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 ROCK CREEK AREA
Trailhead: Rock Creek Lake
Distance: Approx. 20 miles
Difficulty: Class 2-3
Maps: Mt. Morgan, Mt. Abbot 7.5 minute
This canyon has long been considered the finest in the range for backcountry skiing. The flat floor of the Little Lakes Valley offers excellent touring, while the high glacial cirques along the sides and at the head of the canyon offer spectacular bowls and couloirs. Treasure Lakes, at the base of Mt. Dade and Bear Creek Spire, is arguably the finest spring base camp location in the Sierra.
As alternatives, the tour around Mt. Starr, which takes you over Half Moon and Mono Passes, is a great day trip for the experienced skier. Touring through the gentle terrain of the Tamarack Bench near Dorothy Lake offers an entirely different view and experience from the main canyon. Note: This canyon, like the others along this stretch of the crest, runs north-south, even though it's on the "east" side of the range.
DESCRIPTION
The tour begins at Rock Creek (8,900 ft.) and follows the summer road to Rock Creek Lake (9,700 ft.) below the massive avalanche gullies on the east side of Mt. Starr (12,835 ft.). In safe conditions, these chutes offer great skiing, as does the bowl below Half Moon Pass. At Mosquito Flats (10,200 ft.), leave the road and enter the classic U-shaped canyon of Little Lakes Valley at Marsh Lake (10,350 ft.). To reach the Treasure Lakes base camp from here, follow the drainage past the inlet of Long Lake (10,550 ft.) and up a shallow gully to Treasure Lakes (11,175 ft.). There are wonderful bowls in the upper cirque above these lakes, and the hourglass-shaped couloir below the summit of Mt. Dade (13,600 ft.) makes an excellent ski descent.
Our route continues up steep slopes to the west to the broad saddle (12,500 ft.) between Mt. Dade and Treasure Peak and the large Abbot glacier. Mt. Abbot (13,704 ft.), the Mills-Abbot col, and Mt. Mills (13,451 ft.) all sport excellent ski descents down couloirs from near their summits. There are two great base camps from which to enjoy these descents: The first is at exposed Mills Lake (11, 700 ft.); the second at spectacular Ruby Lake (11, 100 ft.), which lies at the foot of the sheer walls of Ruby Peak.
Mono Pass (12,050 ft.) and Mt. Starr (12,835 ft.) also are accessed easily from Ruby Lake. Follow the outlet creek down its narrow drainage back to Marsh Lake and out to the trailhead via Mosquito Flats and Rock Creek Lake. For a fun alternative, ski the forested knolls straight down to Rock Creek Lake, past the summer cabins and then around to the summer road at the Lakes Resort.
Go back to Cottonwood Lakes or Sabrina
