Comments on: Williamson: Notes from the Field http://www.sierradescents.com/blog/2008/04/21/ski-williamson-george-creek.html Compelling New Dimensions Since Jan '08 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:23:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: SierraDescents http://www.sierradescents.com/blog/2008/04/21/ski-williamson-george-creek.html#comment-231 SierraDescents Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:35:56 +0000 http://www.sierradescents.com/blog/2008/04/21/ski-williamson-george-creek.html#comment-231 Dan, There is some debate about that question. First of all, Mt. Williamson lies within the California Zoological Bighorn Sheep preserve. As such large portions of the mountain are subject to closure. Check with the Inyo National Forest website for the most current info. I think (I'm not sure) the Bairs Creek approach is open from Feb through early May. Because of the low start and hostile drainage, it may be best to go early in the year. But this exposes you to the possibility, at least, of massive avalanches from a variety of directions. If you wait for the spring snowpack to stabilize (as I did), the climb becomes harder, as the snowline gets up around 9000'. Any way you look at it, climbing and skiing Williamson is a big challenge--but also a highly rewarding one! Dan,

There is some debate about that question. First of all, Mt. Williamson lies within the California Zoological Bighorn Sheep preserve. As such large portions of the mountain are subject to closure. Check with the Inyo National Forest website for the most current info. I think (I’m not sure) the Bairs Creek approach is open from Feb through early May.

Because of the low start and hostile drainage, it may be best to go early in the year. But this exposes you to the possibility, at least, of massive avalanches from a variety of directions. If you wait for the spring snowpack to stabilize (as I did), the climb becomes harder, as the snowline gets up around 9000′.

Any way you look at it, climbing and skiing Williamson is a big challenge–but also a highly rewarding one!

]]> By: Dan Conger http://www.sierradescents.com/blog/2008/04/21/ski-williamson-george-creek.html#comment-229 Dan Conger Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:57:41 +0000 http://www.sierradescents.com/blog/2008/04/21/ski-williamson-george-creek.html#comment-229 Wow ... sounds like Williamson deserves the right to be #2 in CA and #6 in the lower 48. I'm inspired (for some incomprehensible reason) to attempt the Bairs Creek Cirque route. I should start flogging myself every night just to get ready for the pain. What's the best time of year to attempt this? Wow … sounds like Williamson deserves the right to be #2 in CA and #6 in the lower 48. I’m inspired (for some incomprehensible reason) to attempt the Bairs Creek Cirque route. I should start flogging myself every night just to get ready for the pain. What’s the best time of year to attempt this?

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