Most highways in Nevada don’t get much traffic, in fact, they make a joke out of the concept of over population (like, where are all the people to whine about?). You can stop anywhere on the roadside and it’s almost like being in a campground. Or actually, quieter.
Louie above Virginia Lakes, on what we think is called Black Mountain. Whatever, the skiing was actually quite good in spite of a local we spoke to in the parking lot who assured us enthusiastically that it would be terrible.
I’m starting this post at lunchtime, on the shoulder of highway 6. We’re a short drive from Bishop, CA, making sandwiches in the camper. I had second thoughts about hauling 2,000 lbs of RV up north, but have to admit it’s nice having a kitchen counter next to a fridge, and of course the mobile facilities.
Storm coming, get it while you can.
So, later, for another higher altitude night out we’ve driven up to Virginia Lakes (we didn’t end up in Bishop) on the Sierra east side. A storm is said to be coming, so we jumped on our skis at around 3:00 PM and got in a quick Sierra slush run above the lakes. If it’s not raining in the morning we might try to make a foray up Dunderberg Peak, which rises a few thousand vert above where we’ve parked. If it’s raining or wet-snowing, perhaps we’ll head north?
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.