Backcountry Skiing/Splitboarding – Jones Pass

Meet at the Jones Pass Trailhead at 8:00 AM on Thursday, March 16. 

Those interested will meet at Wooly Mammoth Park n’ Ride section AA, ready to leave by 7:00am. Meeting spot is the SW portion of the parking lot, across from the Exxon. The exact location can be found here on Google Maps.

There are several possible routes to take in this area. The Leader and Leader in Training will decide on the exact route closer to the departure date, avalanche forecast and weather. Several route options are here.

Must have some backcountry experience for this trip. This is not a suitable trip for a first time backcountry user. 

Our tour will start with a gentle ¾ mile approach from the trailhead to the summer parking lot, an open meadow surrounded by glades and cirques.

As we make our way toward the trail junction to Jones Pass Bowl, we will assess the avy risk involved with crossing below some steeper slopes and decide if a detour or alternate plan is necessary.

Plan A will be to continue up the trail along the N side of a creek drainage, toward the top of the bowl. From the high point we can transition to downhill mode right away, or traverse S and then E across the top of the bowl if it’s safe to do so and worth pursuing better snow in that direction. On the way back down, stay on the S side of the creek drainage and ride due E back toward the summer parking lot area. Regroup here and then ride back down to the cars together, or decide if we have time, energy, and mood for any other short laps.

Plan B, in case of hazardous conditions approaching Jones Pass Bowl, will be a few laps on Sean’s Run, the low angle slopes on the E side of the decision point. Ascent and descent are undefined but both follow roughly the same line of .4 miles and 500’ vertical. 3 or 4 laps here would be a worthwhile substitute for the amount of skinning and riding involved with plan A

Overall the pace will be moderate and flexible, aiming for about 1000’/hr vertical and/or 1.5mph up the skin track. This trip is open to all levels of backcountry travelers, but it’s strongly recommended that participants have at least an AIARE level 1 certification, and are comfortable on black diamond in-bounds terrain as well as variable snow conditions present in the backcountry