High Sierra Topix

A friend of mine and I have done a little packing in the sierras during summer/fall months. We are now looking to take a winter trip. Looking for somewhere in truckee area or North Northwest of Lake Tahoe. Nothing huge for our first one - any suggestions and how do I find an area open to go in.

Not much snow yet you might want to wait awhile. Close to 80 you can take off on 20 to the Lake Spaulding area or any other place where you can get off the freeway. Check your maps for trails off of exits from 80. Around Truckee you could go in by Alpine Meadows ski area to the 5 Lakes area, I haven't done that in the winter, you will be hiking in under one lift, not sure if you would be welcome crossing the hill, but you could check. I have been in off of the Mt Rose highway out of Reno into the Mt Rose Wilderness. North of Truckee has some options and would be quieter. Look for parking, wide spots off of 89 after the first few miles. I have been into Perazzo Meadow area a few times but if there is any snow you would have to snowmobile in like I do. One of the small groups I belong to (NorthCA Hiking) a Yahoo group has a trip planned to Beyers Lake by 80 and 20 in a couple weeks I believe, I haven't been following it too close. We go on trips once a month or more year round. You could go into Lassen Volcanic National Park also, $10 to get in. Up 36 a few miles past Mineral to the south entrance or do like I did last year and go in off of a road outside the park and save the money. Expect temps to be below zero in the Truckee area for now and single digits at least in other places. If you wait until late March or into April temps will be in the 20's. Call the Tahoe National Forest for info also.

Gear, be sure to take 2 sleeping pads to sleep on, if you don't, even in a warm bag you will be cold. I can get by with a single Exped DAM pad as it is down insulated but it is colder than using two pads.

http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=23055

http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=23061

I get the annual snow park permit each winter instead of hassling with getting a daily permit each time. I've been considering doing a overnight backpack into Castle Valley from the above Donner Summit snow park this winter during a storm. Will wait for a forecast for a modest sized quick moving storm to hit between mid afternoon through the evening and then clear with something less than a foot total. That way will hopefull awaken the next morning to blue skies so I can shoot Castle Peak. Likely ski in and hike Andesite Ridge for some fresh turns too. ...David

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=39. ... &layer=DRG