Report from May 20, 2024

Yesterday, we went for a line that’s been staring me in the face for 20 years.

You can see East Peak from Highway 395 and its chutes always beckon.

What has always kept us away is the approach…

12,100′ East Peak

“East Chutes”

Sierra Nevada Mountains, CA

• Summit (actually a ridgeline):  11,600 feet
• Car:  7,500 feet
• Vertical From Car:  4,200 feet 
• Vertical skied:  1,500 feet in chute + apron (another 1,000 feet down to the snow line)
  
• Max Pitch:  45º
• Average Pitch:  35º
• Aspect:  East
• Distance:  6-miles round trip
• Time From Car to Summit:  4 hours and 39 minutes
• Car to Car Time: 7 hours and 8 minutes
• Recommended Equipment:  skins, crampons, ice axe x2

We started hiking at about 7 am under clear, cool skies.

A short flat road abruptly transforms into a seemingly endless dirt, rock, log, stick, scramble up a steep hill.

45 minutes later we topped out on the hill only to climb another less steep dirt hill for another 45 minutes to the snow line.

This 1.5-hour dirt walk was brutal.

Skins on and we continued climbing.

Our initial goal was a line called “The End” but as soon as half of our crew saw the nearby, good-looking “Fruit Chutes” they bailed on us and redirected to those chutes.

Garrett, Martin, Fox, and I continued on towards “The End.”

The same thing happened to us.

We saw the “East Chutes” and couldn’t fathom going downhill to get to “The End” knowing we’d have to go uphill to get home.

The East Chutes looked rad.

We delved in and booted up them pretty quickly. 

Fox, Martin, and Garret all chose different lines.

I decided to follow Garrett’s line.

Very steep entrance, ball-bearing sluff, and a somewhat narrow chute that opened up into a large chute.

The entire couloir held gorgeous, 5-star corn.

We all ripped it down as low as we could go.

We had to take our skis off twice to get onto the bonus run that faced more north.

Another 1,000-vertical-feet put us right back at our shoes.

We slowly shoed up and started the techy downhill march downhill.

It was kinda treacherous but we got it done in only one hour.

Flat terrain never felt so good…

As we crossed the bridge to the cars we saw dozens of huge trout static swimming the creek.

We were blown away.

They were large and gorgeous and made us all feel like we live in the land of plenty.

We all stripped down and jumped into the creek for some cold plunge therapy.

It felt wonderful.

From there it was straight to the Mobile Mart for fish tacos, steak salads, chicken sandos, and french fries.

The best part of the day.

We rode home happy listening to Robb Gaffney’s favorite, “Fire on the Mountain.”

Thanks, California!

Photos in Chronological Order