I went snowshoeing on Monday in north Tahoe with some guys from Reno. Our objective was to head up to Castle Peak, then traverse the ridge to Basin. I was last up in this area in 2004 -- I snowshoed up from the Donner Summit sno-park and scrambled up the east turret of Castle, third class in plastic boots and heavy gloves, just for the challenge.

This time was different though. Lots of SP'ers know about my car accident in 2007 which broke my neck and damaged my spinal cord. Jon broke his back in a skiing accident about 8 years ago and sustained a T12 spinal cord injury. He has only recently been able to regain the ability to walk with forearm crutches. Some of the muscles in his left leg still don't work though. Jon had been a rock and ice climber & prolific skier for 15 years prior to his accident. His longtime friend Simon came along too.

Jon has been testing out some new forearm crutches that can be fitted with snow baskets and hiking tips. They were originally made for amputees.



We headed out from the sno-park on a beautiful day.

Me looking dorky as usual


Jon and Simon heading up through the trees


Whew, warm day but cooler once we got up on the ridge

Looking up towards Castle Peak


Someone's handiwork


We headed up the west shoulder of Castle. The wind was starting to pick up more.



Our real goal was Basin, so we traversed to the ridge. Here, the wind was kind of blasting. We could see clouds starting to move in.

Big cornices on the lee side


Jon and Simon, Castle Peak in background.


Me and Simon, stopped for a break in a wind-sheltered area on the ridge


We made it up to Basin as a couple of skiers were coming down, and stopped for some pics. The wind howled. A lone snowmobiler came up.

Clouds starting to obscure Castle


Group shot


We made haste back along the ridge. The wind calmed as we headed back down the traverse on Castle's west shoulder and we had a snack down at the saddle. The walk back to the car went quickly.

Castle Peak in the late afternoon


Trip topo from Jon's GPS


We gave thanks for our good fortune and basked in the warm glow of accomplishment and camaraderie. It was a great day to be alive.

Full set here.

Wonderful Rob!

Rob, this story just made my day! Awesome.

Congrats to Jon. Hard to believe that was 8 years ago. I never met him, but remeber reading about the accident.

Seriously, this stuff is inspirational.

Thanks Rob, good story, better ending, keep after it.

Very cool!!! The mind is a powerful thing!

Thanks guys

Here's some info on the Donner Summit sno-park. Boreal Inn (right next door) sells the permits -- $5/day or $25/season.

There were only a few cars there on Monday. This place is popular on weekends, so I'd expect enforcement to be like Carson Pass.

Congrats on getting out there and making it happen. I was up at Ludlow hut this past week and I'm thinking I would have liked those large buckets on my Leki's.

I've parked at the snow-park there several times, mostly on the resort side. I did have the experience of coming back once to find my lug nuts loosened (as I drove off, unaware)

The tire thieves worked the bolts on the snow-wall side of the car. it was a jeep cherokee with off road tires.

Luckily, as I drove onto the freeway (very jammed up) and began to notice the wobbly there was a CHP right behind me. I pulled over and he helped tighten the bolts up and told me that tire theft is somewhat common––especially for truck/off road tires.

Awesome, awesome, awesome!!! Rob, this was such an inspiration! Congratulations!!!

Good stuff, Rob.

Good job, men. Props to you, & know that you are an inspiration to the rest of us who've been fortunate enough not to suffer the trauma y'all have had to go through. And leading ice again?! That takes ...

Keep on keepin' on, guys.

Very nice string of photos and glad to see you and your friend getting out there.

Rob, I had no idea about your injury. I saw no sign of it when I met you in December with Lisae. Wow. Way to keep going. Oh, and nice trip report too.

Very, very cool. I'm verklempt!

You need some of these.



Would make the trek much easier.


Looks like a cool hike.