Summary 
| Difficulty | 2-4 Beginner-intermediate to advanced-intermediate |
| Length | Up to 6.2 miles round trip |
| Starting Elevation |
6400 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
Up to + 1950, -1950 round trip |
| Navigation | Map and compass |
| Time | Up to full day |
| Season | December through April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Lassen Peak |
| Start | Highway 89, 1.0 mile north of the McGowan Road Trailhead, 3.0 miles north of the junction of Highways 36 and 89, and 2.5 miles south of the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. There is room to park on the east side of the highway. Additional parking space is located on the east side of the highway and 0.1 mile north. The tour begins on the west side of the highway. |
Description
You name it, this tour has it: perfect backcountry ski touring terrain, magnificent scenery, and an exhilarating downhill return. Do not be intimidated by the steep slope which you must ascend from the starting point – it is short and a careful, advanced beginner can negotiate it. Your reward for reaching the level area at the top will be some of the best cross-country skiing in the vicinity of Lassen Volcanic National Park.
From the level area above the highway a very broad ridge climbs gradually to the northwest. Any skier who can reach the level area will be able to find plenty of interesting touring by following this ridge. The ridge disappears shortly, and the route to the northwest is bordered by dense woods to the west, and dense woods and steep slopes to the east. The amount of land sparsely wooded increases the farther you ski northwest. Although the described route follows a northwest heading which leads to the final steep ascent of Brokeoff Mountain you should feel free to explore at will.
As you ski northwest you will get excellent views of Mt. Conard to the east and glimpses of impressive 9235-foot Brokeoff Mountain, the second highest peak in Lassen Park, to the north. If you get up on the ridge that descends from Brokeoff Mountain you will also have excellent views of Lassen Peak and the forks of Sulphur Creek.
The difficulty of this tour depends on how far you choose to ski and can range from beginner-intermediate to advanced-intermediate. Tailor the trip to your skills.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 0.1
Elevation change: +150
From the trailhead (1), climb west up a steep slope for 0.1 mile to a level area (2). Sometimes the snowbank along the road is high and you will need to look for a good spot to get over it.
Waypoint 2 to 3
Miles: 0.1 - 1.6
Elevation change: +600
Ski northwest, at first on a broad ridge, for a total of 1.5 miles until you reach a small lake (3). It is not important that you find the lake; it is simply a waypoint along the climb to the northwest. In this section the climb is modest.
Waypoint 3 to 4
Miles: 1.6 - 2.7
Elevation change: +800
Continue to ski northwest for 1.1 miles until you are directly south of the ridge that ascends Brokeoff Mountain (4). In this section you will pass to the west of two knobs. The low point on the ridge (waypoint 6) between the two knobs, just to the northwest of the southeast knob, makes an excellent alternate destination. Be aware that the east side of the ridge is a steep drop and sometimes corniced. Be careful.
Waypoint 4 to 5
Miles: 2.7 - 3.1
Elevation change: +400
Ski north up a relatively broad ridge for 0.4 mile until the ridge becomes noticeably less broad (5). This ridge leads to the summit of Brokeoff Mountain.
