March 23, 2008, Stevens Peak, Tahoe

Since returning to the Lake Tahoe area, we have been cruising in spring conditions and using our passes at Heavenly and Kirkwod, plus a $10 powder day at Homewood.  Sunday was another perfect sunny spring day and we slept in waiting for the corn to ripen.  We drove to Stevens Peak which is just north of Red Lake Peak/Carson Pass.  At just over 10,000', Stevens ihas a pleasant SE approach from highway 88.  We started at noon; the lower approach is through lightly treed terrain that protects the snow and provides enough shade to keep you cool in the warming spring sun.  Once we broke out of the trees we followed a drainage up to open slopes with numerous aspects of ramps and bowls.  This year's snowpack is much deeper than last year's, but lower than the epic 2005/2006 season.  Spring touring in the Sierra is wonderful.