Mike’s Ski Tours
Hi there, BackCountry Customers! This blog is dedicated to helping everyone get into the exciting and rewarding sport of backcountry ski and splitboard touring.
If you have questions or feedback, email me – mike@thebackcountry.net. Please don’t take anything I’ve said with 100% accuracy. I’m just trying to help you enjoy some awesome ski tours while it allows me to fun going off of memory and looking at pictures I take. There is no precise measuring or complicated computer mapping going on here.
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE CONTINUING!
- These ski tours were not created with GPS accuracy – they are just my suggestions based on memory. Some of those experiences were many years ago. I suggest that you buy the newer guidebooks from our shop for extra beta and opinions sucha as: Backcountry Skiing California’s Eastern Sierra by Nate Greenberg/Dan Mingori. 50 Classic Descents in California by Paul Richins. Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Routes in California by Jeremy Benson. Backcountry Skiing California’s High Sierra by John Moynier (out of print but find one!)
- There are inherent risks while into the backcountry to ski, snowboard, snowshoe or climb. The routes on these maps may be dangerous and even deadly depending on many variables such as current avalanche danger, weather, snowpack depth, skill and experience level and time of day. Plan on 1000′ vertical gain per hour. Add time for low angle miles, high elevation, poor equipment and lame partners. Subtract time by starting early, travelling light, and strategic tour planning.
- If you are not an expert and experienced backcountry skier, snowboarder, snowshoer or climber we highly recommend you hire a professional guide. We recommend excellent local guides and backcountry skills classes from local pro guide companies International Alpine Guides and Alpenglow Expeditions. We also highly recommend Sierra Mountain Guides out of Bishop, and Shasta Mountain Guides if your going up there. There are a lot of great Sierra ski guides. Skip the learning curve and help these guys make a living.
- You take FULL responsibility for yourself and your party when using this website for advice and the author disclaims any liability for injury or any other damage by anyone traveling in the areas described.
- Please be patient if our guidebook recommendations end up being wrong for you – we don’t know you and your skill level and experience. We are just showing you where we like to go enjoy the backcountry.
Have a great time and please be safe!
– Mike, Owner of The BackCountry
Featured Tours
Carson Peak
Location: Carson PeakSummit Elevation: 10,909′Elevation Change: 3600′Map: Tom Harrison – Mammoth High Country Carson Peak is the beautiful crown-like mountain above June Lake, and very nearby to June Mountain Ski Resort. You could even traverse over from there, but it...
Basin Peak
Location: Basin MountainSummit Elevation: 13,240′Elevation Change: 5500′Map: Tom Harrison – Mono Divide High Country Basin Mountain was one of my first Eastern Sierra Ski Descents in the early 90’s. A common story. It’s the most inviting big peak in a chain of big...
Mt. Goddard
Location: Northern Kings Canyon National ParkElevation: 13,568′Elevation Change: about 5000’ and multi-dayRecommended Map: Kings Canyon High Country – Tom Harrison Mt. Goddard can be seen from most every big Eastern Sierra Peak from Bishop to Big Pine. Eric Ongerth...
Tahoe Area
Jack’s Peak
Location: Desolation WildernessElevation: 9,856'Elevation Change: 3,500'Recommended Map: Desolation Wilderness - Tom Harrison or Lake Tahoe Southwest - Alpine Ski Tours Jack's Peak isn't skied often, which is exactly why you should go do it. You need to ski them all...
Mt. Price
Location: Desolation WildernessElevation Change: 3500'Recomended Map: Desolation Wilderness - Tom Harrison Ski touring to Mt. Price 9975' and the surrounding peaks of the Crystal Range requires timing and the right partners. This is a lot of low angle mileage and...
Mt. Tallac
Location: South Shore - Lake Tahoe, CADuration: 2-3 hoursElevation Change: 3,200' - from 6,535' to 9,735'Recommended Map: Emerald Bay, California Elevation Profile: Map of General Route: Mt. Tallac is the best thing Tahoe has to offer. I say this because of the...
Jake’s Peak
Location: West Shore - Lake Tahoe, CA Duration: 1-2 hours Elevation Change: 2,357' - from 6,830' to 9,187 Recommended Map: Emerald Bay, California Elevation Profile: Map of General Route: With some real sweat and skilled skinning, you can wind your way up to one of...
Rubicon Peak
Location: West Shore - Lake Tahoe, CA Duration: 1-2 hours Elevation Change: 2,200' - from 6,800' to 9,000' Recommended Map: Rockbound Valley & Meeks Bay, California Elevation Profile: Map of General Route: A Tahoe classic, this is the peak you...
Bliss Peak
Location: West Shore - Lake Tahoe, CA Duration: 1.5-2 hours Elevation Change: 2,400' - from 6,600' to 9,000' Recommended Map: Emerald Bay, California & Rockbound Valley, California Map of General Route: Bliss Peak, also known as Hidden Peak, is the short tour...
Volcanoes
Mt. Lassen, CA
Location: Mt. Lassen National ParkElevation Change: 2-4000'Recomended Map: National Geographic - Lassen National Park Mt. Lassen 10,457' is a friendly Northern California peak to ski. There are small sub peaks surrounding it and a nice view to the north of Mt. Shasta...
Mt. Shasta, CA
Location: Northern border of CaliforniaDuration: 5-10 hoursElevation Change: 6860' - 14,179'Recomended Map: Mt. Shasta - Tom Harrison "She's a big dog", Jamie Schectman told us all as he rallied my friends and I onto our first climb of Mt. Shasta in the mid 90's. I...
Eastern Sierras
Dragon Peak
Location: Dragon Peak Summit Elevation: 12,955' Elevation Change: 9,200 Elevation Change: 3,800' Recommended Map: Kearsarge Pass/Rae Lake by Tom Harrison These pictures are from a 5 day Ski Tour with Dan Molnar in May of 2011. The Dragon Peak North Couloir was a...
Independence Peak
Location: Independence PeakSummit Elevation: 11,744Elevation Change: 2,700 This is a great introduction to East Side skiing at a moderate difficulty. With no approach time and a few hours, you can knock out a really cool looking and pointy mountain with awesome views....
Carson Peak
Location: Carson PeakSummit Elevation: 10,909′Elevation Change: 3600′Map: Tom Harrison – Mammoth High Country Carson Peak is the beautiful crown-like mountain above June Lake, and very nearby to June Mountain Ski Resort. You could even traverse over from there, but it...
Basin Peak
Location: Basin MountainSummit Elevation: 13,240′Elevation Change: 5500′Map: Tom Harrison – Mono Divide High Country Basin Mountain was one of my first Eastern Sierra Ski Descents in the early 90’s. A common story. It’s the most inviting big peak in a chain of big...
Mt. Goddard
Location: Northern Kings Canyon National ParkElevation: 13,568′Elevation Change: about 5000’ and multi-dayRecommended Map: Kings Canyon High Country – Tom Harrison Mt. Goddard can be seen from most every big Eastern Sierra Peak from Bishop to Big Pine. Eric Ongerth...
Virginia Peak
Location: Pyramid LakeSummit Elevation: 8,370Base Elevation: 4,870Elevation Change: 3,500Recommended Map: Hoover Wilderness by Tom Harrison These pics are from 5/20/19 which has been a big winter and is still snowing every other day. The east face of Virginia Peak...