Mt. Rose Backcountry Skiing
Note: Backcountry skiing comes with inherent risks. Always ensure you have proper training, equipment, and knowledge before venturing into the backcountry. This guide is for informational purposes only.
Overview: The Mt. Rose area, located in the Lake Tahoe region, boasts a wide variety of backcountry skiing opportunities. From mellow tree skiing to steep couloirs, there's something for every level of skier.
Key Zones
Northwest Chutes:
Description: Steep, north-facing chutes offering challenging terrain and consistent snow.
Access: From the parking lot, skin up towards Tamarack Peak and drop in on the northwest side.
Trees Below Tamarack:
Description: Mellow tree skiing ideal for storm days or beginners.
Access: From the parking lot, head towards Tamarack Peak and drop in on the north side.
Hourglass Bowl:
Description: A wide-open bowl with a variety of lines and aspects. Seen from Reno and the most popular destination. Requires a somewhat longer approach than Proletariat.
Access: Start in lower parking area below the summit on the side of Mt. Rose highway, in between the ski area parking and the summit parking lot.
Proletariat:
Description: The perfect open face that overlooks the highway and Mt Rose Ski Area, and all of Reno.
Access: From the parking lot, head towards Tamarack Peak and drop in on the north side.
East Bowl:
Description: Less steep than the Northwest Chutes, the East Bowl offers a mix of open terrain and tree skiing.
Access: Skin up from the parking lot towards Relay Peak and ski down the eastern aspect.
Incline Peak:
Description: A great peak with 270 degrees of skiing, good in almost any conditions, from powder to spring corn.
Access: From the lower parking lot, by Incline lake
Tamarack Peak Ski Tour
Tamarack is the easiest peak to access in the Mount Rose wilderness, and because of this it is one of the most popular objectives in all of Tahoe for backcountry skiing. Sitting just 20 minutes from Reno, and starting at over 8,000 feet, the mount rose wilderness area offers some of the best backcountry skiing and riding in the entire Tahoe area, and arguably the entirety of Nevada and Northern California. This area is a backcountry mecca and features the famed Hourglass Bowl, a well known backcountry destination in the area. From the parking area, located right off of Mt. Rose highway, the tour starts through the forest and works its way up the ridge line to Tamarack’s summit. My favorite runs of Tamarack include Hourglass, Broken Glass and Proletariat as seen on the map below.
Trailhead
Tamarack shares a parking area with several other peaks so it can be crowded, however the lot does hold about 20 cars. The parking area is right on the side of the Mount Rose Highway, about 1/2 mile from the highway’s summit (coming from reno) or 1/2 mile past the summit (coming from Incline Village). It will be a very obvious parking area, with an extended pullout on the side of the highway that you can’t miss.
Main Descent Options for Tamarack Peak:
There are three main descents off of Tamarack Peak, two popular bowls known as the Hourglass and Broken Glass and the face which is readily seen from the road. Hourglass Bowl is the most popular descent and offers a well pitched slope that boasts some of the best snow conditions anywhere in Tahoe. Broken Glass is found on the northern pitch of Tallac and requires a bit more effort to get back from the runout to the car. If Hourglass is busy and ski’d out the northern Broken Glass Bowl is a very nice option and far less traveled. The face is a shorter pitch that has an ideal pitch for powder skiing. The face also allows skiers an obvious descent path back to the car for first timers in the Mt. Rose Wilderness.
Incline Peak:
Backcountry Ski Touring
Incline Peak, at 9,500 feet is perched as a sestinas overlooking Lake Tahoe’s North Shore. The summit offers some of the most spectacular lake views and the skiing consists of quality terrain ranging from steeps to glades. When driving up the Mount Rose Highway from Incline Village, Incline Peak will be on your left, the first large peak before you get to Tahoe Meadows. The southern ridge appears after the large 270 degree turn on the highway, and works its way up to the top of the peak.
Trailhead
There are two parking areas which are basically small turnouts on the west side of the highway. One is higher up the road towards Tahoe Meadows and one lower about 1/2 south towards Incline. Either lot works depending on parking availability and its required to take a short downhill towards Incline Lake where you will begin skinning. There should be an obvious skin track, and once across Incline Lake there will be a drainage to turn into and begin your climb on the northern side of the mountain, through trees.
Descent Options
Option 1: The East Bowl which faces directly towards the road offers some challenging descents with a few chutes and sparse trees. This face holds snow well through the year, although watch for rocks poking out in the upper chute entrances around the buttress (The Author has learned this the hard way!) The most popular descent comes highly recommended which is the Northeast side of the mountain. This will be gladed ski terrain from top to bottom and it hosts the best snow on the mountain thanks to its shady aspect well anchored pistes.
Option 2: The Southern ridge is a tempting line, and on high snow years offers some superb corn skiing, with an option to shuttle at the bottom of the ridge which ends in a high elevation neighborhood of Incline Village. This requires a substantial snowpack to even consider and is best saved for late season. Low snow years, it is best to focus on Incline Peaks Northeast aspect.
Option 3: The western descent options from Incline’s summit almost always look tempting and pillowy, but be warned ends in a gully and is best to just avoid. All descents on Incline Peak require a short stroll back across Incline Lake when returning to the parking areas, with a slight uphill at the end requiring skins to be put back on.
Final Tips
Always ski with a partner and let someone know your planned route and expected return time.
Take breaks, stay hydrated, and enjoy the breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding peaks.
Wildlife: The Mt. Rose Wilderness is home to various wildlife, including bears. Be aware and give animals their space.
Leave No Trace: Minimize your impact by packing out all waste, avoiding sensitive vegetation areas, and following established routes.
Ski Setup: A ski with a waist width of 100-110mm is versatile for the varied terrain of Tamarack Peak. Ensure you have reliable touring bindings and skins.
Safety Gear: Avalanche beacon, probe, shovel, and a first aid kit are mandatory. Consider carrying an avalanche airbag for added safety.
Navigation Tools: GPS, map of the Mt. Rose Wilderness, and a compass.
Weather Protection: Layered clothing, waterproof and windproof outer layers, gloves, hat, and goggles.
Avalanche Awareness: Tamarack Peak has areas prone to avalanches, especially the steeper chutes. Always consult the local avalanche forecast and carry essential avalanche safety equipment.
Weather: The weather can change rapidly. Monitor forecasts and be prepared for sudden shifts in conditions.
Navigation: While the route is popular, it's easy to get disoriented, especially in poor visibility. Carry a map, compass, and GPS.