Backcountry Skiing Lake Tahoe



View of inversion clouds over Lake Tahoe from Rose Knob Jr.



 With an abundance of ski-able mountains in the Lake Tahoe area, there's tons of options for beginners and experts alike.  Access to many of the mountains is as easy as parking on the road side, making the area more than just scenic, it's very convenient.  Here's some info on three of Lake Tahoe's popular backcountry ski areas.

view of Tahoe from Jake's Peak on the west shore 

Lake Tahoe's west shore is loaded with great skiing terrain.  The Rubicon Crest, a group of mountains along the roadside just north of Emerald Bay holds a bounty of powder in it's trees and large open bowls.  Right on the roadside, access to these peaks couldn't be better.  Skinning straight from the car, a couple hours is a normal amount of time spent gaining the summit ridge.  Known for it's tree skiing, the Rubicon Crest is a good place to check if any avalanche danger exists in other areas.

For the adventurous, the South Face of Jake's Peak offers some rewarding turns 

Arguably the best ski mountain in the Lake Tahoe area, Mt. Tallac offers the backcountry enthusiast a myriad of routes to ski in the intermediate to expert range.  The approach to Tallac is a bit longer than the roadside attractions on the west shore, so be sure to bring a lunch.  With roughly 3,000 feet of vertical gain your legs will feel the ascent and descent, but the wonderful view and fresh snow make it all worth the effort.

Mt. Tallac's bountiful east face

A view of Lake Tahoe from Mt. Tallac

Tahoe's north shore offers a variety of great skiing, and at a high altitude it's known for having a good snow pack early in the season.  The north shore backcountry skiing consists of a number of peaks near Mt. Rose pass.  Many great runs can be accessed easily from Nevada highway 431, and the road allows for the possibility of shuttling cars.  With the terrain difficulty ranging from beginner to expert, any skier or snowboarder is sure to find something appropriate.  With easy access from the road, the Mt. Rose area is also renowned for its wonderful snowshoeing.

Snowboarding in the Mt. Rose Wilderness

Since these photos are meant mainly as a means for stoke and not necessarily a guide, a great resource for maps, routes, and directions is "Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding Lake Tahoe."   The book does an excellent job of detailing the mountains, routes, approaches, and potential hazards; a must read for anyone interested in exploring the Tahoe backcountry.  Please be safe out there and don't forget to check the avalanche report before heading out.  The website http://sierraavalanchecenter.org/ is an invaluable resource for every person entering the backcountry.