Coastal Crest Snow Patrol

J

jibmaster

New member
For those living in Northern California, you've probably driven up the I-5 and looked to the west and seen snow-covered mountains. This is the Mendocino National Forest.
This is also the home of the Coastal Crest Snow Patrol. I have compiled a general guide to skiing these peaks.
http://www.earnyourturns.com/3878/ccsp- ... mendocino/
If anyone has midweek days off, I'm always looking for partners to share the joy of skiing on coastal corn all winter. Of course, this winter is strange - but normally (the past 15 years experience), these mountains offer tons of snow. With the conditions as they are now, Snow Mountain should have excellent access...
 
I must say I had never heard of skiing in this area. The Trinity Alps farther north and on the coastal side of I-5 were easily visible from Shasta last June, and they have alpine terrain going up to ~9,000 feet I think. I don't know how accessible that area is for backcountry touring.

These Mendocino peaks top out around 7,000 which is somewhat marginal in California. But of course skiers within daytrip distance can choose on short notice when to ski there. It never occurred to me that there would be much skiing in that area because the coastal mountains between Ventura and San Francisco max at about 5,000 feet and I thought the Coast Range north of SF was similar except for the Trinity Alps.
 
Interesting....

Speaking of the Trinity Alps... I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that there is a spot in that area that is considered to be THE snowiest in CA.
 
This year is not a good example. Usually, all these peaks are buried under 5-7 feet of snow this time of year. The depth of the snow varies greatly. The amount of time to gain access to all these peaks during the right conditions is tricky. Hull is the best place to get consistent skiing every week. However, it is sometimes difficult due to the road conditions. A high clearance 4x4 vehicle is mandatory a lot of the time, but there are many days, especially in the spring, when most any vehicle can get there. Basically, muddy roads that eventually get covered in snow. The better vehicle you got, the less hiking(skinning) you'll have. Go when the roads have had time to dry out...

This year is unique. With not as much snow in the lower elevations, the roads will melt out quick. While the snow is just now starting to pile up on Snow Mountain and South/North Yolla Bolly, the access roads are staying clear. Could be a good spring for these peaks. On May 1st, the gate on Colyear Springs Rd. opens to SYB. Pretty much the only month that this place is accessible with deep enough snow. I've skied it in October before, but there's not always enough early, cold storms to make that possible every year.

The snow falls very wet, dense and compact. Don't need much to get things going. Corn is king here. Powder days, while rare (need a super cold storm - 1000' and lower snow levels), translate to boot deep cold smoke pow. If your lucky enough to catch a powder day that coincides with your day off. Spring conditions are usually only a few days away...
It's the corn that keeps me coming back. The smoothest corn I have ever skied. No suncups. The snow doesn't have a chance to form them. Within a few days, the snowpack will experience powder conditions that stay for maybe two days and then the sun comes out and it warms up. Freezes over at night and you got corn the next day.
Typical storms will bring snow levels around 5000'

I got Tuesday's and Wednesday's free. Always looking for new CCSP members.
 
jibmaster":3ucxxjzg said:
The snow falls very wet, dense and compact. Don't need much to get things going. Corn is king here.
Click to expand...
Makes some sense. You have to get compaction before you can have corn. When you get a big spring dump of powder in a lift served area that skiers chew up (AltaBird being Exhibit A), it takes a long time for the compaction/corn process to occur. Wind is the most common compaction agent at Mammoth and Bachelor. Rain is a fairly common compaction agent in the East, as icelantic has told us a couple of times.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top