Made a quick trip up to the east side over the weekend. Skied the ever-popular Dana Couloir (also a popular alpine ice climb in the late summer months). Slept Friday night at the turn-out just east of the Yosemite pay-gate at Tioga Pass. Got moving Saturday morning about 8:30am.

If you're a lollygagger like me, the climb takes about 4 hours. The snow is getting patchy on the west slope of the mountain, so I spent a lot of the climb boot-packing. Stopped along the way to peer into the Solstice Couloir with a group I met on the way up.

The top of Solstice was guarded by a sizeable cornice, part of which broke free and tumbled down the couloir as we watched. So…  we opted against it. We headed up to the summit, had some lunch, then stepped into the skis.

You can still ski directly off the summit. It was an overcast day and still pretty cool out, so I was worried that the snow would be too firm. But somehow it was just about perfect. Below the couloir it was pretty gloppy. And since the snow below the glacier had melted out quite a bit, the way out of the canyon was a real pain. Had to pop the skis on and off a dozen times to cross talus heaps.

Tons of fun, but if you're gonna go, go now!! Oh, and note to future self: don't ever again, under any circumstances, drive through Yosemite Valley on Memorial Day weekend. Like Manhattan rush hour down there.

Here's the crew checking out the Solstice Couloir:

You can just barely pick out two skiers making their way down the couloir in this photo:

My ugly mug:

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