Classification System
Class 1: Gentle marked trails; Green Dot "beginner" terrain.
Class 2: More difficult off-piste (unpacked snow); Blue Dot "intermediate" terrain.
Class 3: Steep slopes, climbing off-skis; Black Diamond "advanced" terrain.
Class 4: Technical mountaineering terrain; Double Black Diamond "expert" terrain.
Class 5: Extremely technical terrain; the realm of the extreme skier.
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THE SABRINA AREA
Trailhead: Lake Sabrina
Distance: Approx. 33 miles
Difficulty: Class 3
Maps: Mt. Thompson, Mt. Goddard, Mt. Darwin 7.5 minute
This is a popular tour right into the heart of the High Sierra. Of course, you may just want to set up base camp at Hungry Packer Lake and explore the wonderful bowls on the east side of the Evolution group (see map below).
DESCRIPTION
This tour begins at the spectacular Lake Sabrina (9,150 ft.). After skiing around the drained lakeshore, follow the Middle Fork of Bishop Creek as it climbs up benches to the beautiful Blue Lake (10,400 ft.). From here, it is possible to ski south up the valley past Baboon Lakes (11,000 ft.), to Sunset Lake (11, 500 ft.) and the great skiing on the Thompson Glacier. You even can link up with the main route by skiing over the low saddle to the west (11,900 ft.) and dropping down the very steep slopes to Moonlight Lake (11,0 50 ft.).
The main route, however, heads west from Blue Lake below a prominent unnamed spire and around to Dingleberry Lake (10,500 ft.). The Middle Fork of Bishop Creek then is followed towards the great rock face of Picture Peak that presides over Hungry Packer and Moonlight Lakes (11,050 ft.). There are many fine ski possibilities from a base camp here, including ski descents of Mt. Haeckel (13,418 ft.) and Mt. Wallace (13,377 ft.), as well as the Powell Glacier.
From Moonlight Lake, the route climbs into the great cirque holding Echo Lake (11,600 ft.) before making the final ascent below the Clyde Spires to Echo Col (12,400 ft.). A steep descent takes you past the lake below (11, 500 ft.) and down to the Muir Trail (11,000 ft.), before climbing back up to Helen Lake (11,600 ft.). A short climb to the west brings you to the stone shelter sitting atop Muir Pass (11,9 50 ft.). This hut makes a fine base for ski descents of the surrounding peaks, including Mt. Solomons (13,034 ft.) and the Black Giant (133 30 ft.).
The wonderful descent through the Evolution Basin takes you past Wanda Lake (11,400 ft.) and Sapphire Lake (11,000 ft.) before reaching beautiful Evolution Lake (10,850 ft.). Climb north onto the Darwin Bench (11,200 ft.) then follow the contour into the classic U-shaped Darwin Canyon (11, 600 ft.) to the east. From the uppermost lakes (12,100 ft.), the great north face of Mt. Darwin (13,831 ft.) provides a very challenging ski descent. The low saddle, just northeast of Mt. Darwin also can be used to drop back down into the Middle Fork drainage and Lake Sabrina.
From the main canyon, a steep climb to the northeast brings you to Lamarck Col (12,900 ft.), just south of Mt. Lamarck (13 417 ft.). Care must be taken to chose the right pass, as the obvious saddle south of the small pyramid takes you into more difficult terrain and an entirely different drainage.
The descent from Lamarck Col is a classic in itself, as it follows the broad valley to the northeast before dropping down the steep slopes to Upper Darwin Lake (10,900 ft.). This lake makes a great base camp for skiing the challenging couloirs off of Mt. Lamarck and the Keyhole Plateau. From the lake, follow Lamarck Creek past Lower Lamarck Lake (10,65O ft.) and down steep, forested slopes to Grass Lake (9,900 ft.), before taking the summer trail down to North Lake (9,250 ft.) and back to Lake Sabrina via the road.
Go back to Cottonwood Lakes. Move on to Rock Creek.
