Sierra Backcountry Conditions: Late Spring Skiing in the Sierra Report from May 11-12, 2024 Ah, spring in the Sierra. A time when you can get soft turns in on the high elevation peaks, then dip your tired feet in Lake Tahoe when you’re finished. This weekend we found a few soft turns on Rubicon Peak, Mount Judah, and Donner Peak. The sun was shining and the corn was ready […] Conditions Report Zach Armstrong | May 13, 2024 0 Comments
Sugar Bowl, CA, Report: Slarvey in the Sunshine Report from Sunday, March 17, 2024 High tide spring skiing at Sugar Bowl, California, there’s nothing like it. We started our day with coffee by the river while we let things thaw out, then headed up the pass to get the day started. After a few scouting laps we found some fun stuff on the east facing terrain off of […] Conditions Report Zach Armstrong | March 27, 2024 0 Comments
Experienced Mountain Guide Dies in Solo Climb at Donner Summitโs Black Wall, CA Experienced mountain guide Aaron Livingston perished in a solo climbing accident at Donner Summitโs Black Wall at Lake Tahoe, CA. The 32-year-old had been free soloing at the popular climbing spot on Monday evening, September 4, 2023. Livingston had been working for Alpenglow Expeditions as a member of their California guide team. The team at Alpenglow is devastated at the […] Climbing SnowBrains | September 12, 2023 0 Comments
Top 5 Powder Stashes at Sugar Bowl Resort, CA Brought to you by Sugar Bowl Resort Sugar Bowl Resort sits atop Donner Summit, CA, and is notorious for its deep snowpack and scenic vistas.ย It is also home to some of my favorite powder stashes of all time. The resort consists of four peaks, each with its own unique zones. A powder day at Sugar Bowl means touring the resort […] Featured Article Katy Shipley | March 29, 2022 1 Comment
9 Incredible Sierra Nevada, California Snow Records: The Sierra Nevada is no stranger to big snowstorms. As far back as the November 1846, The Donner Party learned this the hard way with a 5-foot overnight snowstorm. Since snowfall record keeping began in 1879, there have been some incredible snowstorms in the Sierra Nevada of California. The Sierras still get huge amounts of snow with Sugar Bowl ski resort leading the charge with 500″ of snow per year. This isn’t surprising as Sugar Bowl is located on Donner Pass, where many of the records below took place. […] SnowBrains | December 28, 2021 3 Comments
Sugar Bowl, CA Report: Still Winter on Donner Summit Vintage Film Footage (1930) of backcountry skiing on Donner Summit, pre-Sugar Bowl | YouTube – Bela Vadasz Report from March 22, 2021 Brought to you by Sugar Bowl Resort The Spring Equinox was over the weekend, but it sure felt like winter at Sugar Bowl on Monday. After a weekend of instructor training with an AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course […] Conditions Report Mike Bartholow | March 26, 2021 1 Comment
Snowmobiler Dead After Cornice Break/Cliff Fall/Avalanche Near Lake Tahoe, CA Yesterday A snowmobiler died after falling off a cornice break/cliff fall/avalanche at Frog Lake just north of Donner Pass near Lake Tahoe, CA yesterday, March 20, 2021. We are getting conflicting reports from The Sierra Avalanche Center and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office with one saying it was a cliff fall and the other saying it was a cornice break/fall/avalanche. The […] Industry News AvyBrains | March 21, 2021 0 Comments
The Tahoe Backcountry Alliance Requests Public Help to Ensure Success of Donner Lake Run Parking Lot With good snow and exciting lines, the Donner Lake Run has become a popular backcountry ski area for the likes of Tahoe backcountry users. Beginning at Donner Summit Skyline, the Donner Lake Run offers incredible, picturesque views of the Tahoe area. There’s just one problem… In order to gain access to this area, backcountry recreationists must park in the neighborhoods […] Backcountry Spencer Cox | August 27, 2020 4 Comments