With short notice, I was invited to Ellis Peak. No matter how tired I am, I'll be going in this trip because Ellis Peak is one that is not easily accesible during summer and easy to miss. Most day hikers turn around here and go on back down after admiring the views and looking over the steep cliffs either side of the trail( 1,000 feet drops). A short class-3 scramble is required to surmount the summit block (in summertime).
Ellis Peak (8,740-foot) with its trailhead in Blackwood Canyon, is not much of a tall peak but the great views of Lake Tahoe is rewarding. Now one understand why would I attempt 13 mile of snowshoe, after running 31 miles a day before. This peak was also attempted by Norcal Peakbaggers last year but I was not on that trip. I figured when winter time comes, it may be easier to summit, because its a steep walk-up in snow and ice, rather than going thru shrubs and manzanitas :)
When we started, it was below freezing. My nose, cheeks and teeth were somewhat frozen. I should have known better as its not my first time trekking in winter. After a mile, I tried to drink but that my hydro-pack hose freezed.
Much of the work in breaking the trail was done by Tim. All I did really was follow that snowshoe tracks. Just before the summit was a 400 ft steep slope. The trail was already there created by skiers, snowmobils and snowboarders. At the summit two more guests arrived, a skier and snowboarder from Homewood.
Overall, it was straighforward traverse but more miles than predicted. It was 13 miles roundtrip and vertical elevation gain of close to 3000 ft.
Summit pictures :)
Alas we made it back, just before the sunset.
All pictures can be viewed here
https://picasaweb.google.com/112364082721983243207/EllisPeakJan2013#
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