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Without a doubt, Lake Tahoe is one of the best places in the country for backcountry skiing and boarding. Lake Tahoe averages over 300 inches of snow each year, while somehow logging 300 days of sun as well. Daytime temperaturess rarely dip into the 20’s, and numerous peaks are easily accessed from local highway pullouts. As an added bonus, avalanche concerns in the Sierra are more predictable then most other mountain ranges. It’s not rocket science, but there’s a lot to learn for newcomers. It’s highly recommended you sign up for a snow stability or ski mountaineering course, like the ones offered by Alpine Skills International (www.alpineskills.com), the North American Ski Training Center (www.skinastc.com) or Mountain Adventure Seminars (www.mtadventure.com). You may even meet some people to go tour the backcountry with.
Castle Peak – 9,103 feet
On I-80 near Donner Summit, this Sierra crest peak has terrain for everyone. Ski the mellow lower slopes on the sunny south side, or look for powder around the back side. Book a night at the super rustic, Sierra Club Peter Grubb Hut for a ski-by- moonlight adventure. This is the northern most ski accessable peak in the Tahoe Basin and the closest to Truckee and Bay Area residents. The southern slopes get ruined by wind and sun pretty quickly and are usually best in a corn snow cycle. There are better north and east facing runs on the other side, but be sure to check for any avalanche concerns. The chutes and bowls are 30 degrees and steeper, which can present quite a danger. Additional mellow ski touring options lie on Andesite Peak and up Negro Canyon.
Silver Peak – 8,424 feet
Visible from the Squaw Valley parking lot and close to the 7-11 on Highway 89, this hidden backcountry treasure has been skied by locals for decades. You’re often the only people on the upperhalf of the mountain, while hordes of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows skiers have no clue what you’re up to right next door. This long, mellow ski tour usually starts from Highway 89, two miles north of Squaw Valley Road. After an hour of lowangle snow-covered road, you’ll begin a 1,500 foot climb to a beautiful east-facing bowl. The top gives you a real "king of the mountain" feel. With a deep snow pack, you can also ascend Silver Peak from behind the fire station in Squaw Valley.
Twin Peaks – 8,878 feet
If you’ve skied Alpine Meadows, you’ve probably wondered how to get over to neighboring backcountry bowls. Skin out of bounds (allowed at Alpine) southward on a very easy climb along the Pacific Crest Trail. Drop into the trees before the peak or head right up through the high notch in the saddle. Be warned – the terrain beneath the peak is quite avalanche prone. In early season when the Sherwood lift isn’t running, park at the end of Ward Creek Road, a five-mile drive from the Sunnyside area on the West Shore. This parking area has private parking for residents. Locals have been friendly towards skiers going for early season powder. Don’t expect this to continue once Alpine’s Sherwood Bowl chair starts up for the season. The backside of the ski area usually opens around Christmas, just in time for you to graduate to bigger Tahoe ski tours. For an even bigger adventure, climb 1,000 feet to the crest of Grouse Rock, then take a left on the crest for Twin Peaks … if you can refrain from diving back into the excellent terrain right above the car.
Rubicon Peak – 9,000 feet
A Tahoe classic, this is the peak you can’t take your eyes off when you look toward the West Shore. The crux is figuring out where to park, since a few homeowners love to get skiers towed for unexplained reasons. My advice, take a cab. Rubicon Peak has been skied by locals before anyone ever lived in this area. It is a beautiful old-growth forest cruise – with unreal views from atop its 100 foot Class-3 summit scramble. Finding the summit of this coneshaped mountain is easy, but finding your start location is very difficult with the heavy tree cover. The trees have fairly close spacing, but the lower angle terrain allows for easy skiing. The upper north and east facing aspects provide excellent riding. There’s also a nice quiet west side to ski if you time it right. Go with a local and offer to pay for his taxi if you really want to get the goods.
Mt. Tallac – 9,735 feet
This is the big, handsome peak behind Emerald Bay that ski areas photograph for national ads. Ski areas only wish they had this terrain. Park at the end of Spring Creek Road, off Highway 89, four miles north of the "Y" in South Lake Tahoe. The ascent route is usually well beaten in to the prominent East Ridge. On a clear day, you will usually see plenty of tracks in the high bowl with binoculars. Your first 3,200 foot descent will have you trading in your ski pass for new AT, telemark, or split-snowboard gear. One of the more popular ski tours in the Tahoe Basin, Mt. Tallac can get tracked out pretty fast. The alpine scenery and lake views are so overpowering however, you’ll forget to even look for first tracks. Steer clear of the cliffs below the bowl, easily spotted from your climb. Cathedral bowl is the wide, south facing chute you drool over from Meyers. Head here as soon as it corns up. Wind your way down the "Cross" if you think you have what it takes, or if you’re fast and light, slip into a Desolation Wilderness side-trip before descending to the car.
Mt. Rose – 10,776 feet
Across the lake to the east and up Highway 431 is a backcountry winter wonderland. With a high elevation start at 8,000 feet, you can count on Mt. Rose to produce the deepest and driest snow in the region. You can spend all day exploring a number of small peaks near the car. Or you can go for the summit for a stark contrasting view of the entire Tahoe basin and the high Nevada desert. The peak itself is often wind scoured and only a goal for pure adventure and the views. There is a fun car shuttle tour to learn that goes over the peak and down to Sky Tavern. The most popular area is called Hourglass Bowl, a high east facing funnel that is very close to the car. Most folks tour around the treed hills on the north side of Hwy 431, which vary from 20 to 30 degrees. There is definitely something for everyone. It’s easy to get turned around in the tree cover upon returning to your car. Listen for the highway noise or look for the Mt. Rose Ski Area runs across the street to find your way home.
Dick’s Peak – 9,974 feet
This is your goal this winter. The most remote peak in the area, Dick’s is fun to visit from a different route each time. Test your route finding skills and map reading, as this peak is hidden for much of your ascent. The easiest route takes 4 to 5 hours, starting at the Bay View Trailhead at Emerald Bay. Ski through the saddle between Maggie’s Peaks and then descend to the base of Janine’s north ridge. Stay low and to the base of Janine’s north ridge. Stay low and contour around to Dick’s Lake. From there skin up Dick’s pas and hike the rest of the way to the summit. It’s not as steep as it looks from far away. The south side offers a 35 degree 2,000 foot slope that can grow perfect corn even in mid-winter. Views are amazing of course, especially towards the imposing north side of Pyramid Peak. And yes – people ski it.
Freel Peak – 10,881 feet
If you’re willing to slog an hour or two on flat terrain you can put yourself in a position to ski the south side of Tahoe’s highest peak. Halfway down the south side of Luther Pass on Highway 89 is a small pullout on the east side of the road. Ski over the snow-covered valley road and don’t start climbing until you see the true south face below the peak. If you’re fast, continue along the summit ridge where you can summit Job’s Peak and Job’s Sister. If you’re really fast and time everything right, tour the three summits and drop the East facing 5000 feet Job’s line which you see in every Carson Valley Real Estate Brochure.
Castle Peak – 9,103 feet
On I-80 near Donner Summit, this Sierra crest peak has terrain for everyone. Ski the mellow lower slopes on the sunny south side, or look for powder around the back side. Book a night at the super rustic, Sierra Club Peter Grubb Hut for a ski-by- moonlight adventure. This is the northern most ski accessable peak in the Tahoe Basin and the closest to Truckee and Bay Area residents. The southern slopes get ruined by wind and sun pretty quickly and are usually best in a corn snow cycle. There are better north and east facing runs on the other side, but be sure to check for any avalanche concerns. The chutes and bowls are 30 degrees and steeper, which can present quite a danger. Additional mellow ski touring options lie on Andesite Peak and up Negro Canyon.
Silver Peak – 8,424 feet
Visible from the Squaw Valley parking lot and close to the 7-11 on Highway 89, this hidden backcountry treasure has been skied by locals for decades. You’re often the only people on the upperhalf of the mountain, while hordes of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows skiers have no clue what you’re up to right next door. This long, mellow ski tour usually starts from Highway 89, two miles north of Squaw Valley Road. After an hour of lowangle snow-covered road, you’ll begin a 1,500 foot climb to a beautiful east-facing bowl. The top gives you a real "king of the mountain" feel. With a deep snow pack, you can also ascend Silver Peak from behind the fire station in Squaw Valley.
Twin Peaks – 8,878 feet
If you’ve skied Alpine Meadows, you’ve probably wondered how to get over to neighboring backcountry bowls. Skin out of bounds (allowed at Alpine) southward on a very easy climb along the Pacific Crest Trail. Drop into the trees before the peak or head right up through the high notch in the saddle. Be warned – the terrain beneath the peak is quite avalanche prone. In early season when the Sherwood lift isn’t running, park at the end of Ward Creek Road, a five-mile drive from the Sunnyside area on the West Shore. This parking area has private parking for residents. Locals have been friendly towards skiers going for early season powder. Don’t expect this to continue once Alpine’s Sherwood Bowl chair starts up for the season. The backside of the ski area usually opens around Christmas, just in time for you to graduate to bigger Tahoe ski tours. For an even bigger adventure, climb 1,000 feet to the crest of Grouse Rock, then take a left on the crest for Twin Peaks … if you can refrain from diving back into the excellent terrain right above the car.
Rubicon Peak – 9,000 feet
A Tahoe classic, this is the peak you can’t take your eyes off when you look toward the West Shore. The crux is figuring out where to park, since a few homeowners love to get skiers towed for unexplained reasons. My advice, take a cab. Rubicon Peak has been skied by locals before anyone ever lived in this area. It is a beautiful old-growth forest cruise – with unreal views from atop its 100 foot Class-3 summit scramble. Finding the summit of this coneshaped mountain is easy, but finding your start location is very difficult with the heavy tree cover. The trees have fairly close spacing, but the lower angle terrain allows for easy skiing. The upper north and east facing aspects provide excellent riding. There’s also a nice quiet west side to ski if you time it right. Go with a local and offer to pay for his taxi if you really want to get the goods.
Mt. Tallac – 9,735 feet
This is the big, handsome peak behind Emerald Bay that ski areas photograph for national ads. Ski areas only wish they had this terrain. Park at the end of Spring Creek Road, off Highway 89, four miles north of the "Y" in South Lake Tahoe. The ascent route is usually well beaten in to the prominent East Ridge. On a clear day, you will usually see plenty of tracks in the high bowl with binoculars. Your first 3,200 foot descent will have you trading in your ski pass for new AT, telemark, or split-snowboard gear. One of the more popular ski tours in the Tahoe Basin, Mt. Tallac can get tracked out pretty fast. The alpine scenery and lake views are so overpowering however, you’ll forget to even look for first tracks. Steer clear of the cliffs below the bowl, easily spotted from your climb. Cathedral bowl is the wide, south facing chute you drool over from Meyers. Head here as soon as it corns up. Wind your way down the "Cross" if you think you have what it takes, or if you’re fast and light, slip into a Desolation Wilderness side-trip before descending to the car.
Mt. Rose – 10,776 feet
Across the lake to the east and up Highway 431 is a backcountry winter wonderland. With a high elevation start at 8,000 feet, you can count on Mt. Rose to produce the deepest and driest snow in the region. You can spend all day exploring a number of small peaks near the car. Or you can go for the summit for a stark contrasting view of the entire Tahoe basin and the high Nevada desert. The peak itself is often wind scoured and only a goal for pure adventure and the views. There is a fun car shuttle tour to learn that goes over the peak and down to Sky Tavern. The most popular area is called Hourglass Bowl, a high east facing funnel that is very close to the car. Most folks tour around the treed hills on the north side of Hwy 431, which vary from 20 to 30 degrees. There is definitely something for everyone. It’s easy to get turned around in the tree cover upon returning to your car. Listen for the highway noise or look for the Mt. Rose Ski Area runs across the street to find your way home.
Dick’s Peak – 9,974 feet
This is your goal this winter. The most remote peak in the area, Dick’s is fun to visit from a different route each time. Test your route finding skills and map reading, as this peak is hidden for much of your ascent. The easiest route takes 4 to 5 hours, starting at the Bay View Trailhead at Emerald Bay. Ski through the saddle between Maggie’s Peaks and then descend to the base of Janine’s north ridge. Stay low and to the base of Janine’s north ridge. Stay low and contour around to Dick’s Lake. From there skin up Dick’s pas and hike the rest of the way to the summit. It’s not as steep as it looks from far away. The south side offers a 35 degree 2,000 foot slope that can grow perfect corn even in mid-winter. Views are amazing of course, especially towards the imposing north side of Pyramid Peak. And yes – people ski it.
Freel Peak – 10,881 feet
If you’re willing to slog an hour or two on flat terrain you can put yourself in a position to ski the south side of Tahoe’s highest peak. Halfway down the south side of Luther Pass on Highway 89 is a small pullout on the east side of the road. Ski over the snow-covered valley road and don’t start climbing until you see the true south face below the peak. If you’re fast, continue along the summit ridge where you can summit Job’s Peak and Job’s Sister. If you’re really fast and time everything right, tour the three summits and drop the East facing 5000 feet Job’s line which you see in every Carson Valley Real Estate Brochure.
