Eastern Sierra - Kettle Peak, The Hulk, South Peak, Pinner Couloir, Wahoo Gullies

Ever since making it out to the Eastern Sierra last year I have kept my ear to the ground to get back out there. Fortunately, my roommate had the same motivation this year as I did. We had a substantially snowy year in the Tetons which can be great but day in and day out of powder skiing gets a little old (what?! I know). We had few big skiing type days this Winter, so getting out to ski bulletproof corn in California sounded like a grand idea come April. Here's the full 8 day trip:

Day 1:

Driving from the valley, it takes roughly 10 hours to get to Tahoe area. We split the drive in two days and crashed outside of Elko, NV. The next day we woke up early morning making our way to Tahoe area to get an easy ski just outside of Mt Rose ski hill. After about an hour and a half of skinning, we got great views of Lake Tahoe, dropped into a back bowl, hiked out and got another lap in. It was a great precursor to what was to come as the corn was just perfect.

Day 2:

After a short day around Tahoe we made our way to our first stay in Bridgeport. Driving in to the Bridgeport area is similar to a lot of this Eastern Sierra corridor - lakes, mountains and easy camping. We made plans to do a two'fer: Kettle Peak and the left couloir off of the Incredible Hulk.

The Incredible Hulk (left) and Kettle Peak (right)

Looking right of Kettle Peak, lots of options

It took us about 3 hours to get to the mouth of the canyon and on snow. We missed "the swamp", a supposed awful factor of the approach when it comes to late Spring. Our plans included skiing Kettle Peak, a 30 degree line, but went up the wrong entrance that ended up being a happy little accident. We ended up on a 46-50 degree slope at top that tapered to a 35-45 degree slope. I was stoked.

Kettle Peak from the Hulk

The Incredible Hulk was in view almost the entire time on our way down from Kettle. We made our way over and while climbing the couloir realized how bulletproof the North facing couloirs would be during our visit. Half way through I look down the line and the soft, watery-looking snow had turned shiny. Or in other words, turned to ice. We got as far as we could to make it "worth it" and bailed off of the only flat spot in the couloir. Riding down, I think I made one turn. Can I tick off the line in terms of "skiing it"?

The Hulk left couloir

Survival skiing

On our way out we had to cross through the swamp area again and unless we wanted to back track we had to do a creek crossing. It was pretty cold.

Day 3:

I thought I was in better shape but apparently skiing powder all year does not get you ready to be hauling heavy packs through couloirs. We decided on a rest day would be a good idea, which was not really rest and more so just mellow.

My friend had stayed in Virginia Lakes the year prior and said there was some more mellow skiing out there and free camping (and bonus, unbeknownst to him, a port o potty).

We didn't have a plan but after scoping the area for about 15 minutes our eyes went to South Peak. It was certainly more mellow of a day but still good enough to keep me stoked on the area and should be stated, we slept in in our ski-in-ski-out accommodations (the minivan), making it one of my favorite spots of the trip.

View from top

Day 4:

We had a somewhat of a plan prior to leaving but we really didn't know where or what we were skiing. Our bodies made the decisions for us half the time as the approaches are long. The addition of the sun beating down on you, all day, you are cooked after a day of skiing. My friend had specifically picked the Pinner Couloir (at Convict Lake) as a line he wanted to ski. I am not one to kill the stoke so I said sure.

Climbing through the couloir we high-stepped over avalanche debris and hard packed snow from the overnight freeze the night prior. I was skeptical to the snow being any good but it warmed up like it always does in the Sierra making for another great line.

Day 5:

Looking down into the Upper Gorge

Ah a true rest day! Sort of. Just using different muscles. We ditched our ski gear for the day and grabbed our climbing gear to check out Owens River Gorge down in Bishop.

Day 6:

It felt invigorating to give our legs a true rest in Bishop. With the new found energy we decided to drive past our previous camp site at the famous Buttermilk Boulders and take a minivan probably where it wasn't designed to go.

We drove through a rough road, made two creek crossings and found a spot to get as close as possible to ski Wahoo Gullies off of Mt Locke.

Sunrise

Making our way back to civilization the van sounded awful. I know I dinged something on the way in on one of the creek crossings and after having a little freak out, decided it was time to leave so we were not stranded in California. A little disappointing but that's what happens when you dance with the devil in a minivan on rough road.

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