Conditions Report
On Wednesday, I cruised down to Sonora Pass in the early morning hours from Squaw with a crew of Squaw snow humans.
We arrived at 9,624′ Sonora Pass a bit late at 9:00am and we were hiking by 9:30am.
Our goal was the Y-Couloir off 11,572′ Levitt Peak.
We left the car at about 8,800′.
Luckily, a stiff west wind was keeping things crisp and firm.
Of course, we ran into 2 more Squaw peeps in the parking lot – Scotty & Steve-O.
When you head south to Mammoth, Sonora, Tioga, Bishop this spring – expect to run into Tahoe people and nearly no one else…
The hike up was sunny, windy, and nice with a few rapidly passing clouds.
The ridge and summit was windy AF.
The views were spectacular.
Scotty & Steve-O opted for a chute just northwest of the Y-Couloir that was thinner and steeper than the Y.
We went for the skiers right option of the Y and it involved a steep sidestep down a icy, rocky section.
Once in the chute, the was firm in the top half and bottom half was creamy.
The chute was a great ski and likely around 750-vertical-feet of skiing.
After the chute we enjoyed fun corn for another 2,000-vertical feet of mellow rolly-polly terrain back to the car.
Beers and banter at the car for at least an hour with the boys.
Drove down to Lee Vining and got Soft Serve Ice Cream at Mono Cone.
Grabbed a great camping spot in the forrest in Mammoth.
Fire.
Grilled chicken salad and lentil soup.
More beers.
Slept under the stars with plans to ski Mammoth the next day – Thursday.
PHOTO TOUR:
