Summary 
| Difficulty | 5 Advanced |
| Length | 11.7 miles one-way |
| Starting Elevation |
8550 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+2100, -3650 one-way |
| Navigation | Road, map and compass |
| Time | Very long day |
| Season | Late December through mid-April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted in Mt. Rose Wilderness (miles 1.4 through 5.5) and moderate use elsewhere. [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Mount Rose and Martis Peak |
| Start | Southwest end of Tahoe Meadows on Highway 431, 6.6 miles northeast of Highway 28 and 1.5 miles southwest of Mt. Rose Summit. |
| End | Highway 267, 0.5 mile north of Brockway summit. Park in the plowed area on the east side of the road. |
Description
Without doubt, this tour along windswept, corniced ridges overlooking dazzling, blue Lake Tahoe is the preeminent “classic” tour in the Tahoe area. The trip starts at Tahoe Meadows on Mt. Rose Highway at 8,550 feet and ends at Brockway Summit at 7,000 feet. Ahhhhhh, a net elevation loss of 1,550 feet. Better yet, after quickly climbing to the tour’s highest point, the remainder of the tour is downhill with short climbs to the several peaks that are traversed.
This tour surpasses the Sugar Bowl to Squaw Valley tour (not yet available in this guide) as the best all-around tour in the Lake Tahoe area because of the combination of terrain and scenery. However, the ridges in this tour, which make this a classic tour, are no place to be in foul weather. Pick a fair weather day so that you can enjoy both the skiing and the views.
There is also one part of the tour that can be downright unsafe when icy or when snow conditions are unstable (see mileage log). Plan your trip accordingly. And while this tour can be done throughout the winter, the time required to complete the tour makes spring the optimum time.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 0.5
Elevation change: -150 feet
From the trailhead (1) ski west and descend for a total of 0.5 mile until you reach Third Creek (2).
Waypoint 2 to 3
Miles: 0.5 - 1.4
Elevation change: +900 feet
Cross Third Creek and ascend west, at first on a broad shoulder, for at total of 0.9 mile until you reach a broad saddle (3) located between rocky Peak 9773 and Peak 9561. These two peaks are visible from the starting point.
Waypoint 3 to 4
Miles: 1.4 - 2.0
Elevation change: -50 feet
Traverse around the south side of Peak 9773 for 0.6 mile until you reach a location north and slightly above Mud Lake (4). Start the traverse very close to Peak 9773. There is a sign pointing up the peak at Sullivan Chute — definitely only for crazies. Caution — the traverse is across a steep slope that is not safe when icy or when snow conditions are unstable.
Waypoint 4 to 5
Miles: 2.0 - 2.4
Elevation change: +350 feet
Climb south onto a ridge and then ascend the ridge northwest for a total of 0.4 mile until you reach Rose Knob Peak (5).
Waypoint 5 to 6
Miles: 2.4 - 4.0
Elevation change: +350, -450 feet
Ski west along a ridge for 1.6 miles until you reach Rose Knob (6).
Waypoint 6 to 7
Miles: 4.0 - 4.7
Elevation change: +100, -250 feet
Ski southwest and then west along a ridge, past Peak 9499, for a total of 0.7 mile until you reach the location where the ridge forks (7). Rifle Peak is nearby to the north.
Waypoint 7 to 8
Miles: 4.7 - 5.5
Elevation change: +100, -250 feet
Ski along the ridge that heads southwest (left fork) for 0.8 mile until you reach Mt. Baldy (8).
Waypoint 8 to 9
Miles: 5.5 - 7.0
Elevation change: -800 feet
Descend southwest along the ridge for 0.1 mile and then descend northwest (right) along the ridge for 1.4 miles until you reach the southeast side of a small knob (9).
Waypoint 9 to 10
Miles: 7.0 - 7.4
Elevation change: -50 feet
Ski around the south side of the knob for 0.4 mile until you reach a saddle to the east of Martis Peak (10).
Waypoint 10 to 11
Miles: 7.4 - 7.7
Elevation change: +300 feet
Climb west at a steep angle for 0.3 mile until you reach the summit of Martis Peak (11). A shorter and less steep alternate route is to traverse southwest and intersect Martis Peak’s south ridge and the main route at mileage point 13. This is a good choice if you are tired and/or running out of daylight.
Waypoint 11 to 12
Miles: 7.7 - 7.8
Elevation change: -50 feet
Descend northwest for 0.1 mile until you reach the Martis Peak Lookout (12) where you should find a road .
Waypoint 12 to 14
Miles: 7.8 - 8.5
Elevation change: -300 feet
Ski south on the road for 0.7 mile until you reach a road junction (14) on Martis Peak’s south ridge. From here to the end of the tour you will be on a road well used by skiers and snowshoers. Although snowmobile traffic is not heavy, you are likely to find the road tracked by them.
Waypoint 14 to 15
Miles: 8.5 - 9.8
Elevation change: -700 feet
Turn west (right) and follow the road for 1.3 miles until you reach a flat area (15) where several roads connect and a drainage descends southeast.
Waypoint 15 to 16
Miles: 9.8 - 10.4
Elevation change: -50 feet
Continue to follow the main road south (straight) for 0.6 mile until you reach a road junction (16).
Waypoint 16 to 17
Miles: 10.4 - 11.7
Elevation change: -550 feet
Turn west (sharp right) and descend on the road for 1.3 miles until you reach the Highway 267 (17).
