Mt Dade
26 March 2019
Lately I’ve taken to early season peakbagging via ski. The chance of actually tagging the summit is slim especially as compared to summer hiking, but one can be assured of sublime scenery and acres of solitude.
The strategy goes as follows: skin up as high as possible until booting / cramponing up the slope becomes necessary. Stash the skis here to lighten the load. Then barnstorm the couloir / slope / rockfield hoping the postholing doesn’t get too bad, or the winds of winter blow too hard, before reaching the possibly cornice-y summit.
Of course all of this becomes more difficult the “deeper” is the objective peak. Once overnight supplies are brought into the equation the load becomes exponentially heavier. In consideration of the above factors, Mt Dade rises to the forefront of Sierra peaks which can be expeditiously i.e. daytrip-climbed in early season. It’s got a lot of good things going on:
- Rock Creek Road is plowed to a high elevation — up to Palisade Camp as shown on the USGS 7.5′ topo
- The numerous frozen lakes in Little Lakes Valley can be easily traversed providing a super highway access to Treasure Lakes and the peak
- The broad southeast summit slopes require nothing more than easy class two rock hopping and/or posthole slogging (nothing too technical)
- Hourglass Couloir provides a classic ski descent
- Gliding back to the car down the road from Mosquito Flat Trailhead is so cruiser, free and easy. Just lean forward in your boots and fly……
- The views are off the chain!
Ting and I carpooled up to the parking area by Palisade Camp as she had the requisite snow park parking pass. Unfortunately she was not feeling well and decided to rest up in the car. So I ended up going solo to the peak. It was such a sweet day. I don’t think I will ever be able to give up the awesome peace achieved by rambling alone through the mountains.
