We headed out on April 1st for a multi-day back country adventure outside of Truckee. We started up at Sugar Bowl Ski Area, hiked up the mountain, then headed along the PCT Ridge, and then dropped down into the valley behind. We eventually made our way to the Lost Trail Lodge, where we spent the next two nights in 'not quite roughing it luxury'. The place had very nice private rooms with bathrooms, a common area, and a huge fully stocked kitchen to cook for yourself. We were joined by most of the extended Ganong family, and the trip was a blast! For skiing, besides the initial entry, we did day trips out of the lodge. The actual snow wasn't fantastic, due to a huge heat wave right after a big snow dump, which didn't give the snow time to corn up, but we enjoyed ourselves anyway.
Getting ready to start the climb from the bottom of the Sugar Bowl gondola.
Hiking up the ski runs to the top of Mt. Judah while lots of tourists looked on and thought we were crazy!
Finally at the top of Sugar Bowl and ready to leave the ski area boundary. Our final destination was down in that valley below.
Looking out along the PCT ridge that we would traverse across before heading down.
Josh, Travis, and Paul skinning along the ridge.
Jesse, Megan, and Ali looking back toward Mt. Judah.
Lunch time! Megan and Jesse had to cuddle since it was a little chilly on the ridge.
Travis and Josh directing some ski movies.
We headed out on the ridge to the right and then skied down the open hillside to the valley below.
Yay, finally a picture of me!
Josh and Megan getting ready to finally ski down!
It's Lost Trail Lodge...we finally made it! But the place is a little burried!
This was our cute room with its own fake fire!
Jesse and Travis drying out and relaxing in the common room by the big wood stove.
Appetizers and cocktails with Megan, Josh, and Paul.
Time for a little fun with the antique shot ski!!
And now the group jam session begins!
This lodge had collected every kind of crazy musical instrument you could imagine, and even more that you couldn't... I think we played them all, and sounded pretty good too!
Here's Paul on the Washboard.
Only a musical genius like Ali could play the Kazoo and actually sound good! Megan, Travis, and Jesse playing along too.
Chilaxin' with my drums and my Ray Charles shades.
Add Josh on vocals... The music just wouldn't stop flowing!
Day #2: We headed out for a little day trip, and waved goodbye to our friends who didn't stay for the second night. Cool shot right before the train came though.
Looking back towards yesterday's route and descent.
Katharine, Paul, and Ali on top of a ridge.
Our lunch stop overlooked Donner Lake.
Ali and Paul constructed themselves a nice set of chairs.
Travis enjoying the nice view.
We skied down the face of one ridge and hiked back up another before our final ski down right to the front door of the lodge.
Looking down, you can see the river in the snow patch on the right, and the Lost Trail Lodge in the snow patch on the left.
Night #2 was a little more mellow, but we still had fun with all the cabin's collectables...
...and of course another small drum session.
Heading out on our last day... We decided to take one more hike up and enjoy the ski down, rather than the flat 3 mile slog along the valley floor.
Josh and Travis leading the way up.
Travis and Megan taking a quick rest for food.
Fun with sling shots!
Looking back at the ridge and ski lines from our first day coming into the valley.
Katharine and Ali enjoying a nice lunch.
Josh at the top of our last descent, happy to be starting DOWN again!
Looking out over Donner Lake before our last descent down the east side toward Truckee.
Skating out along the RR tracks back to our cars after a fun weekend!
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