Summary 
| Difficulty | 3 Intermediate |
| Length | 5.5 miles round trip |
| Starting Elevation |
6700 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+800, -800 feet round trip |
| Navigation | Road and map |
| Time | Half day |
| Season | December through mid-April |
| Snowmobiles Use | Low |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Calaveras Dome |
| Start | Junction of Cabbage Patch Road and Highway 4, 0.2 miles west of the Cabbage Patch Highway Maintenance Station. The parking area is very small. |
Description
Don't miss this loop if you are looking for a wonderful day mixed with easy touring along a road and delightful ridge skiing. The first half of the tour follows roads to Blue Creek Point where you are treated to a striking view up the drainage of white-capped Eagle Peak. Along this section you will pass an exceptionally fine spot to practice your downhill techniques.
View up drainage from Blue Creek PointAfter reaching Blue Creek Point, a short climb takes you to a rolling ridge top that you follow to a short but steeper descent back to the road. No doubt the finest view of the Dardanelles is from the ridge just before the descent.
Skiers not up to the off-road skiing can return from Blue Creek Point on the road.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 0.5
Elevation change: +100 feet
From the trailhead (1) ski north (right) on the snow-covered road for 0.5 mile until you reach a road junction (2). The road you are on continues straight ahead to Thompson Meadow and other destinations. This tour continues on the road to the west (left).
Skiing along the road is easyWaypoint 2 to 3
Miles: 0.5 - 1.9
Elevation change: +150, -50 feet
Turn west (left) and follow the snow-covered road for 1.4 miles until you reach the north end of an open area located on the east (right) side of the road (3). Enjoy the view up the drainage of the white peaks, including the Dardanelles, above the dark green forest and practice your downhill techniques on the wonderful slope.
Approaching open area that offers room to practice turnsWaypoint 3 to 4
Miles: 1.9 - 2.5
Elevation change: +100, -50 feet
Continue in a generally northwest direction on the road for 0.6 mile until you reach the a high point at an obvious bend in the road (4). The ridge (point) extending to the north is obvious.
Waypoint 4 to 5
Miles: 2.5 - 2.6
Elevation change: -50 feet
Leave the snow-covered road and ski north (right) for 0.1 mile until you reach a location where the terrain drops abruptly ahead (5). This is Blue Creek Point.
It's great to reach Blue Creek PointWaypoint 5 to 4
Miles: 2.6 - 2.7
Elevation change: +50 feet
Ski south for 0.1 mile back to the road (4).
Waypoint 4 to 6
Miles: 2.7 - 2.8
Elevation change: Nil
Locate the road that heads south off the main road and follow it south for 0.1 mile until you reach the location where the slope to the southwest (right) is open and the road you are on narrows and enters dense trees (6). Do not continue on the road where it narrows and enters dense trees.
Waypoint 6 to 7
Miles: 2.8 - 3.5
Elevation change: +300 feet
Leave the road and ascend the open area to the southwest (right) for a short distance before turning south and ascending up a ridge for a total of 0.7 mile until you reach Peak 7276 (7). In this section you will cross one or two snow-covered roads; do not follow them.
The climb to the ridge top is not steepWaypoint 7 to 8
Miles: 3.5 - 4.0
Elevation change: +50, -50 feet
Ski southeast along the ridge top for 0.5 mile until you reach an obvious high point (8).
A road cut through the trees makes travel along the ridge top easyWaypoint 8 to 9
Miles: 4.0 - 4.5
Elevation change: +50, -150 feet
Ski east along the ridge top for 0.5 mile until you reach another obvious high point (9).
Grand view of the Dardanelles from the ridgeWaypoint 9 to 10
Miles: 4.5 - 4.9
Elevation change: -300 feet
Descend a narrow ridge to the northeast for 0.4 mile until you intersect the road your skied earlier (10).
Waypoint 10 to 2
Miles: 4.9 - 5.0
Elevation change: Nil
Turn east (right) onto the road and follow it for 0.1 mile until you reach a road junction (2).
Waypoint 2 to 1
Miles: 5.0 - 5.5
Elevation change: -150 feet
Turn south (right) and follow the road for 0.5 mile until you reach the trailhead (1).
