Backcountry Snowboarding and Skiing in the Northern Sierra
The
one stop guide to the entire Northern Sierra backcountry for snowboarders and
skiers.
While
one of the most popular backcountry destinations in the United States, the
dramatic alpine terrain of Lake Tahoe and its environs has never been revealed
in all its true glory. Complete
with photos, maps, equipment/safety advice, and adventure tales a plenty, this
guide will clue you in on what’s beyond the roadside attractions.
Not only is the epic terrain of the mountain passes (Rose, Donner,
Carson, Echo, Ebbetts, Sonora) covered in great detail, but the guide also
includes the secrets of Desolation Wilderness, along with all the peaks of the
Tahoe Basin and points beyond. Thought you had to go down south to ride big backcountry?
Think again. There are a few huge, steep 3500-4000’ descents in the
Northern Sierra, and under the right conditions it’s possible to do over a
5000’ descent! Looking for the
hairiest of 50 degree chutes? We’ve got those, and the classic couloirs of the
Tahoe backcountry are up to five times the length of any available at the
resorts. The liberalizing of
boundary policies in recent years has made some awesome lift-accessed hiking
possible, too, offering the best of both worlds at places like Alpine Meadows,
Sugar Bowl, and Homewood.
Authored
by pro photographer and Tahoe veteran George Hurchalla, this guide is the fruit
of hundreds of thousands of feet of vertical hiking over the past decade in the
Tahoe backcountry.
REVIEW 3/24/04 Reno Gazette-Journal
For years backcountry riders have had John Moynier’s “Backcountry Skiing in the High Sierra” to inspire and guide them to rideable routes south of Mono Lake.
With the release of George Hurchalla’s “Backcountry Snowboarding and Skiing in the Northern Sierra,” residents of the Tahoe Basin finally get a guidebook to their own backyard.
Hurchalla’s book is full of tantalizing photographs that make you want to get out and try the routes he describes. Small topographic snippets are included in the book with most routes, but are no substitute for carrying a proper map and compass at all times, as his route descriptions are often hard to follow.
Hurchalla prefaces his book with some useful, common sense advice about avalanche safety and backcountry etiquette. The writing is liberally peppered with historical anecdotes and Mark Twain quotes. Funny excerpts from his personal diary highlight both the highs and the lows of the backcountry in winter.
-Scott Sady
Praise
for the CD-ROM version:
“offers
a mix of his own gorgeous color photographs (with peaks and chutes conveniently
labeled), topo maps, and some succinct but sassy text.
This CD can resonate with a full-spectrum audience.”
“stunning
shots of demonic snow chutes on Mt Tallac, Mt Rose, and other locales”
- Sacramento
Bee
“contains
a lot of excellent information about the Sierra backcountry”