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Panorama of Andesite Peak, a beginner-friendly backcountry skiing area at Lake Tahoe
The ascent to Andesite Peak is pretty mellow for the most part, with only a small increase in grade near the very top. Photo by Mitch Barrie licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Beginners will enjoy the saddle despite the vertical

For a quick and easy run, head over to Andesite Peak, which is the main drop off point for skiing in the Castle Peak area. Because of its access to different types of terrain, the saddle is a good option when avalanche danger is highly aspect dependent, as you can choose from a variety of different lines.

The approach is mellow. The lower trail of Castle Valley North Road is popular for snowshoers and winter hikers because the snow is nicely packed in without much sink. Note that because the lower portion is often shared don’t expect a well-maintained skin track. On the last stretch, the vertical grade increases a bit, but it’s still perfectly suitable for beginners.

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