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.
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.
Tall Carl at the top of Ellery Bowl. image: snowbrainsTall Carl at the top of the fun lower section. image: snowbrains13,000′ Mt. Dana. image: snowbrainsMiles atop the Power House Chutes with Mono Lake in the background. image: Tall CarlTall Carl on the edge of the Dana Plateau with Mono Lake in the background. image: snowbrainsTall Carl in Ellery Bowl with one of the largest cornices I’ve seen in California. image: snowbrainsMiles atop the Power House Chutes with Mono Lake in the background. image: Tall CarlTall Carl at the very bottom of the lower section. image: snowbrainsClassic Eastern Sierra bushwhacking. image: snowbrainsTall Carl points it out. image: snowbrainsMiles 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: snowbrainsTall Carl on the edge of the Dana Plateau with Mono Lake in the background. image: snowbrainsThe good life apres ski. image: snowbrainsTall Carl gets naked in celebration. image: snowbrainsTall Carl in the woods. image: snowbrainsMiles at the bitter end. image: Tall CarlYeti sighting in the forest next to the car. image: snowbrainsVistas. image: snowbrainsNo Name Chute off Mt. Dana. image: snowbrainsThe Powder House Chutes. image: snowbrainsDana Plateau vistas. image: snowbrainsMiles atop the Power House Chutes with Mono Lake in the background. image: Tall Carl
Backcountry
Conditions Report
