We all have ‘em, right? Sometimes it’s what keeps us focused on the big picture. My list tends to wander from complicated goals – like kayaking South America’s largest lake Lake Titicaca – to simpler projects – like competing in the Holcomb Valley Run. But it is always way cool to cross one off the list once in a while.
This past Sunday, we did: A goal that had been on the list for sometime and was only possible because of the record snow we received this year. Our objective: Hike west from the Big Bear Dam and ski one of the amazingly aesthetic chutes that tumble straight down to the Bear Creek drainage.
We found our acc
ess point about one mile south of the dam and quickly skinned to the top of the ridge. Just north of Bluff Mesa we turned right and found an easy north-east facing bowl with plenty of light pow for all of us. We quickly tracked it up, thought twice about skiing it again but opted to continue down toward the top of the steeper chutes we had been eying for so long.
Still safely on the ridge, we looked over and spied the top of the narrow throat of the open gully we wanted to ski. A note about safety: I travel in the backcountry often and always wear a beacon, carry a shovel and avalanche probe. However, the most important thing I carry is the knowledge to use all three. And as a rule, we always dig a pit to check out the conditions before we decide if it is safe to proceed or we need to turn back. After careful study and a ski cut across the top of the chute, we determined the danger was minimal and proceeded one at a time down the drainage.
With gravity on our side, conditions were challenging but fun – from light pow to carveable crust, from spring corn to deep slop. At the bottom we rested next to Bear Creek and observed an avalanche debris pile. It was surprisingly large, likely had happened in recent weeks and sat at the base of a steep gulley looker’s left of the one we had just descended. Nature has a way of keeping you on your toes and confirmed why we are always cautious when entering the backcountry.
The hike out was brutal but worth the descent and we celebrated our list item over Cadillac margaritas and massive burritos at our favorite watering hole.
Earning my turns,
Glade Girl
If you can walk, you can snowshoe! If you can run, you can snowshoe faster! If one of your lame-ass resolutions was to try something new in 2010 then get up here for the first event of the decade and participate in Snowshoe the Bear!