Tinkerknob--Granite Chief Wilderness, April 2000
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Oh but it was beautiful out there...the snow was calling and I
went. Around 6 a.m. Saturday Douglas, Lizzie, Evil Bryce (able to go up
and down again after his run-in with the bends) and I gathered and headed
East on 80 for N. Lake Tahoe. After some debate and a useful chat with a
friendly off-duty Forest Service ranger we stuck to the original plan and
struck up through the edge of Squaw Valley ski field towards Mountain
Meadow Lake, D,L and B on skis and me once more on snowshoes. The balmy
weather had us in shorts and t-shirts, the world bright even through my
sunglasses. Tents pitched in the vicinity of the lake by around 4 p.m. we
set off for Timber Knob, anticipating a full moon to return by. A sidle,
a short drop, then a long upward sidle took D, L, and I to the saddle
beneath the peak as evening light gathered; a short steep climb and we
were on top, the setting sun in front, the almost full moon behind, so
that a line drawn between the two great discs would have passed straight
through us. More clothing, a snack, and photos duly taken, then brrr! it
was time to leave. Hooking back up with Bryce we slid and strode through
the silvery world back to the tents, then sat outside in the surprisingly
warm night air cooking and eating dinner. The new sleeping bag passed its
first test with flying colours and after a toasty warm night I rose to
greet the day. Third time lucky it wasn't snowing this Sunday, but the
weather still wasn't as good as Saturday's and in shorts and thermals
beneath an overcast sky I travelled with the others along the ridge
towards Granite Chief, L's skis sounding for all the world like migrating
geese. Back inside the Squaw Valley boundary a ski patroller took "issue" with 
our presence and in particular our plan to go up Granite Chief; but a radio 
call downstairs gave us permission to continue through to High Camp, and with 
a somewhat changed attitude the ski patroller wished us well and skiied off. 
Peak bagging fever had Lizzy and she and D stealthily gained the ridge leading 
to the summit while Bryce and I moved on under the binoculared gaze of the ski 
patroller--who when we finally reached him was now positively encouraging us 
to summit! Reaching High Camp the others stuck me with 4 packs to take down 
the cable car while they skiied down unemcumbered. 

picture: elderly couple sitting on their balcony, watching the sun rise 
over the tall building in front of them.