Hi, I’m Mike, and I started The BackCountry shop in 1994.
I want to thank you for helping us stay alive at our retail shop. You are supporting the families of over 30 employees as well as many local gear reps who we buy from.
This ski touring blog is in constant edit and add mode. I re-write nearly every time I look at my posts honestly. Check back regularly for improvements. Please don’t take anything I’ve said with 100% accuracy. My process is simply based on memory and looking at pictures I take. There is no precise measuring or complicated computer mapping going on here. I might start GPS tracking however with Gaia, replacing my old silly maps. Stop by the shop or contact me directly for help planning your ski tours. I am happy to direct you to the many local pro IFMGA guides as well.
There is an absurdity in trying to describe a backcountry ski tour. There is way too much to say if I were aiming to warn you of every danger and explain how to find the best experience. I buy every guidebook for ski touring and rock climbing, and rarely find I needed the few sentences I read. But they got me in the car and pointed me towards the best stuff in the area. My main goal is to get people stoked on ski touring while I tap at a keyboard at 3am, looking over old photos.
You can now add a comment with pictures and tell us about you day or recommend how I should edit my posts. I will read it all and I really appreciate your participation! I may not publish every comment. Think about contributing to stoke, beta, or laughter.
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Grab a map and guidebook from our shop or here on the E-com website. Search the web for more beta. Talk to me. Hire an AMGA guide to teach you the skills. Put all that together and go for it!
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There are inherent risks when skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or climbing in the backcountry. The routes on these maps may be dangerous and even deadly depending on many variables such as current avalanche danger, weather, snowpack depth, skill and experience level and time of day. Plan on climbing 1000 vertical feet per hour. Add time for low angle miles, high elevation, poor equipment and slow partners. Subtract time by starting early, traveling light, and strategic tour planning.
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If you are not an expert and experienced backcountry skier, snowboarder, snowshoer or climber, we strongly suggest that you hire a professional guide. We recommend excellent local guides and backcountry skills classes from local pro guide companies International Alpine Guides and www.AlpenglowExpeditions.com. We also highly recommend Sierra Mountain Guides out of Bishop, and Shasta Mountain Guides if you are heading up there. There are a lot of competent Sierra ski guides. Skip the learning curve and help these guys make a living. Contact me for personal guide suggestions. But you can’t go wrong with AMGA certified guides.
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You take FULL responsibility for yourself and your party when using this website for advice and the author disclaims any liability for injury or any other damage by anyone traveling in the areas described.
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Please be patient if our guidebook recommendations end up being wrong for you – we don’t know you and your skill level and experience. We’re just showing you places where we enjoy the backcountry.
- CARPOOL CARPOOL CARPOOL. Park respectfully, bring a full-size shovel, be nice to Law Enforcement and Cal Trans Drivers. Join Tahoe Backcountry Alliance please. Complain to USFS, CA State Parks and TRPA for unwillingness to facilitate access to our public lands in Tahoe for decades. I have spoken to the top officials at “stakeholder” meetings and delivered private presentations on ski touring in Tahoe many times in the last 20 years. They say they are listening and agree…meanwhile they only remove parking and access every year. They don’t stick up for us. They claim they have no control over Caltrans and CHP. These land managers are equally charged with the duty of improving public recreation opportunities, compared to environmental protection. All they do is work on development and tourism. They will literally tell you that ski areas are where we should be going.
Have a great time and please be safe!
– Mike Schwartz
SAC is Sierra Avalanche Center and ESAC is Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center. Please donate to them on their website, they need the money, and you need the info.
Featured Tours
Dunderberg Peak 12,374′
Dunderberg Peak 12,379' Location: Near Bridgeport, CA - East Side of the Sierras Elevation Change: 2700’ south side, 4400’ North Side Green Creek car shuttleRecommended Map: Tom Harrison Maps – Hoover Wilderness Dunderberg Peak 12,374’ - Dunderberg Peak is a popular...
Mt. Thompson 13,494′
Location: Near Bishop, CA - East Side of the SierrasElevation Change: 3726'Recomended Map: Tom Harrison Maps - Bishop Pass Mt. Thompson 13,494’ - Be prepared for steep couloirs with potential cornices to navigate if you want to ski Mt. Thompson. This beautiful ski...
Mt. Gilbert 13,106′
Location: Near Bishop, CA - East Side of the SierraElevation Change: 3,338'Recommended Map: Tom Harrison Maps – Bishop Pass Mt. Gilbert 13,106’ - I love Mt. Gilbert for its friendly terrain, easily skied in a half day by competent backcountry skiers. It’s a big peak...
Tahoe Area
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Volcanoes
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Eastern Sierra
Bishop Bowl 13,162′
Location: Bishop, CAElevation Change: 3,700' total vertical 8,300' - 12,000' I have only skied Bishop Bowl in the springtime looking for corn. This is a high elevation peak, mostly facing east. The sun and wind rough up the surface a bit, but you'll find the south...
Matterhorn Peak – Sawtooths
Location: Bridgeport, CAElevation Change: 7100' to 12,264' (summit)Recomended Map: Hoover Wilderness - Tom Harrison Maps The Sawtooth Mountain Range of Bridgeport, CA is only 2.5 hours by car from our store in Truckee. Whoo Hooooo! Drive 13 miles from town to the dead...
Crater Crest 11,200′ and Monument Ridge
Crater Crest 11,200' and Monument Ridge Location: Bridgeport, CADuration: All DayElevation Change: Twin Lakes is 7100'. Crater Crest Summit is 11,200'.Recomended Map: Hoover Wilderness Map by Tom Harrison just added to end of this photo gallery, current pics of our...
