Trip Report: 11,160′ Mt. Scowden – Lundy Canyon – “North Face Chute”

Miles Clark | | Post Tag for Trip ReportTrip Report

Report from May 27, 2023

Brought to you by Mono County Tourism

“North Face Chute” of 11,160′ Mt Scowden, CA yesterday was the coolest chute we’ve skied this season!

Twisting, turning, writhing, steep, long, & constantly changing pitch.

Dodging trees, logs, branches, rocks, walls, glide cracks, & holes.

This is the most entertaining chute!

What’s really wild is that I skied this chute on Friday too but the clouds rolled in, my camera froze, and I didn’t get the shot…

It speaks volumes to this chute that we came back the next day and skied it again.

This chute is just that fun!

SHORT VERSION VIDEO

11,160′ Mt. Scowden – “North Face Chute”

  • Summit (actually a notch in the ridge):  10,000′
  • Car:  8,000′
  • Vertical From Car:  2,000′
  • Vertical skied:  2,000′
  • Max Pitch:  45º 
  • Avg Pitch: ??
  • Aspect:  North
  • Distance:  3.5-miles round trip 
  • Time From Car to Top:  2 hours & 41 mins
  • Car to Car Time: 4 hours & 14 mins
  • Recommended Equipment:  Crampons, Ice Axe, Skins

We 4-wheel-drove Greggy’s Nissan Xterra through some rowdy snow patches above Lundy Lake until the snow blocked the road completely.

We parked, threw boots on and walked down the road towards our secret creek crossing.

On Friday, I’d crossed a sketchy log across the creek and just had enough balance to pull it off.

North Face Chute of Mt. Scowden. image: snowbrains

Immediately after I made the crossing, Greggy & Trevor found an easy crossing on a big log jam.

Yesterday, we went back to that log jam and got across the creek with ease.

The frogs & birds were signing and putting smiles on our faces.

From there it’s a slightly climbing traverse back towards the car to the base of the “North Face Chute”.

Greggy. image: snowbrains

Crampons and helmets on.

Up.

It’s a long, vertical climb up the twisting, convulsing chute.

Collapsed house at Lundy Lake. image: snowbrains

After about 2 hours of bootpacking, we were on top.

I was tired.

It’d been a big week:

Iceberg. image: snowbrains

We rested on the summit for 15-minutes and got geared up.

I dropped first and the snow was lovely.

This chute twists, turns, writhes, and has more obstacles than you can shake a stick at.

Goobers. image: snowbrains

The choke at the bottom is blast.

I’m kinda in love with this chute…

Thanks, California!

SPRING 2023 REPORTS

PHOTOS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

North Face Chute. image: snowbrains
Mill Creek. image: snowbrains
Greggy. image: snowbrains
Watch out for holes… image: snowbrains
My booter from Friday. image: snowbrains
Greggy climbs. image: snowbrains
My bootpack from Friday. image: snowbrains
Greggy up. image: snowbrains
Greggy likes it. image: snowbrains
Greggy dug in. image: snowbrains
Greggy near the top. image: snowbrains
Greggy final pitch. image: snowbrains
Greggy up. image: snowbrains
Weirdos! image: snowbrains
Miles on top. image: snowbrains
Greggy stoked on the apron. image: snowbrains
Iceberg. image: snowbrains
Crossing the creek. image: snowbrains
South chutes. image: snowbrains
Greggy road. image: snowbrains
North Face Chute Mt. Scowden. image: snowbrains
Cruising home. image: snowbrains
Collapsed house at Lundy Lake. image: snowbrains
Collapsed house at Lundy Lake. image: snowbrains
Collapsed house at Lundy Lake. image: snowbrains
Mono Lake. image: snowbrains
Mt. Gibbs. image: snowbrains
Driving home. image: snowbrains
Mammoth is slowing melting out. image: snowbrains

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