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Summary  

Difficulty	5 Advanced
Length	11.3 miles one-way
Starting Elevation	7100 feet
Cumulative Elevation Change	+2550, -3400 one-way
Navigation	Map and compass
Time	Very long day or two shorter days if staying in hut
Season	January through mid-April
Snowmobiles Use	Low
USGS Topo	7.5' series, Norden, Granite Chief, Tahoe City
Start	Sugar Bowl Academy (formerly the home of Alpine Skills Institute), 3.9 miles east of Interstate 80 and 0.2 mile east of Donner Ski Ranch on Donner Pass Road. For day trips, people often park at Donner Ski Ranch and walk east on Donner Pass Road to the start of the tour at the Academy. Do not park there overnight. One option is to drop people and gear off at the trailhead, park at the Sierra Club's Clair Tappaan Lodge, and the driver hitch a ride back to the starting point. An alternative starting point is the Mt. Judah Lodge at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort, 0.9 mile south of Donner Ski Ranch and Donner Pass Road.
End	Palisades Tahoe (ski area) on the west side of Highway 89, 9.1 miles south of Interstate 80 and 5.4 miles north of Tahoe City.

Description  

The tour from Sugar Bowl to Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley Ski Resort) is a classic in the North Tahoe area, but maybe more so in the past than today. Skiers in the 1970s looked at this traverse between ski areas as one of the most challenging that was being tackled during that period. It was also one of the most spectacular. It combines a large elevation gain and loss, a spectacular traverse on the windswept and corniced ridge between Mt. Lincoln and Anderson Peak, potentially poor snow conditions, and considerable navigation.

If all these features are appealing to you, you should also consider the Tahoe Meadows to Brockway Summit tour. It is equally challenging and scenic, and does not pass through developed alpine ski areas. In the author's opinion, it is truly the most outstanding advanced tour in the Lake Tahoe area.

Unfortunately, back in the 70s, backcountry skis did not offer much help in enjoying the downhill run at the end of the tour. Wood skis were still in use and metal edges were few and far between. Side-cut was unheard of.

Be aware that this tour is much more difficult than its 11.3-mile length indicates and should only be attempted during periods of good weather.

This tour crosses two ski resorts. Sugar Bowl and Palisades Tahoe. Avoid their groomed slopes when possible and exercise caution when crossing them. One big change that took place since the early days is the expansion of Sugar Bowl in the 1990s. Now the entire route to the summit of Mt. Lincoln is within the bounds of Sugar Bowl.

The tour begins with a not so fun trek through Sugar Bowl Ski Area. But once you reach Roller Pass, and heading toward the summit of Mt. Lincoln, the scenery explodes with breathtaking views. Although you can look north to majestic Castle Peak, the really awesome sight is the ridge running between Mt. Lincoln and Anderson Peak with Anderson Peak and Tinker Knob dominating the view.

Benson Hut is located on the north side of Anderson Peak. Although this tour can be completed in one day by going light and fast, the traditional tour included an overnight at the Sierra Club's Benson Hut.

Beyond Mt. Lincoln the route follows a windswept ridge, often bare in places, to the north spur of Anderson Peak. Benson Hut is located on the spur near its base.

Benson Hut is both a destination in its own right and an intermediary point on this tour as well as the Benson and Bradley Huts Via Emergency Escape Route tour.

Benson Hut is small and rustic, but offers heart-warming shelter from the winds that often scour this area. The hut can be near entirely covered by snow in a good winter.

Make reservations to stay overnight at this Sierra Club hut by contacting:

Clair Tappaan Lodge
P.O. Box 36
Norden, CA 95724
530-426-3632 (phone)
800-679-6775 (toll free)
530-426-0742 (fax)
ctl@sierraclub.org

You do not have to be a member of the Sierra Club to use this hut. As one might expect, however, reservations for weekends and holidays are difficult to obtain. Volunteer for a summer or fall work party at one of the Sierra Club's huts to get reservation priority (contact Clair Tappaan Lodge for more information).

The traditional start point for this tour is where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses Donner Pass Road at the Sugar Bowl Academy (formerly the home of Alpine Skills Institute). An alternative start point is the Mt. Judah Lodge at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort. The lodge is 100 feet lower than the traditional start point, but this route saves 0.8 mile. Refer to the Benson Hut tour for details about the Mt. Judah Lodge start.

Be aware that the route that begins from the traditional start point crosses Sugar Bowl Ski Resort leased lands, but you have the right to travel this route without paying. You can thank Snowlands Network for protecting this free access.

Regardless of the route you choose, you will encounter many groomed ski slopes. You should avoid these slopes where possible and exercise caution when crossing them.

Mileage Log  
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map

Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 0.2
Elevation change: -50 feet

Locate the snow-covered road 50 feet west of the Sugar Bowl Academy parking lot (1) and follow it south for 0.2 mile until you reach the location where the road turns west (right) (2).

Waypoint 2 to 4
Miles: 0.2 - 2.0
Elevation change: +900 feet

Ski south for 1.4 miles and then southeast for 0.4 miles until you reach a point on the ridge just southwest of Roller Pass (4). Note: mileage point 3 is the point where the route from the Mt. Judah Lodge intersects the traditional route (see Benson Hut tour).

Waypoint 4 to 5
Miles: 1.9 - 2.2
Elevation change: +250 feet

Climb southwest on the ridge toward Mt. Lincoln for 0.2 mile until you reach a point where you can safely traverse south to the southeast ridge of Mt. Lincoln (5). You should climb higher than shown on the map if you are in doubt about the avalanche danger on the east slope of Mt. Lincoln.

Waypoint 5 to 6
Miles: 2.2 - 5.0
Elevation change: +700, -500 feet

Traverse to the south and then ski southeast along a ridge for a total of 2.8 miles until you reach Benson Hut (6). The best route is usually along the very top of the ridge except for where you pass to the southwest of Peak 8374. Be aware that the lee side of the ridge between Mt. Lincoln and Anderson Peak is littered with cornices; be sure to stay sufficiently away from these.

The net elevation gain in this section is only 200 feet, but along it you will climb 900 feet.

Waypoint 6 to 7
Miles: 5.0 - 5.6
Elevation change: +100 feet

Ski and climb gradually for 0.6 mile around the west side of Anderson Peak until you reach the ridge (7) between Anderson Peak and Tinker Knob. Be wary of potentially unsafe condition on the west side of Anderson Peak. Avalanche condition are not uncommon and mornings after warm days often creates icy condition with the potential for an 800-foot slide.

An alternative to skiing around Anderson Peak is to ascend from Benson Hut directly to the summit of the peak and then southeast along the ridge. This route adds 200 feet of elevation gain and loss, but shortens the tour by 0.3 mile.

Like the standard route, ascending Anderson Peak entails traveling though potential avalanche terrain and icy slopes. Consider kicking steps to the summit and return to the hut on the afternoon you arrive if this is to be your route and you are spending the night. This will help greatly the next morning if the conditions are icy.

Waypoint 7 to 8
Miles: 5.6 - 6.7
Elevation change: +200 feet

Ski southeast along the ridge for 1.1 miles until you reach the east side of Tinker Knob (8).

Waypoint 8 to 9
Miles: 6.7 - 8.9
Elevation change: +350, -1150 feet

Ski south and descend 500 feet (be careful not to lose too much elevation), then leave the drainage you have been following and traverse slightly east of south, below and to the west of the ridge, for a total of 2.2 miles until you reach Mountain Meadow Lake (9).

Waypoint 9 to 10
Miles: 8.9 - 9.2
Elevation change: +50 feet

Ski 0.2 mile south until you reach a broad saddle (10) where you can see Palisades Tahoe below.

Waypoint 10 to 11
Miles: 9.2 - 11.3
Elevation change: -1700 feet

Descend southeast for a total of 2.3 miles, first to Squaw Creek and Shirley Canyon, then down Shirley Canyon to Palisades Tahoe (11). Be careful to stay clear of any avalanche paths along Squaw Creek.