the daily dub

This was the first backcountry ski trip where we actually implemented our avalanche protocol.

Saturday morning, I woke up at 6 am, packed up my gear (what was left to pack, anyway), hit Albertson’s for some oatmeal, then a bakery for breakfast, and we were on the road by 8:30. We arrived at the Boreal Sno-park (also the trailhead) at around noon; traffic sucked and the weather was insane — heavy snow fall and high winds. The wind chill was probably dropping the apparent temperature into the 20s. Since I knew I would be hiking hard later, I was wearing only a base layer and a jacket/pants combo — needless to say, I was frozen until we started moving. Once on the trail, however, I was the perfect temperature.

We hiked 2 miles and were one mile away from the hut when we came up on a small tent pitched beside the trail. In front of the tent, there was a little red cross like the ski patrol have. Turns out it was the Tahoe Backcountry Ski Patrol! They unzipped their tent and made sure we were prepared for an avalanche if it happend. “You got beacons, probes, and shovels?” Yup, we were good to go. Good thing too, about 1/4 mile later, we were crossing the windward side of a cornice and the snow started giving that tell-tale “fwhump” sound with every step. Tread lightly, ryan, this is the place. At that point, we went into full avalanche preparedness mode — walking 30 feet apart, yet always in eye sight (which was terribly hard given the blizzard conditions), with beacons on. About 1/4 mile of that and we’re in the clear — only 1/2 mile to the hut!

We arrived to find that whoever had all the reservations didn’t make it, probably due to the weather. Every last person who was in the hut didn’t have reservations! Not to mention, two of the people there owe their lives to the hut. Let me explain:

The two of them had set out from hwy 80 for a 3 hour tour in the backcountry, when the weather was a bit better. They made the life-threatening mistake of wearing cotton. In addition to that, they got lost. Soaking wet, with the sun going down, and no idea where they were, they start to smell smoke. Following the smell, they end up at the door of Peter Grubb Hut. Had they not found it, they’d have died out there that night — or at least lost a few fingers and toes to frostbite.

So that was pretty neat, meeting two really lucky people. Also, by way of coincidence, there happend to be 2 guitars and a mandolin in the hut, and about 4 guitarists (myself included). So, that night, we had a killer backcountry jam session! How much fun can this get? I met some people from Berkeley, and a girl from SF. I also slept like a baby that night — carrying a snowboard on your back for 3 miles in the snow is draining.

Next morning, at 6 am, I’m up, making the morning bathroom run and cooking breakfast (though not at the same time). We’re on the trail by 8am, headed for the summit of Basin Peak. In about 2 hours, we make it to 8805 ft (approx.), around 800 ft below the summit. The snow up here is more ice than snow — too much exposure to wind has frozen the top layer, so every step I take punches through the ice and threatens to send the whole mountainside down. Since it only gets worse as you go up, we decide to forgo the summit push in favor of a good ski run. About 2 hours of hiking for a killer 15 minute run in untouched and uncharted powder as far as the eye can see — absolutely breathtaking!

After that, we head back to the hut, pack up, and make for the trail. At this point, our trail is *well* defined, so hiking out is no problem. Once at the saddle, with the rest of the trail downhill from here, I strap on my snowboard and ride the trail out. It’s less backcountry snowboarding than it is snowboard luge at this point, with the added challenge of alerting people coming up the trail that there is a fast moving snowboarder headed their way and to kindly step off the trail. Having to walk/pole your way up a hill with a snowboard sucks, but the time saved headed downhill is well worth the few times you have to pull.

We had to dig the car out of the snow, but once that was done, we headed to Squeeze In in Truckee for a sweet breakfast (even though it was 2pm). From there, it’s a drive home, laundry, another drive to Sunnyvale, and sleep. I’m still a bit sore, though not as bad as last time.