After discovering the wonderful terrain next door to the Mt. Waterman ski area during our January trip to the Mt. Waterman backcountry , we felt obliged to return later in the season after snow conditions had improved.
Indeed the snow was much better this time around. The snowpack was much more substantial, and eight inches of fresh stuff had fallen recently. The improved snow conditions gave us enough confidence to climb much higher this time around.
Al about midway through the ascent. Palmdale and the high desert behind.
Mark walking a ridge further up on the ascent.
After about an hour and a half of climbing, we summited Mt. Waterman. After a quick lunch and a brief encounter with a KTLA news helicopter, it was time to ski down. Shortly after the skiing began, we ran across a snow covered rock. It had to be done...
Al and Mark offer their best attempts at some big air.
Not the best form, admittedly. Al later confessed that he was merely attempting to redefine the expression "in the back seat". The snow quality was somewhat marginal (i.e. a combination of death crust and soup) on the sunbaked ridge along which we first skied, but became much drier as we dropped into one of the shady gullies below.
Al picking a nice line through some trees.
Indeed, it seemed to just get deeper and drier as we skied further and further down the gulley towards the Angeles Crest Highway.
Al makes some fresh turns in the deep and light stuff.
Mark makes some fresh turns in the deep and light stuff.
As anyone who has skied in the backcountry knows, you'll encounter everything and anything as you ski, including logs and saplings. That's okay, they just add to the fun, right?
Mark hops a turn over a fallen log.
Two shot sequence of Mark using some saplings as slalom gates.