Discussion about winter adventure sports in the Sierra Nevada mountains including but not limited to; winter backpacking and camping, mountaineering, downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, etc.
My brother and friends have been going on a short snow hike each year and each year my brother has asked if I'd like to go. This year I said yes.
We left from the Twin Lakes TH parking area where the Lake Mary road closes in the winter. It was a beautiful day and there were lots of people out walking, skiing and snowshoeing. There was plenty of snow and we followed the road past Lake Mary to the Duck Pass trail head.
Looking across Lake Mary to Crystal Crag
Duck Pass trail head sign.
I'd only been in snowshoes once before but it was pretty easy. We follow a set of ski tracks up the Duck Pass trail towards the lakes.
On the Duck Pass trail.
We'd planned on camping at Skelton Lake, but we'd gotten a late start and the real attaction was just camping in the snow, so we stopped at Arrowhead Lake for the night.
Arrowhead Lake
My brother showed me some of the benefits of snow camping.
Relaxing in the afternoon sun
We messed around enjoying the nice weather and afternoon sun, then we settled down for a cold but moonlit night. In the morning we slept in then packed up and tromped back down to the car. It was a great first trial at snow camping. I'm looking forward to next year's winter trip.
