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what is the name of this peak? Just west of Silver Peak, above OVI. This is my second time up here and I'm looking forward to tinkering around the SV backcountry more, now that my kids are in ski school once a week. Not too tracked up on Sunday, soft snow by 11am even with super strong winds. We skied the lifts afterwards, and it was rock hard everywhere except tower 16. I could skin up this peak almost as fast as I can ride 4 lifts to get to tower 16's mogul infested 500' corn run.



I get to ski with Steph finally. See? If you have two kids, you only need to wait 7 years.




First BC day with Chester, 6 month old mutt.


West side of Silver Peak. People on top in this picture.


View West, Granite Chief Peak in the center.

_________________
Mike Schwartz
www.thebackcountry.net
mike@thebackcountry.net

Silver Twin, I think....

Some of us call it Gold Peak...the old schoolers call it Billy Dutton peak. Let's go ski my backyard soon Mike!

some pics from today. low coverage, we walked in a few places. Winds were up to 40 mph loading East slopes near the ridges. Boot deep powder in the East Bowl of Silver Peak, although weather reports say it'll be waist deep in a day or two.

Steph wouldn't do this with me every day, but look at that smile. Married the right person apparently.








Looking back at the east side of GoldPeak.

_________________
Mike Schwartz
www.thebackcountry.net
mike@thebackcountry.net

Nice Mike. I was up Shirley today. I think the backyard will be great in the next few days. Let's make it happen.

I recall seeing that it was called Poulsen's peak in the Squaw Trail map? Nah, that's east of Silver peak. Nevermind.

Here is my gps site with pics for this Squaw alternative. Notice the nice lines set on one of 4 pics? I wonder if that was legal to be there? I noticed those turns were earned, so maybe ok?

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=132938

Hey Mike, I did the same...drop the kids for ski team and get the skins!

i've always called it silver twin since it is only like 2ft elev difference. it has much better lines back towards squaw than silver peak proper (esp. corn time), which skis better off the other side towards the hut. "Poulsens" is what they are trying to name the smaller peak south-ish along the ridge from Silver Peak that sits right above Christy, where the ridge takes a eastward-ish turn.

Another nice morning around Silver Peak while kids are at Squaw's Sunday ski program. Steph and I climbed very leisurely to the peak in 2 hours. We fooled around on the north side and came down Gold Peak. Then off to ride chairlifts and ski around huge moguls everywhere. I used to totally LOVE moguls. Now I don't get why anyone with half a lung and $160 to buy some skins would go near moguls.

Tricky terrain if there is no skin track going up Silver Peak from Squaw. Go north behind OVI and climb the steep gullies on one side or the other based on the snow conditions. To get to Silver Peak, you're looking to go between the "goal post" in this picture. Silver Peak is on the right. The other two bumps are the goal post, above steep terrain. Come at it from the east and slip under and through the bumps as high as you can.


Stay away from the Cornices up there. The East Bowl of Silver Peak will have the best snow usually. That's out of view. This shot is the south side of Silver Peak. Looks good from here, but a bit too low angle. Climb the ridge on the left skyline to the summit. If you hug this south ridge, you can stay out of avalanche terrain all the way to the top.




Silverado at Squaw and the Tram line


Looking northwest from Silver Peak. Gold Peak on the left, and the Pacific Crest.

_________________
Mike Schwartz
www.thebackcountry.net
mike@thebackcountry.net

silver peak sunday. no tracks or people. good thing, we had a big group.

Silver Peak on the right. Do I have this straight? Gold peak on the left? Which one is Billy Dutton Peak?


Does this little bump have a name where you see our tracks? right of center. I went over there on the way up to check it out. Below that is a nice wide south facing gully above the neighborhood.


going through the goal post




Steph and her new stickly 4 buckle tele boots with her new 1200mm wide skis.

_________________
Mike Schwartz
www.thebackcountry.net
mike@thebackcountry.net

Three more sundays skiing above OVI at Squaw while the kids are in lessons. It's over now. I can't believe I skied nearly 10 times in the same area. Every day was really fun though. BC skiing with Steph and trying to get some new people into it.

These pics are from last sunday. We found nice wind textured powder on the north side of Gold Peak, then perfect corn coming back to the car. It's been really windy for the last 2 weeks, but there's been soft snow below treeline and on S and E aspects.


Steph took these shots of me in a nice narrow, short couloir we found on the north side. The line of small peaks behind me forms the Sierra Crest. Great timing right now to do Sugarbowl to Squaw. ASI guides this route often. Sign up!









These pics are from this sunday. Michelle and Bill had never tried skinning. It's really nice to take new BC skiers out when they are good skiers. You wouldn't have known they were new to this.




powder on north once again, corn coming back.


















Oh, and here's 3 weeks ago. I've wanted to get my friend Jeff Knaus out backcountry skiing for a LONG time. His brother and another east coast buddy Chris came too, and loved it.




Jeff's daughter is ranked #1 in the state in ski racing I believe at age what, 12? They live in the bay area. Some serious athletic DNA in this family.


Steph has that gene too.


Chris competes in other outdoor aerobic sports. Although he hadn't done any XC skiing or skinning, it was obvious he was ready for the big tours.

_________________
Mike Schwartz
www.thebackcountry.net
mike@thebackcountry.net

Has anyone been up Silver/Gold behind Squallyworld recently? I've never been up there but we're headed to North Shore in a few days and I'd like to check it out if conditions permit. Any other recommendations from folks who have been out in that neighborhood are most welcome... I've been heading to Carson Pass and am pretty out of touch with North/West Shore conditions and routes. Thanks!

Hi Quad,

West shore peaks are starting to be in shape. The best turns are on the upper half of each, but there's enough snow now to skin from the road and not have to hike. I had some great powder on the top half of Jake's yesterday, but all of the west shore peaks should be pretty good. Silver is always a nice mountain but it's a little lower...