SierraDescents | Category | Skiing
April 27, 2017
Skiing The Thumb
A few quick notes: jeez, the wind was bad on this one, but the trip itself was great. This is a new format designed to better feature my photography. Yes, I know a lot is broken (more)
February 24, 2017
Scouting Sugarloaf
Sugarloaf Mountain is kind of a nondescript bump at the east end of the ridge that connects Snow Summit and Bear Mountain ski areas above Big Bear Lake. I'm tempted to ski it (more)
February 2, 2017
Mount Pinos & Sawmill Mountain
At 8831', Mount Pinos is the highest point in Ventura County and, believe it or not, the 11th most prominent peak in California. Pinos is an easy drive up the 5 from LA County, (more)
January 2, 2016
Snowbowl Gets A Lift
A new chairlift, that is. I would tell you its name, but the Snowbowl's website is currently down, so the new lift will have to remain at least temporarily nameless. Nameless (more)
October 3, 2014
Fransson
He was one of the titans of modern extreme skiing, with a traditional, mountaineering tilt that connected him directly to the most storied names of the past. On September 29, (more)
May 30, 2014
The Vertigo Machine
It is unlike any other chairlift I know of, and it scares the hell out of me every time I ride it. I'm talking of course about Mammoth Mountain's wonderful Chair 23, that aging (more)
May 28, 2014
Memorial Day
For me, the 2013-2014 winter began and now ends with Mammoth: a Thanksgiving opening and a Memorial Day close. Yes, in terms of snowfall, this year ranks easily among the most (more)
December 9, 2013
Reading the SoCal Backcountry
I know what you're thinking: it's snowing! How much has it snowed? Has it snowed enough? It is worth it to try hitting the SoCal backcountry? How do you know if it's deep (more)
June 8, 2013
The Winter Wrap
Well it looks like I'm finally hanging up the skins on this unfinished-business of a 2012-2013 ski season. I'd hoped to add a volcano trip here in the waning weeks, but even that (more)
April 21, 2013
El Gringo Eskiador
In 1979, Patrick Vallencant skied the west face of Peru's 21,768' Yerupaja. Lou Dawson describes the route as "Possibly the continuously steepest mountain ski descent ever done." (more)
