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SeaToSky
Mountain climber
Vancouver, BC
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 30, 2014 - 12:30pm PT
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One of the things I love to do during winter is backcountry ski. We are moving to Fresno in January and wondering if there are places that are conducive as a day-trip from Fresno for backcountry skiing.
It doesn't need to be extreme for us to have a good time (extreme is OK too)…we just love being outside with friends in the winter. Would love any wisdom from you, friends!
Peace,
Joe
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Climberdude
Trad climber
Clovis, CA
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Oct 30, 2014 - 12:40pm PT
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If you do not mind a few snowmobiles passing you, the road going up from Huntington Lake to Kaiser Pass is closed in the winter and makes for a fun trip. There is plenty of back country skiing off of this road in the Kaiser Wilderness or south of Huntington Lake. Rancheria Falls is about a 2 mile ski in and has easy ice climbing in the right conditions. Also, Rock Creek Road is closed in the winter and is a nice ski trip out to Bald Mountain overlooking Shaver Lake. Make sure you get your Snow Park Pass to park at the designated parking lots between November 1 and May 30. You can buy day parking passes, but if you go out a few times, it is more economical to purchase the season pass.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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Oct 30, 2014 - 12:48pm PT
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Dude, Giant Forest! You can get Ski Trails maps at the Lodgepole station.
Several tails at Grant Grove area too.
Alta Peak and the high country up to the Tablelands if you need something bigger.
Giant Forest is a unique treasure in this world.
Edit: Oh yeah, Badger Pass! and you can ski out to Glacier Point, Dewey point and up to Ostrander hut. All over in that SW Yosemite area.
There is a nice Sequoia grove just above Oakhurst as well if the snow comes down that low. Mariposa grove too.
Fresno is golden!
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Oct 30, 2014 - 12:52pm PT
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What Climberdude and Spider said, plus, of course, Yosemite offers lots of one-day trips from Badger Pass and vicinity. There is, of course, one additional consideration:
We need snow!
I hope you enjoy your time in the Big Raisin.
John
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Tork
climber
Yosemite
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Oct 30, 2014 - 01:16pm PT
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It is hard to beat the Pear Lake area in Sequoia National Park. Contact the Sequoia Natural History Association to book reservations for the hut.
On good snow years there is great tree skiing from above Wolverton down to Lodgepole. Can skin back up an old road or do car shuttles. Also a fun little hill to do laps on right there in Wolverton.
For an easy tour it is hard to beat skiing through the Giant Sequoia Groves.
Jeff
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Flip Flop
Trad climber
Truckee, CA
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Oct 30, 2014 - 01:17pm PT
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Climber Dude ,
More please.
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Oct 30, 2014 - 01:21pm PT
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Is it too early to start waxing my sticks? I think not. Sometimes just pulling out my winter gear in October (though it is still bone dry here in Fresno) makes me feel as if I will encourage mother nature to come out and play.
When the time comes, I'll show you my secret stash.
Scott
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doughnutnational
Gym climber
its nice here in the spring
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Oct 30, 2014 - 01:42pm PT
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IMO Kaiser Peak is the best back country skiing close to Fresno (if your looking to ski downhill, not meadow skip), but the lower sections melt out fast as they are south facing. I'm no extreme skier, but dropping of the north side there are some areas which are very steep and some that might qualify as extreme. I know a few guys who snowmobile up Kaiser Pass Road and ski in the bowl below white bark vista. I've skied there in the spring and it's really good.
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Charlie D.
Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
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Oct 30, 2014 - 01:57pm PT
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I've done limited skiing on the West side in the Southern Sierra but did enjoy several days skiing the environs' of the Pear Lake Hut. We were there in the spring for a corn fest, great fun on up into the Table Lands. Glacier Point is a skinny ski tour, that Kaiser Pass option posted here is intriguing. I've often thought of it but seldom get down that way, safe travels.......enjoy!!!
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Oct 30, 2014 - 02:02pm PT
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The main spots have already been mentioned; Kaiser Pass area, Bald Mountain, Wolverton/Lodgepole area and around Badger pass.
Another good spot is Red Mountain behind the China Peak ski area. If you have a sled Shuteye is great. If you have the time to make it to Mineral King you can get some of the best skiing in the entire state. It's a long walk/skin unless you have a snowmobile and know the gate code (I can help you there).
Most of the west side access is either 198 out of Visalia, 180 from Fresno, 168 from Fresno or the 41/Beasore Road from Fresno. Explore those roads and check out maps and you can find stuff. I've only been poking around in the backcountry a couple years and found some fun stuff pretty quickly. There would be tons more if so many roads didn't close in the winter.
It's no BC but it can be good...
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doughnutnational
Gym climber
its nice here in the spring
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Oct 30, 2014 - 02:15pm PT
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Just to clarify, Kaiser Pass and Kaiser Peak are not the same.
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Oct 30, 2014 - 02:57pm PT
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I used to live in Los Angeles and had great bc skiing only an hours drive away with super easy access practically in my backyard. Where?! Unless you lived near Baldy or Mt. Pinos, I have no idea of where this would be.
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wilbeer
Mountain climber
Terence Wilson greeneck alleghenys,ny,
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Oct 30, 2014 - 04:27pm PT
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Rincon,Charlie,that looks awesome.
Hope to get after that sometime,cheers wilbeer.
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bergbryce
climber
East Bay, CA
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Oct 30, 2014 - 07:21pm PT
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Great thread.
I was looking at the map around Fresyes a few weeks ago, wondering the exact same thing.
First storm is coming in tonight/tomorrow, and it looks like it's going to paint most of the Sierra white. Fingers crossed for something good this year.
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doughnutnational
Gym climber
its nice here in the spring
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Oct 30, 2014 - 08:55pm PT
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1hr 15 minutes of driving and a few hours of skinning/walking from fresno in good weather
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Oct 30, 2014 - 09:05pm PT
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ya'll make living in Fresno sound awesome.
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bergbryce
climber
East Bay, CA
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Oct 30, 2014 - 09:50pm PT
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Is it realistic to think you could live in Tollhouse and work in Fresno 3 shifts a week? I see what google maps tells me drive wise, and I've actually done the drive once, but I don't really remember it much. Maybe that's a good thing? Is it reasonable?
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