Private trips are non-Sierra Club activities which are not sponsored or administered by the PCS or the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club has no information about the planning of these activities and makes no representations or warranties about the quality, safety, supervision or management of such activities. The organizers of these trips might not be approved SMS Leaders or even members of the SMS or Sierra Club. These trips are listed here because they may be of interest to SMS members. They are also for trips which do not meet the deadlines for trip announcements in printed media (Schedule, Mugelnoos), which are incompatible with variable snow conditions.
Private trip announcements should be submitted by e-mail to one or the other SMS Webmaster.
Private trips are not sponsored or administered by the Sierra Club. There is no insurance coverage for such trips. All participants are equally responsible for their own safety and that of the group. There is no official "Leader". It is an outing among a group of friends. Everyone is expected to know and follow the basic safety standards that are practiced on SMS trips. Be again responsible for your own actions and you'll enjoy the "freedom of the hills".
List the following information:
Trip Date:
Trip Location:
Trip description:
Meeting place:
Contact person initiating the trip and potential participants with e-mails:
Trip Date: Dec 2008 - Apr 2009
Trip Location: Mount Shasta volcanoe trip
Trip description: Let's climb Mount Shasta on a weekend (Fri-Mon) this spring, and ski it one or more times. Let's do the North or East sides rather than the overcrowded gully. At least one more participant needs crevasse rescue skills. Please email me your preferred weekend!
Meeting place: Los Angeles, CA
Contact person initiating the trip: Heiko Knapp (heiko.knapp@web.de or 310 999 9538)
Trip Date: Dec 12-14, 2008 Fri - Sun
Trip Location: Mammoth Crest, Blue Couloir, Red Cones, Tamarack crosscountry area, or Sherwins
Trip description: Let's test the new powder on some small ski tours around Mammoth. Average duration: 5 hours, average elevation gain: 800 m (2500 feet). Also good for BC skiing beginners. Stay overnight at hostel outside Mammoth, and let's have a good breakfast at Schat's bakery before starting the tour.
Meeting place: Los Angeles
Contact person initiating the trip: Heiko Knapp (heiko.knapp@web.de 310 999 9538)
Trip Date: Dec 19, 2008 - Jan 1, 2009 Fri - Thur
Trip Location: Mammoth and Tahoe
Trip description: I'll be going to Mammoth on Sat Dec 20 and return on Jan 1st. I plan to go to the Tahoe area for 3 days, Tue-Thu 23-25. I like to do an overnight trip to Bradley Hut, weather/condition permitting. I am flexible on dates and plan. When in Mammoth I like to ski the lift in the mornings and cross-country in the afternoons with the exception of powder days.
Let me know if you like to join me or have any other idea/suggestion. I have my cell phone with me, but leave a message if no answer. I have access to my e-mail up to Friday afternoon Dec 19. Looking forward to skiing with you.
Meeting place: TBA
Contact person initiating the trip: Bahram Manahedgi (Cell 310 991-0551)
Trip Date: Jan 9-11, 2009 Fri - Sun
Trip Location: Mammoth Crest, Blue Couloir, Red Cones, Tamarack crosscountry area, or Sherwins
Trip description: Let's test the new powder on some small ski tours around Mammoth. Average duration: 5 hours, average elevation gain: 800 m (2500 feet). Also good for BC skiing beginners. Stay overnight at hostel outside Mammoth, and let's have a good breakfast at Schat's bakery before starting the tour.
Meeting place: Los Angeles
Contact person initiating the trip: Heiko Knapp (heiko.knapp@web.de 310 999 9538)
Trip Date: Jan 16-18, 2009 Fri - Sun
Trip Location: Mammoth Crest, Blue Couloir, Red Cones, Tamarack crosscountry area, Sherwins, or June Lake area
Trip description: Let's test the new powder on some small ski tours around Mammoth. Average duration: 5 hours, average elevation gain: 800 m (2500 feet). (Please consider joining the official SMS trip this same weekend, which I intend to join for the ski touring part. I only put in this ad for those who do not want to buy expensive lift tickets, or would like to do more ski tours. Can also join me for a single day.)
Meeting place: Los Angeles or Mammoth
Contact person initiating the trip: Heiko Knapp (heiko.knapp@web.de 310 999 9538)
Trip Date: Jan 23-25, 2009 Fri - Sun
Trip Location: Es-Scha Peak (McGee Creek), Mt. McGee, Rock Creek cirque
Trip description: I'm going with a friend and you are welcome to join. Join us for two days of medium-long day tours in the Eastern Sierra. Estimated elevation gain: 1500 m (5000 feet). Peaks indicated are just examples. Climb some high peaks around Little Lakes Valley, and ski out to the car on the snow-covered road in the evening. Probably stay in a budget lodge or motel for two nights.
Meeting place: Los Angeles, CA
Contact person initiating the trip: Heiko Knapp (heiko.knapp@web.de 310 999 9538)
Trip Date: Jan 30 - Feb 1, 2009 Fri - Sun
Trip Location: Day tours around Tioga Pass (Gaylor Peak etc.)
Trip description: Let's do some powder skiing around Tioga Pass, starting from the waterfalls behind Lee Vining. These can be done perfectly as day tours with about 1200 m (4000 feet) elevation gain or a little bit more depending on which peaks we climb.
Meeting place: Los Angeles
Contact person initiating the trip: Heiko Knapp (heiko.knapp@web.de 310 999 9538)
Trip Date: Feb 6-8, 2009 Fri - Sun
Trip Location: Koip Peak, Eastern Sierra (day tour)
Trip description: Let's ski this mountain (if conditions are safe) with a 1500 m (5000 feet !) long descent from the summit on one day. Start before sunrise. We'll surely spot another great ski mountain for the second day.
Meeting place: Los Angeles
Contact person initiating the trip: Heiko Knapp (heiko.knapp@web.de 310 999 9538)
Trip Date: Feb 13-15, 2009 Fri - Sun
Trip Location: Sequoia National Park, Pear Lake Hut area
Trip description: Ski about 2 days in the wonderful area around Pear Lake Hut in Sequoia National Park. Climb Matterhorn and other peaks around as day trips (around 3000 feet elevation gain) from a basecamp. Bring your tent and warm sleeping bag, so we can camp in the snow in case the hut is full.
Meeting place: Los Angeles
Contact person initiating the trip: Heiko Knapp (heiko.knapp@web.de 310 999 9538)
Trip Date: Mar 13-16, 2009 Fri-Mon
Trip Location: Mt Lyell
Trip description: Moderate tour to Mt Lyell base camp with option to bag peak or enjoy close by terrain.
Meeting place: TBA
Contact person initiating the trip: Alvin Walter awalter@pacbell.net
Trip Date: Mar 21, 2009 Sat
Trip Location: Galena
Trip description: Climb and ski north facing slopes off Galena's West Ridge. Long, steep, and challenging.
Meeting place: TBA
Contact person initiating the trip: Alvin Walter awalter@pacbell.net, Co leader Jim Crouch
Trip Date: Mar 20-22, 2009 Fri-Sun
Trip Location: Yearly Buttermilk ski basecamp
Trip description: Let's do medium long day tours (3000-5000 feet) in corn snow, and let's do a campfire in the evening (still allowed at this time of year!). "California skiing"...
Meeting place: Los Angeles, CA
Contact person initiating the trip: Heiko Knapp (heiko.knapp@web.de 310 999 9538)
Trip Date: Apr 4-5, 2009 Sat-Sun
Trip Location: Mt Kidd
Trip description: Climb and ski the chutes of Mt Kidd with a spectacular view of the Palisades just up from Big Pine and Glacier Lodge.
Meeting place: TBA
Contact person initiating the trip: Alvin Walter awalter@pacbell.net
Co leader Jim Crouch
Trip Date: Apr 11-12, 2009 Sat-Sun
Trip Location: Goode and Johnson
Trip description: Climb and ski Mt Goode and Mt Johnson out of South Lake as day trips.
Meeting place: TBA
Contact person initiating the trip: Alvin Walter awalter@pacbell.net,
Co leader Craig Denson
Trip Date: Apr 17-19, 2009 Fri-Sun
Trip Location: Mount Williamson, Bear Creek, Sierra Nevada
Trip description: Climb Mt. Williamson (14,403 feet, 4,390 m) via Bear Creek, North Fork, in 1-3 days. This is a beautiful and adventurous ski tour, and we'll try to follow the same route as on my Mt. Williamson trip in 2003 or Alvin's trip.
Meeting place: Los Angeles, CA
Contact person initiating the trip: Heiko Knapp (heiko.knapp@web.de 310 999 9538)
Trip Date: Apr 25-26, 2009 Sat-Sun
Trip Location: Birch and Alice
Trip description: Climb and ski Birch Mtn on Sat and Mt Alice on Sunday.
Meeting place: TBA
Contact person initiating the trip: Alvin Walter awalter@pacbell.net, Co leader Jim Crouch