Matterhorn Peak (CA) Ski Ascent

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Matterhorn Peak (CA) Ski Ascent

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Image Type(s): Skiing

Page By: 1000Pks

Created/Edited: Feb 21, 2007 / Feb 22, 2007

Object ID: 271743

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Matterhorn Peak Ski Ascent May 13, 1978

Disappointed by the local ski group constantly scheduling this ski tour, then cancelling, I offered this trip to another adequately talented back country skier, who didn't have a car.

We left town after work Friday. Doing a usual car camp along U.S. 395, we got up and had a leisurely breakfast in Bridgeport, CA. Motoring over to the free parking next to Twin Lakes and the resort there, then, we hiked through to the trail headed up Horse Creek Canyon. Starting the tour by about 8 a.m., we carried our skis up the trail.

Reaching continuous snowline at about the first small pond, we donned our skis. I had a pair of waxless, light mountaineering skis, and my partner had his cheapo wood skis, no metal edges, or anything special. Light boots. It was early in the morning, so the snow was crusty at first. We skied up canyon, and I was very happy with our time. I headed more for the North Couloir, but was corrected by my partner. We skied up Horse Creek Canyon, then, awed by the scenery.

Coming to the pass, we surveyed the south slopes of Matterhorn Peak, above us. Mushy snow, here, and only partially covered. We skied up a short bit more, then took off and left our skis. My partner postholed up the slopes, and led along nicely. Then, we approached the final class 2 summit rocks. I hesitated, and we had a brief dispute about going on. I surmised there was some class 3, in spite of what the guidebook said, but he continued on. I saw it was easy, so followed his nice set of footprints in the snow. That saved me some work!

I recall topping out by about 2:15 p.m., and was enjoying being up here. The weather was as perfect as could be asked for! Finally, we decided to head down, and postholed even more down the mushy snow.

Back to our skis, we shortly began our ski descent by about 3:30 p.m. Turn after turn, with fine spring snow, assured us we had it so fine. The snow on the northern sides was consolidated enough, and made great skiing. Only one steeper section required any finesse, but I saw where a small snow slide had crossed our uphill tracks. That was pretty scary. I saw two downhill skiers descend ahead of us, but we had no problem skiing, me doing teles or stem christies. My partner tried some jump turns, but fell a few times. I maybe did a kick turn or two, at one spot, then it was back to the lower slopes of the Twin Lakes canyon. My partner led down, making some aggressive teles on the snow patches connected by some ski walking on dirt, then we were back to the summer trail.

The car was reached at about 6 p.m., and we motored off to get dinner.

He had a nice snooze as I drove in the night south on U.S. 395, intent on getting another day of backcountry skiing about Mammoth. Camping, we had another fine restaurant breakfast, I think. We skied partway to Duck Pass, then it was time to head home. Lots of sun and snow! A stop at Hot Creek was almost mandatory!

It is nearly a vertical mile of gain to do Matterhorn Peak, but I refrained from writing an article for the chapter newsletter. All high sounding braggadocio. It would appear to put down the leader who annually schedules this ski trip, to to this day having never done it. More MLC fraud/ski joke, as far as real ability. I'd say the ski down Horse Creek Canyon is at most intermediate downhill, but with steeper sections to the sides. Of course, we had good spring snow, like silk or butter.