SierraDescents | Category | Skiing
June 24, 2025
The Granite Lakes Cirque

I just need to get lost more often. While attempting to ski False White's east face a few days earlier, Dave Braun and I veered off course but got a surprise look at False (more)
June 20, 2025
False-False White

False White is of course the marvelously obvious mountain that pops into view up Tioga Pass Road at Ellery Lake. For backcountry skiers, False White's looming east face is an (more)
June 18, 2025
University Pass

On June 6 I returned to Onion Valley, intending to ski the "official" University Pass. But as it turns out, there is some disagreement as to which col is actually UP. So which (more)
June 1, 2025
University Peak – Hourglass Couloir

I am a Southern Sierra skier; I know there are interesting parts of the range northward, but it is the south, with its towering spires, epic cirques, and preposterous (more)
May 27, 2025
Mammoth Crest – Crystal Chute

Crystal Chute is one of the closest technical objectives in the Mammoth Lakes basin, and probably a solid entry point if you're looking to dabble in steep skiing along the Mammoth (more)
May 12, 2024
Throop Peak – North Gully

Believe it or not this is the first time I've skied Throop Peak from its 9142' summit; I've come close previously, but always ascended/descended the big northwest face over Lily (more)
April 24, 2024
Rosie’s Alley

On various adventures past I vaguely recall noticing a possibly-skiable line through Baldy Bowl's east buttress—but somehow I never got around to actually trying to ski (more)
April 15, 2024
A Very Wet Waterman

With weekend snow levels forecast to dip as low as 4000', it was possible to believe there'd be cold April powder turns in the mountains this weekend. The reality was quite a (more)
March 18, 2024
Skiing Kratka Ridge

Yesterday I took my daughter to ski Kratka Ridge, one of Southern California's "lost" ski areas. It was her first official day backcountry skiing in Southern California. I do (more)
March 11, 2024
Wright Mountain via Heath Canyon

Here's Matt D earning his handle in Wright Mountain's Heath Canyon. 8505' Wright Mountain is the highest point along Blue Ridge, which we traversed yesterday from Mountain High (more)
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