Early season SPS peaks

[Feraleyes]

After a great winter and a healthy snowpack, warmer weather is finally here. This winter I managed to tackle some OGUL peaks but I’m getting the itch for some travels further from home here in South Lake Tahoe.

Anybody have any input on early season mountain adventures they’ve managed in a day on the SPS? Doesn’t have to be on the list at all really, just figured that’d be a good place to start. I have an idea of some prospects(eyeing Mt. Lola, Adams Peak, Mt. Elwell) I could knock out as dayhikes but I’d like to hear other folks input as well. I’ve splitboarded a few times but not enough to be entirely confident or competent, looking for mountains and routes accessible with snowshoes and crampons. Obviously everything is under many feet of snow this year; the biggest criteria is access, mileage, and avalanche issues as the weather changes. Thanks!

-Lawrence

[c9h13no3]

I'm far from the biggest peak bagger, but since it's been a week I'll chime in to at least bump this thread.

Given the great snow year, I'm looking to get out the snow toys in my upcoming trips. If you've got any sort of skills with a splitboard, I'd think that'd be the way to go.

The other thing to consider is access. Right now, roads have just opened this weekend for the first day of fishing season (Fishmas!). Virginia Lake road is supposedly opened all the way, giving easy access to Dunderberg & Co. Usually Tioga road opens up to Ellery Lake around this time, but the big snow year seems to have delayed that. SR108 is also open to Kennedy Meadows, giving you access to Blackhawk Mountain. I think CA180 is open to Cedar Grove too, could be fun to access the Goat/State/Kennedy/Harrington group up the Copper Creek trail.