Future tours.

We've been making good progress on the old list, so it feels like time to update our potential adventures. J & F's weekends are gone until mid-April, but if the snowpack on north faces holds, the longer days might make the following strategems a good plan for late season stupidity.

Anybody have any other new ideas to add?

Squaw to Sugarbowl.

Luther-Tahoe

Job's Peak-Great Basin

• Squaw-to-Sugarbowl: for years, Jeff & I have been thinking about an overnight tour from Squaw, down into the Cedars, then out Sugarbowl. The logistics require getting a North Fork cabin owner involved, which complicates things. But Jeff, Rob and I scoped the crest yesterday while sussing out the new Squaw-Alpine backcountry link-up. It looks like we can actually do this trans-crest traverse as a day tour. A short-ish descent, a long downward-trending slog, a good long skin, followed by...a ski out a groomer. Sounds stupid to me. We could reverse it, if we want to buy ski passes at Sugarbowl, which would be really stupid. But that would allow for a public transit tour on the employee shuttle and TART.
• Luther Pass-Tahoe: This was originally proposed as a Carson Pass-Tahoe tour by the late Mike Colpo, but the man was insane, bless his little heart. This chunk is burly, but might be doable without damaging us too badly. Start just over Luther Pass, climb up to Freel Peak, descend and traverse to Trimmer Peak, then down, down, down, down, down...all the way to Pioneer Trail in South Lake. Whee!
• Job's Peak-Gardnerville: the big daddy tour, with more vertical drop and more heinous shuttling than anything else out there. Plus, we get to cross state lines! From Luther Pass, up Job's Peak, then down into the Great Basin. Maybe we can hit it in spring conditions on the north face descent, though that will probably mean a whole lot of dirt walking to the summit. I think there are some private property issues at the bottom--anybody know?
• Mt. Rose-Glenshire: STILL trying to sort this one out. Is there really no one we know with the gate combo?

Donner Pass to Squaw Valley with public transit.

February 28, 2009: 'Donner to Squaw' always counts as stupid, since there is so little skiing on it. The first time we did it, we even skied out Shirley canyon, which was VERY stupid [and wet].

This time, we made it an "all public transit" tour by catching the Sugarbowl employee shuttle in Truckee to drop us at Donner Pass, then taking TART back to town from Squaw. Had to hustle to catch the last bus, though.

Who?:

Jeff, Faerthen, Beth, Dr. Jim, Virginia, Susie

We were all very colorful today, so Susie made up names for
us based on our color scheme (like Chastity Pumpkin!).
They were meant to sound innocent and old-fashioned, but
they came off kind of porn-y :)

Public transit tour both ways! That means there's a deadline
to get to Squaw for the last shuttle!

Made it just in time! Virginia's knee may never be the
same, however.

Luther Pass to Carson Pass.

January 10, 2009: A Waterhouse-Stevens-Red Peak traverse was envisioned, but thin snow & lots of talus walking had us bailing early down Stevens Peak [see Gregor's picture at top of page].

We couldn't work out the South Lake-Kirkwood bus this time.

Gayle's photos.

Who?:

Jeff, Faerthen, Beth, Gayle, Virginia, Sue, Gregor, Shaggy

Alpine to Ho-Ho-Homewood.

February 10, 2008: We read something that said someone tried to put a ski resort between Alpine & Homewood.

Really? Is there that much terrain back there? Better check.

This tour turned out to not be all that stupid. We liked it so much we came back with Jim & Shortie.

We didn't think of it at the time, but there is a shuttle between Homewood & Alpine that would turn this into a public transit tour.

Gayle's photos.

Who?:

Jeff, Faerthen, Beth, Gayle, Virginia, Jim, Shortie

Leaving Alpine Meadows the hard way.

Good corn!

Backside of Twin Peaks.

At the bottom of Blackwood Canyon--
Virginia couldn't give this sandwich away.

Gayle's secret weapon snack.

Looking down onto Homewood.

Treewell yoga.

There's that sandwich again.

Otis the shuttle!

Back to Sagehen on the 'bile in the twilight.

Next day with Jim and Shortie.

Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route

March, 2005: Does the world's most amazing, unforgetable, iconic ski tour count as a Stupid Tour? Hm. Long slogs, check. Ropes, ice axes & crampons, Long day after long day. Often horrible snow. Elaborate public transit. Here are some pics--you decide. Who?: Jeff, Faerthen, Beth, Dr. Jim, Sue, Gayle, Mark