Best place for avalanche rescue practice or ski mountaineering
Castle Peak sits at a little over 9,000 feet and offers plenty of terrain options for both spring and storm skiing. It’s no wonder all the parking lots are jam-packed from the early hours—which means dawn patrol is absolutely necessary. Don’t think you’ll be elbowing your way through the backcountry, though, most people are actually here for sledding, not skiing.
When you start your hike, you’ll pass by the beautiful Castle Meadow, a perfect place for a day of avalanche rescue practice. Even if you already took an avalanche course in Lake Tahoe, a prerequisite for venturing out into the backcountry on your own, it’s recommended that you periodically refresh your knowledge and keep abreast of new rescue techniques.
Castle Peak is a great place for leveling up your skiing abilities and learning about managing backcountry risk. For one, the peak has a craggy summit especially suited for ski mountaineering training. From there, you can drop onto a popular 2,000-foot south face for exquisite corn skiing. The runs below the buttress are great for doing shorter laps, while the other option is heading to an expansive north bowl with drops into some exciting chutes.