Steven’s Peak

Approaching Carson Pass from South Lake Tahoe along highway 88, Steven’s Peak is the first serious objective to come into view. With a series of huge east facing bowls spilling off its broad shoulders, Steven’s has a ton of terrain for every ability and condition. Dropping due east off the summit, the pitch quickly rolls over into the Comma Couloir, Steven’s most prominent line. Below the choke, this line flows beautifully into an open alpine bowl. North of the main east bowl lies a northeast facing zone with impressive rock pillars and innumerable chutes and couloirs. I recommend skiing an obvious line into this bowl to begin with. Upon looking up from the bottom, let your imagination run wild with ideas for your next run. South of Steven’s summit, another east bowl runs back towards the highway. This bowl is of a more gentle pitch, and is a great tour for higher avalanche danger days, or for newer skiers. South of this gentle pitch is the impressive bowl above Crater Lake. This is the shared zone between Red Lake and Steven’s Peaks, and the obvious area for linking tours between the two. If you have no reservations against one-way tours, consider starting at Carson Pass and skiing north facing runs from Red Lake all the way to Steven’s north bowl, or vice versa for south facing runs.

To get to Steven’s Peak from the “Y” in South Lake, drive 4.7 miles south on hwy 50 to the town of Meyers, and turn south onto highway 89. Drive 11 miles from Meyers to the highway 88-89 junction. Turn right (west) onto hwy 88, and set the odometer for 4.3 miles. A small creek from Crater Lake flows under the road here, and there are pullouts on both sides of the highway. From the parking area, skin northwest through the forest, aiming for the low point in the drainage below Steven’s main east bowl. Continue up this bowl to the summit ridgeline.