Silver Peak 8348′

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  Location: Sierra Crest – Squaw Valley, CA
Duration: 2.5 – 4 hours from Hwy 89
Elevation Change: 2,328′ – from 6,020′ to 8,348′
Recommended Map:

Elevation Profile:

Map of General Route:

Visible from the Squaw Valley parking lot, and also near the 7-11 on Highway 89, this hidden backcountry treasure has been skied by locals for decades. You’re often the only people on the upper half of the mountain, while hordes of Squaw and Alpine Meadows skiers have no clue what you’re up to right next door. This long, mellow ski tour usually starts from Highway 89, two miles north of Squaw Valley Road. After an hour of low-angle snow-covered road, you’ll begin a moderate 1,500’ climb to a beautiful east-facing bowl. The top small round summit gives you a real “king of the mountain” feel. It’s a long way to go honestly from hwy 89. I almost always go up from Squaw Valley, on the north side of the Olympic Village Inn. The terrain is steep and complex, and finding a good route is not for beginners if the local track isn’t in.  If you parked in Squaw, You’ll have to come back up most of the vert after dropping the 1000′ east bowl, but it goes easy. Go with a guide from Alpenglowexpeditions.com. Their office is right in the village at Squaw (now called Palisades). Logan and Adrian are IFMGA and just incredible people. Ask for my friend Tim to guide you, also IFMGA. Learn from the pros since they are right there, why not? 

I’ve heard the lower and more obvious peak you see from the Squaw Valley Chairlifts to be called Gold Peak. This has some nice south facing corn to ski and can be joined with an east bowl descent on neighboring silver Peak. I almost prefer skiing this one to bang out a nice hike as it’s more direct and a “summit” feeling for sure. then I can hop over to Silver Peak. 

If you want to avoid the funky south facing descent to your car you can car shuttle over to 89 and drop below the Silver Peak East bowl at the end of your day. Just follow the snow-covered forest service road below the bowl to hwy 89. You only drive about 5 miles to do this. But wide rockered and shorter sidecut skis will really help you survive the return afternoon crust or slop on the south side of the peak. These survival descents put hair on your chest and build some skills you need to be a backcountry skier. It’s going to happen again on bigger mountains. I just go try to enjoy it since it’s low angle and only about 1500′ of crapola snow most of the time on the lower south slopes of silver and gold. I guess you MIGHT find good snow conditions from top to bottom, but don’t count on it.