Snowy conditions practice

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#1

I will be in Donner Pass area a few times this season and am curious if anybody knows any good practice spots for some of the more severe snow and ice conditions. It seems the only areas conducive to self arrest practice and crossing of avalanche chute type slopes within driving or short hiking distance have people skiing down them.

I enjoy very much and have done a bit snow camping, hiking and a little climbing and want to bone up a bit before I go very far.

Ultimately, sometime in my life I would like to ski, snowshoe, hike the JMT section, maybe even up to Donner when it is packed with snow, maybe even make it a part of a very early start thru-hike.

Thanks,
BD

Burgdergler

#2

make sure you know how to read a map, have a compass, and a GPS since there won’t be a trail to follow. And, of course, enjoy.

boorah

#3

There’s definitely plenty of spots around the area. Don’t worry about skiers, you’ll be able to find space. Are you just looking for slopes to practice on or do you want to do some snow trips?

Some popular spots:

  • park in the Castle Peak Snow-park next to boreal, cross the freeway and then head up to Castle Pass. Castle pass has a relatively safe slope in low-avi conditions where you can practice self arrest. You can also try heading up to Castle Peak or Andesite. Be careful.

  • Harder would be to take the summer PCT from Sugar Bowl to Squaw or somewhere else.

Really I guess, you just need to do some research. There is plenty of terrain to practice on, especially if all you want to do is self arrest. Be avalanche safe!! Most of the Sierra wasn’t really “severe”, you can easily get yourself into worse conditions during the winter at Donner Pass. And you probably don’t want to be crossing any avy chutes!

JackH

#4

I’m not about to hang out under a cornice when I don’t need to. I am a pretty safe person. I will be doing a little camping in December and a bit in March. Castle peak is a good one, thanks! I might head up there if the wind and snow isn’t blowing too hard, maybe ski/hike to Tinkers Knob. Snoeshoe a little… Brush up on my orienteering.

Its not just self arrest I want to practice, but that is one thing I can do for a couple hours then go back to a warm house! I thought I might traverse the slope of one of those steep earthen dams.

I need to practice all that snow stuff: self arrest, chute crossing, wading through drifts, being cold… Living where its warm for the past few years has made me soft.

Hopefully we get some snow up there! Its a bit thin right now…
-BD

Burgdergler