Shredfest Backcountry Preview Tour

[jjue]

Today I did a shake down tour of the intro to backcountry tour I plan to do at Shredfest 2010 .. Why don't you come along ?

Ok first lets take a look at our route ...

Our route will take us up Castle Valley to Castle pass and then along a ridge line towards Andesite peak .. We will take a run off the west side of Andesite ridge , climb back up to the ridge and then descend the steeper face on the east , climb back up Castle Valley and back to the ridge and then if we have lots of energy take one or two more runs off the steep east face and then climb back up to the ridge and on to Andesite peak and then down into Castle Valley and back to the Trailhead .


Here is a map with some land marks

http://a1968.g.akamai.net/7/1968/1365/08e3a8d4df7fd5/away.com/gorp/publishers/wildernesspress/images/m_lochm5.gif

Here is a google earth map

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/Googeroutemap.jpg


First Stop the Backcountry Store in Truckee to outfit those needing Snowshoes (carrying skiboards on your pack) .

http://www.thebackcountry.net/rentals_skiing.php

And then on to the trailhead ... Last look at civilization . That is Boreal Ridge ski area on the other side of the Interstate

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0324.jpg

Here we are at the trailhead . Nice map provided. You can see there is lots of snow .. This map is usually above the snow ,not down in it ..


http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0325.jpg

[jjue]

Ok up the trail ...

Skiers one way , snowmobiles the other
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0326.jpg

Here are some snowshoers coming up the trail ... Just think that that is you but you have skiboards on your back also ...

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0329.jpg

Nice morning view across the meadow at Castle Peak ... that is more extreme terrain then what we will be doing today .. maybe next time!
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0330.jpg

The trail is really pretty gentle .. It takes maybe an 1 1/2 hrs or so to get to Castle pass at a leisurely pace ... We solve all the worlds problems and tell tall tales and get to know each other really well as we saunter up the valley . Lots of snowshoers just do this part for fun for their whole day ..

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0331.jpg

Soon we are at Castle Pass ,with nice views of Castle peak and the big rampart up toward the summit for the high adrenalin types..

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0336.jpg

Also for another day is the long high ridge line out to Basin Peak in the distant another great and more ambitious tour

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0337.jpg

Our route takes us toward the more gentle slopes of Andesite peak, so we turn left and head away from Castle peak and on to Andesite Ridge .

[jjue]

Along windblown Andesite ridge and it is howling today .. we get some nice views across Castle Valley of the Central Couloir of Castle peak with the telescopic camera lens .. .. The Central Couloir of Castle has been written up in Wild Snow as one of the extreme backcountry descents in the West ... my buddy Billy has done it while I chickened out and waited for him at the big rock high up on the mountain at the base of the chute ..
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/centralcouloir.jpg


There are some nice views of the back side runs of NorthStar in the distance.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0338.jpg

And of desolation wilderness , maybe those mountains some other day !


http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0340.jpg

Finally our goal comes into view the Summit of Andesite .. but we will save that climb for the last climb of the day

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0342.jpg

Because the next order of business is skiboarding , downhill that is !

[jjue]

Ok , Jack chooses some nice warm up slopes to the West of Andesite ridge . these are low angled slopes with pretty nicely spaced trees....

Here is a look at what we will be riding ..

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0344.jpg

Nice open slopes that are windblown and firm today but not icy , kind of like natures own grooming ...

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0348.jpg


http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0346.jpg

These slopes are verboten to the noisy snowmobilers so we have them all to ourselves

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0349.jpg

But enough of the pretty pictures. Let's ride !! Ok here is Jack doing his best imitation of Valmorel's point of view steady hand cam video :)!
The video comes to an abrupt stop when Jack hits some crust and pitches forward a bit !

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[jjue]

Ok after we get down to the bottom of that pitch , ( that is about 1/2 of the run by the way ) .. It is time to grab a snack , put on skins for those using Jack's skiboards with touring bindings or switching back to snowshoes for the rest ..
Jack of course must snap the obligatory worshipful shot of his favorite skiboards.
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0347.jpg

After the short climb back up ( well I thought it was short .. some of you probably disagree !) it is time for another descent off the steeper east side of Andesite ridge .. this starts out nice and easy , then there is a barrier of trees to negotiate and then it is a bit steeper descent ... My vid clip is a little more shaky here as I have to worry about where I am going more ! the Vid clip stops when I hit some more narrow trees and I think if I keep videoing I will surely hit one and konk myself out ...

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[jjue]

So back down in Castle valley , I am having a wonderful lunch in a warm spot by the trail when a bevy of gals on snowshoes show up ! Now some of you young dudes might say . .hey those gals look like my grandma ..
well you are absolutely right ! These gals are a bunch of seniors who live at the Del Web Sun City near Sacramento .. The gals were quite worried about me being alone and I am sure they would have loved to have me join them . Hell I actually can live at Sun City myself being over the required 55 year age ..
And my Sherpa's kind of look like oversized snowshoes... But no , I have other plans ...

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0355.jpg

They kindly agreed to snap a shot of me and my lunch spot....

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0354.jpg

[jjue]

Ok , skins back on after lunch and back up Andesite for more runs.. By the now the very serious adrenalin types have had their fill of bagging the big lines on Castle and are headed up to bag my little Andesite peak...
There are a few good natured comments about what are those , " tiny snowboards on each feet " and then on they go ... I better hurry before they poach all my lines !

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0359.jpg

So no more video , just serious turn farming down the east slopes ...

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0358.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0361.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0365.jpg

[jjue]

Ok , it's time to bag Andesite peak and take our final run down the south east slopes from the top of Andesite peak back to the trail and back to our car..

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0342.jpg

As I approach the Summit another group of skiers approach , and one guy yells " Jack" he recognizes me by my tiny skis ... dead give away ! It is Kenny , my buddy Ritchie's nephew .. who is a 30 something expert skier in the company of a couple of his friends.... we climb the summit together and find the summit marker broken but still lying on the snow .. so we grab the marker and have Kenny's buddy shoot a summit photo ..

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0369.jpg

No more pics , as I had to have all my wits about me following the guys down slope for our final run !

Great day , great people ! Come join me on this tour for Shredfest 2010 ....

[valmorel]

Can you do all that climbing while towing a crash cart for me? Your shaddow in the first vid looks like you are carrying a rifle. That for the bears?

[slow]

Excellent thread Jack. Thanks for taking the time to put it together for us.

Valmorel, after all that climbing, Jack needed the rifle to shoot the bear for his lunch. :D

[jjue]

...

Valmorel, after all that climbing, Jack needed the rifle to shoot the bear for his lunch. :D

Rifle would be too easy , guys ... that long thing sticking up out of my pack is the non lethal end of this little baby .. that bear would need to go mano a mano with me armed with my ice ax pole !

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/jackwithwhippet.jpg

Actually I brought this baby along , because I knew that when I reached Castle pass and had the choice of going right up to the high windblown high adrenalin slopes of Castle Peak , vs the baby brother of Andesite ... Castle Fever might get the best of me .. . in which case I would want this baby in hand if I took a slide for life off the upper slopes ... , as it was , reason got the better of me and I took the left turn and thus never really needed this baby..

More on using self arrest tools while skiboarding here :

http://www.skiboardsonline.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=5857

[jjue]

Can you do all that climbing while towing a crash cart for me?

Hey Valmorel .. I know you want to do this , you have a whole year to train ;)!

Three reasons
1/ you don't want those gals from the retirement community to show up Dad's army , eh??
2/ I plan to use you as a forerunner for our descents , usually an honor bestowed to my buddy Bill .. you get to make first tracks , if you crash and burn the rest of us will just wait on top as you climb back up .. I will deem the slope unrideable and we will look for greener pastures :)!
3/ How can you pass up riding the number one best backcountry skiboard in the world .? I have YOUR RIDE ! My custom mounted Spruce 120 with Fritschi binding is the Ferrari of backcountry skiboards ... it is feather light on your feet , makes the Sherpa feel ponderous in comparison .. and as for the descent ... well you know all about the 120 going down :)! Here I am earlier this year climbing up towards the top of Castle peak , testing out your ride! IT IS THE BOMB !

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0011.jpg

[jjue]

Most folks don't know that Peter Grubb , the Sierra ski pioneer after whom the Peter Grubb backcountry hut is named was the first guy to use skiboards in this area .. Here is a pic of his circa 1930's 3 foot long skiboards which he used to get about right along the route we followed yesterday ... Following in the footsteps of a legend ..

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/DSCN0897-1.jpg

[mahatma]

jjue,

Gorgeous stuff. Thank you so much for posting. I have to say though, the one video made dinner rattle around inside me a little - ha ha.

On another note, if your knee issue is repairable you should really consider getting it fixed. Chronic pain sucks and there is no pay off. Plus, recovery tends to be easier and shorter when you are stronger. It is my opinion the human knee was not thought out as well as it could have been. I think it should be an on-demand universal joint. Think how much more fun the Limbo would be. Someone needs to make that happen.

All the good natured ribbing aside - truly gorgeous stuff.

[bec2745]

I'm Game!

[ElkCloner]

I would love to do this

[EmptiMind]

Jack just loves to show off how hardcore he is with that knee brace. And he can also call us a bunch of sissies when we complain about the ascent.

I can't wait for this. I really hope that I can make it.

[lumberduvey]

What about lunch jack? Thats the important part after all.
I usually pack pb and J, or summer sausage, cheese, and triscuits.

if i can get the time off I'll be there.

[jjue]

What about lunch jack? Thats the important part after all.
I usually pack pb and J, or summer sausage, cheese, and triscuits.

.

Sounds good ... just dont' make the mistake of making a ham and cheese sandwich with spoiled ham from the refrigerator ... I am paying for that a bit today ... but I was in a hurry and my wife said I should have noticed the ham was old and smelly :( !

By the way , anyone have any experience with using snowshoes with their ski boots.? .. I have done some research on that and apparently there are some snowshoes that will work with ski boots and some that will not .. I have never actually used snowshoes myself , having always used skins and touring bindings. Apparently those with a three strap design with an open large toe hole apparently work fine ... i think the MSR snowshoes would work , and I did find a rental source for those in north tahoe .. the original link I put up rents Tubbs which have a different strap design and might not ..

here is the rental source fo MSR snowshoes in north tahoe
http://www.tahoemountainsports.com/store/backcountry-ski-rental.shtml

here is product info on the MSr snowshoe where they mention that it works with ski boots
http://pinemountainsports.com/itemdetails.cfm?id=644

[rgzip]

I used snow shoes with my skiboots earlier this year. They were my son-in-laws I'll check with him on what kind they are.

[jjue]

I used snow shoes with my skiboots earlier this year. They were my son-in-laws I'll check with him on what kind they are.

Hey Rgzip , how did it go with skiboots... was it ok to hike with skiboots and the snowshoes ? do you loosen your buckles on your ski boots ?

[EmptiMind]

I would hike loosely buckled, personally. I would think that'd be a matter of opinion.

Hopefully by this time next year, I'll have invested in my own touring bindings.

[pinkkid]

Thank you Jack for the preview to come for Shredfest II... you are theee bomb, you rock!

Where within the Shredfest II time you thinking of doing this since it begins over in Truckee? I know weather is gonna play a huge factor, so hard to really say yet. Figure there will be those wanting to do you backcountry trek ad there will be those not wanting to but instead ski at a resort where maybe we all can meet up towards the end of the day????????

[jjue]

Where within the Shredfest II time you thinking of doing this since it begins over in Truckee? I know weather is gonna play a huge factor, so hard to really say yet. Figure there will be those wanting to do you backcountry trek ad there will be those not wanting to but instead ski at a resort where maybe we all can meet up towards the end of the day????????

It will be while we are in North Tahoe .. close to Truckee , Tahoe City , Northstar .. those who are at ski resort would be at Squaw , Alpine , or Sugar Bowl ..

[jjue]

Hopefully by this time next year, I'll have invested in my own touring bindings.

For those interested in getting Fritschi touring bindings to work on their skiboards , check with Jeff Singer at Spruce over the summer , it is a custom job and he only has time for it over the summer .. I have one loaner pare of a custom Fritschi medium touring riser that works with any Revel 8 or Spruce skiboard with inserts.
I also have several fritschi mounted loaner skiboards....

[rgzip]

Hey Rgzip , how did it go with skiboots... was it ok to hike with skiboots and the snowshoes ? do you loosen your buckles on your ski boots ?

actually it worked real well, I did loosen the top buckles but hiking was fairly comfortable and it was nice not having to change boots once I was up the hill

Now I'm headed for the slopes, 2' of new powder!!!

[jjue]

actually it worked real while, I did loosen the top buckles but hiking was fairly comfortable and it was nice not having to change boots once I was up the hill

Now I'm headed for the slopes, 2' of new powder!!!

Thanks Rgzip ... I really think that using snowshoes and carrying your skiboards is a really viable and relatively inexpensive way to get into backcountry skiboarding without the huge expense involved with a whole touring set up ( just the Fritschi bindings are around 400 dollars now ) .

Have fun in the pow !!!

[CrazyBoy-1]

If I'm able to make it out, the backcountry opportunity will most likely be my focus. I'll have to go the snowshoe route since I have alpine snowboarding boots.

Jack, how well does it work to have a combination of people with snowshoes and people with touring setups climbing together? I recall you once mentioning that it was somewhat difficult for you to climb with others if they were on skinny skies. Do you think the extra width of skiboards will work well with snowshoes as far as breaking trail?

And another question; how important are poles? I've noticed that most people (even those on snowshoes) seem to use them. Do they make a really big difference when it comes to climbing?

Thanks for putting this all together. I'm really looking forward to making it out there next season.

[jjue]

Crazyboy, no problem with folks on snowshoes and folks on tourins skiboards going together on this route .. this is usually a well worn route with both snowshoes and skis on it .. if we are breaking trail together also no problem as the snowshoes and skiboards are similar widths .. the only problem is a courtesy issue in that if there is a skin track broken by folks on long skis , it is backcoountry etiquette not to mess it all up with snowshoes as they disturb the smooth surface of the skin track
collapsiple poles are really very helpful for climbing and can be stowed in a pack for the descent , I guess it might be ok to do it without poles on this route but I can think of two side hil traverses on this route were the balance could be a bit tricky without them .. and I would recommend everyone have poles for the climbing portion .. usually poles are rented with the snowshoes.


,

[EmptiMind]

I'll assume that poles for snowshoeing is the same as poles for hiking. Where, if you've never used them, you'll think, what's the big deal? Honestly, ever since I got a good pair of trekking poles, I'll never go out without them. It adds a little stability, but mostly provides comfort, and actually makes the hike easier.

What's Jeff's SBOL name? I always forget it.

[CrazyBoy-1]

Thanks Jack, I'll have to start looking for snowshoes and poles over the summer months if I can.

[jjue]

I'll assume that poles for snowshoeing is the same as poles for hiking. Where, if you've never used them, you'll think, what's the big deal? Honestly, ever since I got a good pair of trekking poles, I'll never go out without them. It adds a little stability, but mostly provides comfort, and actually makes the hike easier.

What's Jeff's SBOL name? I always forget it.

yes , i actually use three section collapsible black diamond trekking poles rather than the ski pole kind , and just replaced the small baskets with bigger baskets , i think the poles came with the bigger kind . i use them in the summer for hiking and in the winter for touring with skiboards, and just collapse them and put them on the pack for the descent

jeff singer is jsinger on sbol , but if you want to reach him by email , the best is just to use his contact direct email on the Spruce mountain web site .

[FightingForAir]

I'm sold.

Sign me up.

[sempai]

Hey jjue,

I've never been on snowshoes before. Does it require a special kind of snowshoes to be able to use ski boots with them? What do people normally wear, regular snow boots?

[jjue]

Hey jjue,

I've never been on snow shoes before. Does it require a special kind of snow shoes to be able to use ski boots with them? What do people normally wear, regular snow boots?

Snowshoes are going to be new to me also , as I have always used skiboards mounted with touring bindings and using skins.
Apparently certain snow shoes work with skiboots and others do not ... I just pulled the plug and bought one that is supposed to work with skiboots. .. I have an Alpine Touring Ski boot and also a Salomon Verse Skiboot like you have ... I think the Salmon verse you have will work fine in the Snowshoe I bought .. I am going to give it a try and report back ... should have my first trip Saturday am if Snowshoe arrives as advertised.

http://www.skiboardsonline.com/vbulletin/upload/showthread.php?t=8000