May 6-8, 2005, Evolution Valley -- Sierra Nevada
5/6/05
US elsewhere
4924
3
Karl, John and I did a loop from North Lake over Piute Pass, Alpine Col, Darwin Benchs, and Lamarck Col in the Sierras west of Bishop. It was gorgeous country, and the Sierras are still getting hammered with snow. Conditions were everything from dense powder, wind crust, slush and corn. The last 2500 vertical from Lamarck Col were especially nice through the lower granite chutes and glades.
We had planned to set up a base camp on the benches and explore/peak bag in Evolution for two more days, but forecasts and signs for a major storm coming in on Sunday night and Monday made us decide to skeddadle over the last (nearly 13,000 foot) col before it hit. Good call. Monday turned out to be May powder skiing at Mammoth, with blizzard conditions and 40-50 mph gusts. And the ski patrol was knocking off dozens of slabs on the Mammoth steeps early Tuesday, on the same aspect as Lamarck.
Great trip -- I envied the amount of time that Zap was able to spend in that country. It was hard to drive by the countless skiable lines that you see going back to Reno on from 395. Hope to post a link to some pictures later.
We had planned to set up a base camp on the benches and explore/peak bag in Evolution for two more days, but forecasts and signs for a major storm coming in on Sunday night and Monday made us decide to skeddadle over the last (nearly 13,000 foot) col before it hit. Good call. Monday turned out to be May powder skiing at Mammoth, with blizzard conditions and 40-50 mph gusts. And the ski patrol was knocking off dozens of slabs on the Mammoth steeps early Tuesday, on the same aspect as Lamarck.
Great trip -- I envied the amount of time that Zap was able to spend in that country. It was hard to drive by the countless skiable lines that you see going back to Reno on from 395. Hope to post a link to some pictures later.
Nice trip - I did a similar route as a backpack nearly two decades ago (a little different on some of the passes - we did a funky route called the "keyhole"), and it was beautiful country. I imagine that it would have been fantastic for you to have had two extra good weather days with a basecamp in the valley for further exploring.
In retrospect, that area gives me a nice appreciation for the relative solitude of summertime in the Cascades.
In retrospect, that area gives me a nice appreciation for the relative solitude of summertime in the Cascades.
Ross, Glad you had a great trip. We also experienced a "powder day" at Mammoth with 30 plus MPH winds. We are still in the Sierras and I keep finding more places that I "have to tour." Unfortunately, Jill misses our sherpa candidates(grandsons). :) Zap
As promised, I am trying to add some links to pictures. Gorgeous country.
http://rossmac.smugmug.com/gallery/533540/1
http://rossmac.smugmug.com/gallery/533540/1
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