Sierra Buttes, September 5, 2015

After four consecutive years of drought conditions and a hot spell at the end of August, finding September snow would certainly be a challenge. I did a drive-by recon and also heard a firsthand report on Dunderberg. I didn’t see snow from a distance and the firsthand report was bleak – all that was left was small ice patches with lots of rocks. That sounded like frozen chocolate chip cookie dough to me. I did a drive-by recon of Carson Pass and heard a second hand report as well. I needed to use binoculars to clearly see the small amounts of snow left on Chef Raekwon and Ol Dirty Bastard patches. The second hand report was of a one-turn patch between the Saddle and Sisters. After hearing those reports and a the sighting of a significant patch below Sierra Buttes a month earlier, it seemed like a possible place to go to find September snow.

Looking up at Sierra Buttes

There should a patch of snow hiding in the bowl to looker’s left of the peak.

Stev on the approach along Upper Sardine Lake

A panoramic view of Upper Sardine Lake and Sierra Buttes

L to R – George, John, and Kevin.

Stev setting up for a picador turn past a micro self pole induced crevasse and around a mini (6″) cornice

Stev completing a hop turn after hucking off of the mini (6″) cornice

Stev coming to a stop after completing a turn above the mini ice cliff

Stev looking happy after skiing 10 runs/turns on the largest of the three available patches

George on the hike back out near one of the larger rocks

Stev hugging a wall on the hike out

While this was a long, beautiful, craptastic, sufferfest, I hope to find more snow the next time I go skiing.