Wow, I can't believe people left you out there. You should find some good partners. I ski solo a lot myself, but that fancy beacon doesn't do any good if no one is looking for you.
"Since none of my skiing friends share this desire and none of my hiking friends ski or board I decided to pursue this activity solo, spending each spring season in the Tioga Pass area hauling my heavy alpine gear up various slopes and chutes that were not too far from the road and limiting my descents to aspects that had seemingly consolidated snow pack."
This sentence generally describes my social calendar for the last few spring/summer seasons! I must admit I would kill for six good backcountry turns.
I 2nd yocal420's sentiments: I can't believe that a group you went out with not only left you before you reached the summit, but left you stranded without a ride home. What the hell is that?! You should most certainly give them hell if you have the chance.
I worked seasonally in yo for like 12 summers and started the same way. Have you checked out jakes? It is really popular and always has a good boot pack straight off the road in the spring. Tallac also has a pretty dependable boot pack in spring too, but is about twice as long. You really should always have a beacon. Its good ettiquette. People shouldn't leave people behind in the backcountry and they should all have beacons and no how to use them. These are basic rules. Even Ellery bowl could bury you in may or june on a good year. In june of 95 an avalanche killed a snow plow driver by teaya lake. The threat is always real.
How irresponsible of whatever group you went with! I do / lead club led group trips and it is the groups responsibility to make sure everyone gets back to the car even if it means your day isn't as fun as you'd like. I agree with Magellan, let the world know who these lousy people are so somebody doesn't get hurt the next time.
Wow! Thanks, for the comments. I was shocked to see my TR on the main page. Although my skills and my nerve were tested a bit on this trip I was reluctant to post due to a feeling of inadequecy about my ability to mount a 'real' mountaineering effort. It may not have been an epic expedition but considering the situation I figured someone might enjoy my story.
To add clarity I did, in fact receive a ride home from the group leaders/guides. On my way to the bus station in South Lake Tahoe one of the group members called me on my cell phone and instructed me to give him my location and to "stay put". The begining of the conversation was particularly ammusing and went something like this: Group member,"This is , where are you?!" Me, "I'm in South Lake, where the hell are you?" Actually, this guy sounded concerned. He was not one of the guides, nor was he one of the folks who subsequently came to collect me and gear.
Funny. One of the guides told me that this was the second time time they "lost" a party member and the second time "...cellular technology came to the rescue." Upon which time I informed him that, despite his efforts, I was never lost. What is also rather telling is the silence of the guides and their lack of any attempt to make anything resembling an appology. They either didn't think it was a big deal or they were not man enough to admit their error(s).
I decided prior to being picked up for the ride back home that I would refrain from giving them hell. I made it out okay, I'm better off for the experience, they suck at guiding and nothing I can do will change that. So, I figured that I would set the example again and be a man about it.
magellan & moneal, email me if you really want to know who I went out with as I do not want make it public nor do I want to involve SP. It's for real and one of the guides is an SP member.
yocal420, I have not checked out any skiing in desolation. I hike all over it in the warmer, drier months but my BC skiing has been limited to Stevens, Red Lake Peak, Round top area, Conness area and, actually Ellery Bowl. Ellery was the first place I ever earned my turns. Anyway, thanks.
pksander, what's up with that? I don't know. They never gave me any sort of explanation and I never asked for one. Thanks, man.
BobSmith, thanks. Stevens is an easy day trip but seeing how it was new to me I guess it did take some guts. For a minute, anyway.
mrwsierra, thanks for the encouragement. See you out there!
yocal420 - Nov 21, 2005 11:45 am - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentWow, I can't believe people left you out there. You should find some good partners. I ski solo a lot myself, but that fancy beacon doesn't do any good if no one is looking for you.
mrwsierra - Nov 21, 2005 7:31 pm - Hasn't voted
Trip Report Comment"Since none of my skiing friends share this desire and none of my hiking friends ski or board I decided to pursue this activity solo, spending each spring season in the Tioga Pass area hauling my heavy alpine gear up various slopes and chutes that were not too far from the road and limiting my descents to aspects that had seemingly consolidated snow pack."
This sentence generally describes my social calendar for the last few spring/summer seasons! I must admit I would kill for six good backcountry turns.
Excellent TR.
Mark
BobSmith - Nov 21, 2005 9:43 pm - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentGood for you. You have guts. More than I would have had.
But your companions...damn. Were these just folk you met up with, or people you planned the trip with?
pksander - Nov 21, 2005 9:44 pm - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentI 2nd yocal420's sentiments: I can't believe that a group you went out with not only left you before you reached the summit, but left you stranded without a ride home. What the hell is that?! You should most certainly give them hell if you have the chance.
Good for you for making it out safe...
pks
yocal420 - Nov 21, 2005 10:10 pm - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentI worked seasonally in yo for like 12 summers and started the same way. Have you checked out jakes? It is really popular and always has a good boot pack straight off the road in the spring. Tallac also has a pretty dependable boot pack in spring too, but is about twice as long. You really should always have a beacon. Its good ettiquette. People shouldn't leave people behind in the backcountry and they should all have beacons and no how to use them. These are basic rules. Even Ellery bowl could bury you in may or june on a good year. In june of 95 an avalanche killed a snow plow driver by teaya lake. The threat is always real.
Leave no turn unstoned.
magellan - Nov 22, 2005 1:04 am - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentPlease out this lousy group that left you behind. If I had to hitchhike out....mutter mutter..
moneal - Nov 27, 2005 9:39 am - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentHow irresponsible of whatever group you went with! I do / lead club led group trips and it is the groups responsibility to make sure everyone gets back to the car even if it means your day isn't as fun as you'd like. I agree with Magellan, let the world know who these lousy people are so somebody doesn't get hurt the next time.
chskier - Nov 28, 2005 2:19 am - Hasn't voted
Trip Report CommentWow! Thanks, for the comments. I was shocked to see my TR on the main page. Although my skills and my nerve were tested a bit on this trip I was reluctant to post due to a feeling of inadequecy about my ability to mount a 'real' mountaineering effort. It may not have been an epic expedition but considering the situation I figured someone might enjoy my story.
, where are you?!" Me, "I'm in South Lake, where the hell are you?" Actually, this guy sounded concerned. He was not one of the guides, nor was he one of the folks who subsequently came to collect me and gear.
To add clarity I did, in fact receive a ride home from the group leaders/guides. On my way to the bus station in South Lake Tahoe one of the group members called me on my cell phone and instructed me to give him my location and to "stay put". The begining of the conversation was particularly ammusing and went something like this: Group member,"This is
Funny. One of the guides told me that this was the second time time they "lost" a party member and the second time "...cellular technology came to the rescue." Upon which time I informed him that, despite his efforts, I was never lost. What is also rather telling is the silence of the guides and their lack of any attempt to make anything resembling an appology. They either didn't think it was a big deal or they were not man enough to admit their error(s).
I decided prior to being picked up for the ride back home that I would refrain from giving them hell. I made it out okay, I'm better off for the experience, they suck at guiding and nothing I can do will change that. So, I figured that I would set the example again and be a man about it.
magellan & moneal, email me if you really want to know who I went out with as I do not want make it public nor do I want to involve SP. It's for real and one of the guides is an SP member.
yocal420, I have not checked out any skiing in desolation. I hike all over it in the warmer, drier months but my BC skiing has been limited to Stevens, Red Lake Peak, Round top area, Conness area and, actually Ellery Bowl. Ellery was the first place I ever earned my turns. Anyway, thanks.
pksander, what's up with that? I don't know. They never gave me any sort of explanation and I never asked for one. Thanks, man.
BobSmith, thanks. Stevens is an easy day trip but seeing how it was new to me I guess it did take some guts. For a minute, anyway.
mrwsierra, thanks for the encouragement. See you out there!
Bye, everyone!
-CH