I just got back yesterday from my splitboard trip. The first 2 miles or so were pretty much clear of snow so we hauled our skis/boards up on our packs. It was obvious at what point there would be solid snow to skin up. We followed the footprints of all the other people before us. Very nice up to Outpost Camp, really nothing too difficult. The next morning (Saturday) we climbed to Mirror Lake, passed the lake on the right, and skinned up between Wotans Throne and the Pinnacle Ridge. Very steep, wouldn't do it again. I fell a couple times and scratched my elbows open. It got a bit better after I attached the crampons, but I would opt for a less steep route. The other three people I went with headed for the summit, but I wanted to hang out near Trail Camp to snowboard a bit. None of the slopes looked promising. To the right of the switchbacks looked to steep for my taste, and to the left the snow looked like it would come down any time. I ditched my board and climbed up Wotans Throne, where I hung out for an hour or so. I almost got myself killed climbing down to Trail Camp in my snowboard boots, but managed to return in one piece to pick up my board. The run down to Outpost Camp was worth all the effort. People at Trail Camp warned me that it would be very steep, but I don't know what they were talking about. Maybe steep for a climber. It took me about 5 minutes from Trail Camp to Outpost Camp. We stayed another night, then on Sunday snowboarded down as far as the snow would allow. A bit tedious since it goes up and down a bit, but not that bad with hiking poles to push. When the snow thinned out, we strapped the boards & skis on our packs and hiked down. In retrospect I think we could have stayed more to the right of the valley where there was more snow, instead of hiking down on the trail with the heavy boards on our backs. Oh well, next time
I am sure there are better mountains for splitboarding, but I would do it again.
