PINNER COULOIR LAUREL MOUNTAIN

Pinner Couloir from top of Old Mans Bowl

The Pinner Couloir is another Sierra classic. 34oo vert of steep, big wall couloir skiing. I had skied it about six weeks ago in great early season condition, with Dan and his wife Denise. We had nice smooth windblown powder, trip report to come later from that. This was Jon’s last ski day here, on Super Bowl Sunday. The day started cloudy and snowing with about 20 in. new from the last few days.

Entering the John Muir Wilderness near Convict Lake

We followed the trail around the lake and arrived at the base of the couloir with some menacing looking rock walls guarding the entrance. Lord of the Rings type stuff.

Laurel Mountain cliffs

The entrance to the Pinner

Jon climbs to the Pinner

Jon enters the Pinner

We climbed the lower part, and it seemed pretty solid, about 6 inches bonded fairly well.  As we climbed higher, the snow started to get a little deeper and a little slabby. We arrived at the bottom of the large upper bowl of the chute, and decided against going any higher. There was alot of new snow hanging above us.

Jon climbs higher in the Pinner

This one is for Jons E Harmony page

We stopped here, notice the little fracture above me.

We started about 3/4 of the way up the couloir due to conditions. Jon skied first and did a little ski cut, it went. It was a small fracture, prob only a foot deep and 20 feet wide, but then it propagated down the right wall. It slid out most of the couloir, all 3000 vert of our descent.

Jon makes his first turn in the Pinner

Jon digs in after a successful ski cut, notice the fracturing on the right wall.

After that we knew we were making the right decision by skiing from there. 

Jon gets some debris pow in the Pinner

Jon skis the confines of the Pinner

Huge walls in the Pinner

The Pinner chokes a bit

Jon finds some nice pow

...and some more

Jon nearing the exit

What big walls you have

Almost out

Great snow at the bottom of the Pinner

Make a turn...there!

Jon skis down to Convict lake

The skiing was pretty good in the couloir, even though it had slid out, good soft debris skiing. This was a little humbling, my first avalanche activity since I’ve been skiing in the Sierra. I believe we made some pretty good decisions along the way, constantly evauluating what we were seeing and feeling. Now it was time for my 4th annual Super Bowl bonanza. These partys are known to draw quite the VIP crowds, with  tons of new people to meet. I usually have a guest list with assigned seating. This year was no different at the Mono Sierra Lodge #5.

Gentlemens Superbowl Party

No chips and dip at this party.