granite, and plenty of blue skies.

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Miles in the steep part of Power House Chutes. image: snowbrains

We rolled up to the Power House Chutes thinking:  “These will be mellow”

We were wrong.  

These chutes are steep, aesthetic, and violently fun.

Tall Carl on the edge of the Dana Plateau with Mono Lake in the background. image: snowbrains

We skied the steep upper section and loved it.

We then skied the lower section and the snow was even better and we really loved it.

We cruised down the long tongue of snow that leads damn near to the car.

Tall Carl in the Power House Chutes. image: snowbrains

We’d left a car at the Poole Power House and it was only 20 minutes of easy walking to get from where we took off our skis to the car.

Today was a fantastic day.

If you’re interested in skiing the California Backcountry, please contact Alpenglow Expeditions for a guide and all the local knowledge.

Dana Plateau Vistas. image: snowbrains

RECENT EASTERN SIERRA REPORTS:

June 4th: Eastern Sierra, CA Backcountry Report: 12,500′ North Couloir of Mt. Emerson

June 2nd: Eastern Sierra, CA Backcountry Report: The Third Pillar Chute | Tioga Pass, CA

June 1st: Eastern Sierra, CA Backcountry Report: 1″ of Snow in 20-Minutes at 12,300′ in Zebra Chute

PHOTOS:

Tall Carl at the top of Ellery Bowl. image: snowbrains
Tall Carl at the top of the fun lower section. image: snowbrains
13,000′ Mt. Dana. image: snowbrains
Miles atop the Power House Chutes with Mono Lake in the background. image: Tall Carl
Tall Carl on the edge of the Dana Plateau with Mono Lake in the background. image: snowbrains
Tall Carl in Ellery Bowl with one of the largest cornices I’ve seen in California. image: snowbrains
Miles atop the Power House Chutes with Mono Lake in the background. image: Tall Carl
Tall Carl at the very bottom of the lower section. image: snowbrains
Classic Eastern Sierra bushwhacking. image: snowbrains
Tall Carl points it out. image: snowbrains
Miles on the headwall of Ellery Bowl. image: Tall Carl

The Power House Chutes up top and the tongue of snow we took back to the car. image: snowbrains
Tall Carl on the edge of the Dana Plateau with Mono Lake in the background. image: snowbrains
The good life apres ski. image: snowbrains
Tall Carl gets naked in celebration. image: snowbrains
Tall Carl in the woods. image: snowbrains
Miles at the bitter end. image: Tall Carl
Yeti sighting in the forest next to the car. image: snowbrains
Vistas. image: snowbrains
No Name Chute off Mt. Dana. image: snowbrains
The Powder House Chutes. image: snowbrains
Dana Plateau vistas. image: snowbrains
Miles atop the Power House Chutes with Mono Lake in the background. image: Tall Carl

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