20100312

Saying a Quick Prayer in Mt Tallac's Cross Couloir

Our original idea, hatched Wednesday night, was to take the dogs to the North Bowls of Mt. Tallac (9735 ft).  Goof #1:  After loosing the skin track on what is one of the most popular backcountry destinations in Lake Tahoe, we finally found an uber-steep track up to a north sub-summit at 8700 feet.  Goof #2:  We mis-read the map and thought we were climbing to a 9235 foot-tall summit, markedly lower than the actual 9735 foot-height.  Oops.






Sander and Lucy crossing the final bowl

photo / sander van tol


photo / sander van tol
And because plan A was the North Bowls, we looked down into plan B and wondered what happened after (we didn't read about how to get out).  Still this is Mt. Tallac, right?  The straight entrance featured a 20' drop, so we opted for the mellower, 40+ degree left-hand entrance instead.  Soft snow allowed Charlie and Lucy to follow us, with a little bit of spotting and encouragement through the two bottle-necks.  Once we got into the couloir proper, snow up to our thighs, and a fantstic ski to the lower slopes.  The snow remained fantastic on anything remotely north-facing, and the track leaving the lowest slope allowed for a skin-free traverse back to the car.

photo / sander van tol

photo / sander van tol

photo / sander van tol

photo / sander van tol


photo / sander van tol

photo / sander van tol

photo / sander van tol




I came home to my new skis - a pair of K2 Backlashes - waiting for me. Thank you UPS! As soon as my boots arrive today or Monday I'll have a new ride!