Mês passado
Mês passado
East Peak and Cement Basin
Rota de esqui freeride
Detalhes
6,51 milhas
5 046 pés
Ski Touring in the Crystal Mountain Backcountry
This trip is quite similar to East Peak but it gives you some East facing slopes which usually get a bit more snow then East Peak itself. That being said this area is one big terrain trap and has had some disastrous results from people riding it in dangerous conditions. If you are feeling safe with the snowpack and want to do a line that takes a bit more effort then this is a great place to go.
Starting at the Crystal Mountain Base make your way lookers left up the Gold Hills Groomer until arriving at the Bullion Basin Summer Trail. Once at the first flats you can follow the standard trail which is the easiest way. If you follow the lookers right and more direct way then follow a semi cleared out run that wraps around before crossing the creek and climbing back on the Summer trail. Follow said trail past the lower Bullion Basin than once past the next switchback start looking to the left. Once you find some semi dense trees it is time to start climbing. Yes it is steep at first but before long the slopes start to mellow out. While this is a semi challenging route it is well anchored with trees and is the safest route to ascend. Putting switchbacks through the trees before long you will reach the summit of East Peak.
Standing on top of East Peak your eyes will be drawn to some beautiful and wide open East facing slopes and this is Cement Basin. I mentioned this above but proceed into the basin with caution the description below is how I prefer to make the most out of a day in Cement Basin.
The most important thing is never to have your group ride this line at the same time. Usually I would drop in first heading skiers right and just before the tight chute I would traverse off to the side so I could spot my partner who would ride from top to bottom. Once he is in the flats and at the edge of tree line I would follow his tracks until we are transitioning in a “semi” safe spot. Looking back up at your line you will notice there are two open chutes and if the stars align it is time to track out the second line.
Getting to the top of Cement Basin you need to wrap lookers right into the dense trees and start climbing all the way back up to the low col before following your skin track back up to the top of East Peak. For the second line it is the same program but instead of heading skier right we would go skiers left with one person spotting the other before returning to the base of our skin track. With a huge grin on your face make your way back up to East Peak and choose your line down the Western slope to the Bullion Basin Summer Trail and before long you will be back at the base of Crystal Mountain.
Click here for a trip within the area and much more photos
Written by Kyle Miller
This trip is quite similar to East Peak but it gives you some East facing slopes which usually get a bit more snow then East Peak itself. That being said this area is one big terrain trap and has had some disastrous results from people riding it in dangerous conditions. If you are feeling safe with the snowpack and want to do a line that takes a bit more effort then this is a great place to go.
Starting at the Crystal Mountain Base make your way lookers left up the Gold Hills Groomer until arriving at the Bullion Basin Summer Trail. Once at the first flats you can follow the standard trail which is the easiest way. If you follow the lookers right and more direct way then follow a semi cleared out run that wraps around before crossing the creek and climbing back on the Summer trail. Follow said trail past the lower Bullion Basin than once past the next switchback start looking to the left. Once you find some semi dense trees it is time to start climbing. Yes it is steep at first but before long the slopes start to mellow out. While this is a semi challenging route it is well anchored with trees and is the safest route to ascend. Putting switchbacks through the trees before long you will reach the summit of East Peak.
Standing on top of East Peak your eyes will be drawn to some beautiful and wide open East facing slopes and this is Cement Basin. I mentioned this above but proceed into the basin with caution the description below is how I prefer to make the most out of a day in Cement Basin.
The most important thing is never to have your group ride this line at the same time. Usually I would drop in first heading skiers right and just before the tight chute I would traverse off to the side so I could spot my partner who would ride from top to bottom. Once he is in the flats and at the edge of tree line I would follow his tracks until we are transitioning in a “semi” safe spot. Looking back up at your line you will notice there are two open chutes and if the stars align it is time to track out the second line.
Getting to the top of Cement Basin you need to wrap lookers right into the dense trees and start climbing all the way back up to the low col before following your skin track back up to the top of East Peak. For the second line it is the same program but instead of heading skier right we would go skiers left with one person spotting the other before returning to the base of our skin track. With a huge grin on your face make your way back up to East Peak and choose your line down the Western slope to the Bullion Basin Summer Trail and before long you will be back at the base of Crystal Mountain.
Click here for a trip within the area and much more photos
Written by Kyle Miller
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