looking for a good multi-day ski tour, a la the chamonix-zermatt in EU or the wapta tour in Canada.

just looking for a good way to spend multiple days out in the bc and see a lot of country.

Huts would be ideal but camping could work as well.
I know there are huts http://www.backcountryskitours.com/pages/general/huts.htm

and I've seen lists of examples of tours -

what i'm looking for is anyone w personal experience who has good recos of trips they've done etc.

thanks!

Sierra Haute route is very classic. For more exciting descent options (as if Giant Steps and Triple Divide aren't enough ), try going for a part of the Redline Traverse. Pick a cool looking region to ski up, hit the crest, follow the crest north or south until your time runs out, and have a friend pick you up or stash a bike after skiing out another sweet zone. The Bishop Skyline Tour would be a great starting point (Emerson-Checkered Demon-Humphreys-Basin or Tom) for a couple day ski (add more days for more descents! Three lines to ride on Emerson, four off Locke/Demon ridge, many on Humphreys, several on Basin, and countless on Tom! WAAAAHOOOO!

I always thought the beauty of the Sierra backcountry touring was and still is relishing it without reliance on huts... How times have changed. But if you are interested in something long and a bit different, I have one for you. In 1993, three of us hiked up Taboose Pass, skied to Kings Canyon which was closed for the winter, hiked/skied up Bubbs Creek to Charlotte Creek, Charlotte Dome and over Kearsarge Pass to Onion Valley. Some 80 miles of great mountaineering tour on skis. One car left at Taboose Pass, second at Onion Valley. E-mail me if you want details.

If you go W to E along the Sierra High Route (Wolverton to Onion Valley or Shepherd Pass trailhead), I will go in the opposite direction and help with the car shuttle. My friend, Nick, and I did the route from Wolverton to Shepherd Pass trailhead in two days this past spring, and it was the best trip I have ever done in California, hands down. I highly recommend it! Here are some pictures to convince you:







More at this album and this album.

thanks guys. wasn't familiar w the haute route sierra.

@hamik WOW those pics got me stoked! looks epic.

I'll look through all these links. appreciate the help!

The Sierra in winter is best seen by camping, IMO. Yes there are huts here, and they are a great way to see the mountains in winter. With the relatively mild conditions in the spring, I'd use a light weight tent/megamid and spend the night out. Alot of great tours go along the "Sierra Crest" This imaginary line starts somewhere around Yosemite and ends at Mt Whitney. Others, go across or "Trans-Sierra". Many good loops exist.

Here are some links to tours I've done to give you ideas.
Sierra High Route
http://homepage.mac.com/markchin1/shrmay04pt1.html

Mammoth to Rock Creek
http://telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=76743

Tioga Pass to Mammoth
http://homepage.mac.com/markchin1/tiogamammoth04.html

Tour to Ionian Basin
http://telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=68691

Whitney area
http://telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=22630

Pear Lake Hut, Sequoia/Kings Canyon
http://telemarktalk.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3164

Some other suggestions (not necessarily through SMG, but they guide these), with some good descriptions for experienced folks:

http://www.sierramtnguides.com/ski/skiTier3/BishopSkylineTour.html

http://www.sierramtnguides.com/ski/skiTier3/RitterRangeHighTour.html

Bump for sking! Hamik, those are some great photos, but damn what a big pack to be sking with.
TFPU!

We did a five day ski tour from Virginia Lakes to Tuolumne Meadows and saw no people or tracks until Lembert Dome . The Meadows and Tioga Pass are grand in the winter and you can stay in a hut. A friend droped us off at Conway Summit on Hwy.395 ,we crossed Summit Pass and contured south below the impressive west face of Mt. Conness to the Meadows. We camped in the Meadows and skied to the Lee Vining gate on Hwy.120 where we got a ride from another skier to our car in Bridgeport.

WOW awesome pics and info in these TR's everyone that posted THANK YOU! Great stuff all up in here

Question for everyone, espec mchin: Is the hut at muir pass open to whoever gets there or is it a lock door deal yadayada you gotta jump thru FS hoops to use the hut

This thread is loaded with good pics to give any sierra ski aspirant mucho ideas, thanks again for posting guys-we need more threads like this

*bump

have the next couple weeks open, looking to get in a couple good trips...if anyone has something planned and needs another person let me know!

Jareds,
I'm interested in this too. I'm available weekends starting March 31. I'm coming from Orange County. If we can get a group, we could make a traverse, swap cars and meet in Bakersfield.

I'm very interested in putting together a traverse with or without a car swap situation. I don't mind reversing the traverse either. Experienced AT skier, Avy 1. April or May work well if conditions hold up.

Blair, the hut is open but overnight use is discouraged except for emergencies. I know of at least one party that got into trouble trying to overnight there...

"The Muir Hut is intended as a temporary shelter for those caught in storms on this exposed section of trail. Overnight camping and fires are prohibited." - sign inside the Muir Hut

It was sure temporary for me: all night temporary as the storm blew through last Memorial Day weekend.