April 12, 2004, Dunderberg Peak, Sierra Nevada

We were up early and at the trailhead for Dunderberg Peak by 9:30 am. This is spring skiing, not powder skiing hours.  Noticed two cars at the trailhead but there are a couple of approaches so sharing the mountain seemed acceptable.  The skinning starts right at the car and begins with a tour through the trees towards an avalanche gully.  There is the west summit at 12,374 feet and the east peak at 11,700 feet.  The bowl and avalanche gully between the summits was a bit sparse on snow so we chose the east summit gully which had great coverage.  Within an hour we caught up with a single skier.  Owen was a Mammoth resident and at 72 years young he was slow but still climbing.  We spent some time exchanging tour stories and learning about new tours in the area.  It is wonderful to meet and ski with folks who have been roving the mountains before I was born.  Owen certainly was spry and he has a 40 year old girlfriend.  The climb along the narrow gully was enjoyable in the warm sun, on corn snow and a double fall line.   We reached the top of the gully and began climbing the ramp towards the east summit but the prevailing wind was howling and the snow surface changed to frozen crust.  Decided to pull the skins at 11,400 feet and enjoy lunch.  The first part of the run is a 35 degree large face that funnels into the avalanche gully with a double fall line.  The gully is bordered on the left by bare rock and on the right by trees.  The sun was shining on the slope and it was a sweet corn ride from top to the camper door.    It was still early but we needed to be in Bishop this evening.  On our way south, we took the June Lake loop road to checkout the approach to Mt. Wood. It was melted out low which would require a long bushwhack to the snow ; not on this trip.  Next we stopped at Mammoth Lakes to check out the Sherwins and the snow coverage looked adequate.  The spring skiing looks encouraging. If the weather continues to hold this could be an epic spring.

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