I am going down to California near the Lake Tahoe Basin in late December and I was curious as to where the best backcountry skiing is? If anyone could list some suggestions of some peaks in the area it would be more than helpful. -Thanks-

How far in and how aggresive do you want to get ? Tahoe is full of great destinations. Check out this blog for ideas:

http://www.thebackcountry.net/bb/viewfo ... 65ccc97ef5

tallac

oh, the snow park trailheads up on carson pass (near kirkwood) are pretty sweet too

We skied most all of the accessible peaks, details at my Northern Sierra Peaks Guide at my website, free for all. You do have to watch for avy danger, link at the guide pages. Though with lesser slopes and tree skiing, you are probably pretty safe. There's dozens of good peaks and areas to ski, parking is the main issue. We have Sno-Park, and you can get towed at some places, or a ticket. Maybe old details in my guide, we cannot stay updated as things do change quickly and no one tells me anything. Used to be I'd go out every weekend, but the local enviro club got rid of us all. A great sport, but as no one made any money off of it, it died. I'd recommend skiing for conditions, north facing slopes are the best for powder, but with sun and GW, it's hard for me to say now.

1000Pks wrote:We skied most all of the accessible peaks, details at my Northern Sierra Peaks Guide at my website, free for all. You do have to watch for avy danger, link at the guide pages. Though with lesser slopes and tree skiing, you are probably pretty safe. There's dozens of good peaks and areas to ski, parking is the main issue. We have Sno-Park, and you can get towed at some places, or a ticket. Maybe old details in my guide, we cannot stay updated as things do change quickly and no one tells me anything. Used to be I'd go out every weekend, but the local enviro club got rid of us all. A great sport, but as no one made any money off of it, it died. I'd recommend skiing for conditions, north facing slopes are the best for powder, but with sun and GW, it's hard for me to say now.

1000Pks- Vitaliy M and I plan on doing some Tahoe area peaks this winter- probably beginning in January for the most part. Do you want to meet up?

mrchad9 wrote:

1000Pks wrote:We skied most all of the accessible peaks, details at my Northern Sierra Peaks Guide at my website, free for all. You do have to watch for avy danger, link at the guide pages. Though with lesser slopes and tree skiing, you are probably pretty safe. There's dozens of good peaks and areas to ski, parking is the main issue. We have Sno-Park, and you can get towed at some places, or a ticket. Maybe old details in my guide, we cannot stay updated as things do change quickly and no one tells me anything. Used to be I'd go out every weekend, but the local enviro club got rid of us all. A great sport, but as no one made any money off of it, it died. I'd recommend skiing for conditions, north facing slopes are the best for powder, but with sun and GW, it's hard for me to say now.

1000Pks- Vitaliy M and I plan on doing some Tahoe area peaks this winter- probably beginning in January for the most part. Do you want to meet up?

Haven't skied since 2003, so I'd be weak and slow. I carry tons of gear, and take loads of pictures. My boots may fall apart, they are so old, and skis can crack in half.

We'd have to meet beforehand, I do not waste my time on wannabes or pranks. Or video chat to get to know each other. I'd probably have to relearn my tele technique at a resort, the fastest way, and that is $$ for me. Probably best to do it without me. I've seen it all and done it all. I put myself and my gear at risk to do it again. And for what?

1000Pks wrote:

mrchad9 wrote:

1000Pks wrote:We skied most all of the accessible peaks, details at my Northern Sierra Peaks Guide at my website, free for all. You do have to watch for avy danger, link at the guide pages. Though with lesser slopes and tree skiing, you are probably pretty safe. There's dozens of good peaks and areas to ski, parking is the main issue. We have Sno-Park, and you can get towed at some places, or a ticket. Maybe old details in my guide, we cannot stay updated as things do change quickly and no one tells me anything. Used to be I'd go out every weekend, but the local enviro club got rid of us all. A great sport, but as no one made any money off of it, it died. I'd recommend skiing for conditions, north facing slopes are the best for powder, but with sun and GW, it's hard for me to say now.

1000Pks- Vitaliy M and I plan on doing some Tahoe area peaks this winter- probably beginning in January for the most part. Do you want to meet up?

Haven't skied since 2003, so I'd be weak and slow. I carry tons of gear, and take loads of pictures. My boots may fall apart, they are so old, and skis can crack in half.

We'd have to meet beforehand, I do not waste my time on wannabes or pranks. Or video chat to get to know each other. I'd probably have to relearn my tele technique at a resort, the fastest way, and that is $$ for me. Probably best to do it without me. I've seen it all and done it all. I put myself and my gear at risk to do it again. And for what?

For the mountains, man, and for the joy of the "down!"

1000Pks wrote:

mrchad9 wrote:

1000Pks wrote:We skied most all of the accessible peaks, details at my Northern Sierra Peaks Guide at my website, free for all. You do have to watch for avy danger, link at the guide pages. Though with lesser slopes and tree skiing, you are probably pretty safe. There's dozens of good peaks and areas to ski, parking is the main issue. We have Sno-Park, and you can get towed at some places, or a ticket. Maybe old details in my guide, we cannot stay updated as things do change quickly and no one tells me anything. Used to be I'd go out every weekend, but the local enviro club got rid of us all. A great sport, but as no one made any money off of it, it died. I'd recommend skiing for conditions, north facing slopes are the best for powder, but with sun and GW, it's hard for me to say now.

1000Pks- Vitaliy M and I plan on doing some Tahoe area peaks this winter- probably beginning in January for the most part. Do you want to meet up?

Haven't skied since 2003, so I'd be weak and slow. I carry tons of gear, and take loads of pictures. My boots may fall apart, they are so old, and skis can crack in half.

We'd have to meet beforehand, I do not waste my time on wannabes or pranks. Or video chat to get to know each other. I'd probably have to relearn my tele technique at a resort, the fastest way, and that is $$ for me. Probably best to do it without me. I've seen it all and done it all. I put myself and my gear at risk to do it again. And for what?

Let's do a trip on snowshoes/crampons rather than a ski tour. I take loads of pics too, so no issue there. We'd do a daytrip, so not too big a commitment involved. Not a wannabe and not a prank.

So are you in?

Must we turn every thread into a "Bickering with Pete" thread?

fedak wrote:Must we turn every thread into a "Bickering with Pete" thread?

What are you talking about? He and I have never met, he has posted some interesting stories lately, and I think it might be a fun outing to meet up for a day. So I am making an offer to visit the Tahoe Basin backcountry, which is the subject of this thread. How is this bickering?

1000Pks has some tight bucket list plans, incl. MT/WY in winter, and this detracts from that big time. I would never go back to snowshoes, and that you suggest crampons indicates some bad inexperience in the winter Northern Sierra. Love to carpool anytime but I need to know your driving and you. Sounds like a big NOOOO...

paisajeroamericano wrote:oh, the snow park trailheads up on carson pass (near kirkwood) are pretty sweet too

There's also some very pretty backcounty off the sno park trailheads near Bear Valley/Ebbetts Pass. It's perhaps stretching the definition of "Tahoe basin" but it's a lot less crowded. This snapshot doesn't do it full justice but gives you an idea...

1000Pks wrote:1000Pks has some tight bucket list plans, incl. MT/WY in winter, and this detracts from that big time. I would never go back to snowshoes, and that you suggest crampons indicates some bad inexperience in the winter Northern Sierra. Love to carpool anytime but I need to know your driving and you. Sounds like a big NOOOO...

I've used crampons on peaks south of Tahoe, but yes, I guess that was more in the spring. There was a weekend in Lassen NP where I needed them in early March as well. Willing to do a spring trip too.

Have the experience, as you know if you bother to look. Never caused an accident in 17 years of driving. Have no points on my record. Will drive the speed limit if that is your wish. You say you would love to carpool anytime but it sounds like a no? I don't follow that, but if your position is that you do not want to join up and meet people you do not already know then there is not anything I can do about that. But you cannot say I didn't try. If you change your mind let me know. Offer stands.

OK this is a topic about where to ski in December in lake Tahoe. Who cares about your driving record or your ability or not using crampons. Back to the topic. My answer to the original question is it all depends on the amount of snow. Talac will probably not be in.