05-24-2015-Hotlum/Wintun Snowfield

The current conditions are pretty darn good out of the Brewer Creek trailhead and on the "Hotoon" route. You can almost drive to the trailhead except for one last snow berm that blocks the road about 1/8 mile from the actual TH. This will melt out very soon.  Wilderness permits, summit passes and human waste packout bags (inside the bathroom) are availabe for self issue at the TH. Skiing conditions are very good right now, albeit a bit sticky in the afternoon. Overall the snow surface is darn smooth. It's almost impossible to get the entire route in perfect shape, but somewhere along the 6,000 vertical feet of beautiful spring skiing you'll find some decent turns. The upper mountain has been generally firm. We've received a bit of new snow here and there over the past few weeks of inclement weather, nothing too notable but enough to smooth things out and even create a few point release slides on lower to mid elevation, warm aspects. A beacon, shovel and probe is currently recommended. Rockfall has been low but always be on the look out, espectially 11,000 feet and above. Wear a helmet!

This route is pretty straight forward with a couple variations possible near the top. All chutes and variations are filled in as of now. Where most people run into trouble is descending back to their car. It's common to miss your vehicle too far to the south (skiers right). When descending, be sure to make a gradual trend skiers left, aligning yourself between Ash Creek Butte and the large lava flow that abrubtly drops off at around 9,000 feet. If you put yourself in between these two land forms, you'll nail the descent every time. Again, just remember to trend left at the base of the lava flow at about 9,000 feet, not too far, but placing yourself in between the two land forms of Ash Creek Butte (pretty obvious butte to the east of the mountain and still has a little snow left on it) and the blocky lava flow.