Matterhorn Peak Ski Dreams

Join MAA members near Matterhorn Peak for backcountry skiing. This is a multi-day event featuring a ski descent of a series of sweet backcounty couloirs. This is meant to be an enjoyable trip, challenging but manageable. The slopes all have moderate consequences and top off at 40 degrees, equivalent to a good black diamond at a Tahoe resort. MTN 2 and SKI 2 training or equivalent winter camping and backcountry skiing experience recommended. We have room for 10. Avalanche certification and equipment are required. 

SCREENED EVENT: Please join the waitlist. Attendees will be selected based on skill proficiency and experience shown on MAA profile. Those registered will be notified.

DETAILS:

• Event Leader: Javier Martinez and Will Beaubien
  
• Location: Matterhorn Peak, Horse Creek area, Sawtooth Range near Bridgeport, CA
  
• Route: Ski Dreams couloir and related couloirs, Elevation gain: 3-4K daily, slope pitch: 35° (average), 40° (maximum)
  
• Map: https://caltopo.com/m/51FF
  
• Skills Requirements: In order to be best prepared to climb safely and effectively, participants should have advanced skiing skills with the ability to link turns in the fall line in wild snow conditions.  They should be comfortable and in control in advanced terrain (black diamond off-piste ski trail rating). All participants must be AIARE Avalanche Level 1 certified and be proficient in snow climbing and winter camping.
  
• Personal Gear: Members are encouraged to use your own equipment. If you’re missing something, club loaner gear may be available (except footwear). Please let the event leader know if you need something.
• Meeting location: parking spots between the Bridgeport Shell station and the grassy field overlooking the Sawtooth range at 8AM.
• Accommodations and Food: We will be winter camping, and packing in our food and packing out our trash.  Bring food with lots of calories and snacks.   Also have a stove and fuel to melt snow for water.  There might be running water available depending on conditions.
  
• Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center: Backcountry travel and awareness of risk should be discussed as part of the planning process for any backcountry ski tour.  Sierra Avalanche Center and Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center provides avalanche advisory for most areas in the Sierra range.   A recorded avalanche advisory is available at (530) 587-3558 x258 and their website contains detailed reports on avalanche problems, observations and weather conditions. http://sierraavalanchecenter.org and http://www.esavalanche.org/

REQUIRED GEAR

• Sliding gear: skis/splitboard, skins, plus your standard resort gear (helmet, goggles, gloves, poles balaclava, jacket, pants, etc.)
  

• Avy gear: probe, shovel, beacon, spare batteries, training + brains

• Camping gear: backpack, warm sleeping bag + pad, tent, clothes, food, headlamp, etc.

• Climbing gear: crampons, ice axe, helmet

ITINERARY 

• Day 1: Friday, March 22nd  – We will get meet at 8:00 AM to organize gear and go over group details and shuttle to upper Twin Lake where we'll park. Once there we'll get the gear ready, discuss the avalanche forecast, backcountry hazards and complete a beacon safety check. We will hit the trail around 10 am and get to camp in the afternoon. If time permits scouting the area.
  
• Day 2: Saturday, March 23rd – Ski primary objective, return to camp.
  
• Day 2: Sunday, March 24th – Ski our secondary objective, return to the cars.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• In order to register you must be a Base, Peak, or Apex member.
  
• Event leaders are experienced volunteers, but may not be certified guides.
  
• This event is free of charge. MAA receives no direct financial gain for organizing and supporting this event.
  
• Participant safety is our top priority. The itinerary described is the plan; however, circumstances beyond the leader's control may necessitate changes.
  
• The event begins and ends at the trailhead. MAA does not insure ridesharing or other travel arrangements and bears no responsibility for them. Carpooling, ride sharing, or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among individuals.
  
• MAA event leaders carry communication devices and a medical kit; The primary event leader has current wilderness first aid and CPR training as well as MAA policy training.