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• Birch Mountain - Southeast Face

  BIRCH MOUNTAIN is one of the true giants of the Eastern Sierra, offering skiers and snowboarders one of California's biggest continuous descents.

  From McMurray Meadows, elevation 6400', it is a long and arduous climb to Birch Mountain's 13,665-foot summit.

  For the effort, however, skiers will be rewarded with magnificent views of the nearby Palisades—plus the possibility of over 7000 vertical feet of skiing on the broad southeast slopes below...(more).

• Lone Pine Peak: East Couloir

  A challenging search for self and continuity on Lone Pine Peak's massive Northeast Face.

• Telluride: Palmyra Peak

  Telluride's spectacular 13,319' Palmyra Peak opens as controlled, hike-to skiing for experts only.

• Interview: Amber Seyler

  Director Amber Seyler talks about the 'human factor' and the making of her haunting film, A Dozen More Turns.

• Cucamonga Peak: Southwest Face

  City views and technical skiing abound on Cucamonga Peak, the highest 'front range' summit in Southern California's San Gabriel Mountains.

• Spot Satellite Messenger

  The revolutionary Spot tracker lets you send real-time GPS coordinates and a HELP or OK email from literally anywhere.

• Interview: Andrew McLean Talks 'Steep'

  SierraDescents talks to Andrew McLean about his involvement in the new Documentary, Steep, plus expedition tips and gear.

• Mount Whintey: Mountaineer's Route

  For adventurous hikers, the classic Mount Whitney climb, via the John Muir/Mountaineer's Route.

• North Peak: North Couloir

  Winter snow turns this classic Sierra ice climb into one of the range's more challenging ski descents.

• Bloody Mountain: Bloody Couloir

  Blood, bicycles, and backcountry skiing in the Mammoth Lakes region—who could ask for more?

• Mount Shasta: Avalanche Gulch

  7000 vertical feet of superb July skiing down Avalanche Gulch, 14,162' Mount Shasta's popular climbing route.

• Mount Williamson: Bairs Creek Cirque

  18,000 vertical feet in 24 hours — a big-mountain climb and summit ski descent of 14,375' Mt. Williamson.

• Mount Langley: Northeast Couloir

  Summit descent of 14,027-foot Mt. Langley's Northeast Couloir, with a variation down the sheer east gully.

Warning: Backcountry skiing and mountaineering are potentially hazardous activities! The information on SierraDescents.com may be out of date, misleading, or just plain wrong, and is no substitute for personal experience and good judgment. Read at your own risk!