Trimmer Peak

Trimmer Peak is South Lake’s closest backcountry destination, with a ten minute drive and a 1 mile approach separating you from this amazing mountain. With such quality terrain and proximity to town, one would expect to find substantial crowds as well. However, Trimmer sits in the shadows of more popular zones like Tallac, Jakes, and Carson Pass, and has relatively light skier traffic as a result. Trimmer’s prize line is called The Elevens; two twin avalanche scars running 1,800’ down its north face. These unique scars are visible from the town of South Lake, and nearly everywhere around North and West Tahoe. At the perfect angle and tree spacing, this is one of Tahoe’s finest pitches. The glades to the west of The Elevens, near the main skin track, also have an unusual concentration of pillows, making for some incredibly fun terrain. Slightly less vertical yet notably steeper, Trimmer’s gladed east bowl has tons of quality descents that see only a fraction of the attention The Elevens get.

From the “Y” in South Lake Tahoe, drive east on highway 50 for 2 miles, and turn right onto Al Tahoe Blvd. Al Tahoe ends after 1.6 miles, where you will take a right onto Pioneer Trail. After 1 mile on Pioneer Trail, take a left onto High Meadow Trail (look for the elementary school). Continue up High Meadow Trail through the neighborhood for less than a mile to where it dead-ends. Don’t worry if there are 10 other cars in the parking lot, this is also a popular dog walking and snow shoe trailhead. From the parking lot, follow the summer trail for approximately 1 mile, and break off the main trail looking for a thinly forested ridge on Trimmer’s lower north face. Veering off this main trail too early will lead to unnecessary bushwhacking. A saddle that is the false summit tops out at 8,300’, giving you the first glimpse of the rest of this sizeable mountain. From this saddle, continue up the next ridgeline until seeing where you want to drop. Continue up to the summit proper if descending into the east bowl. On the way back to the car, be sure to descend the lower pitch near the skin track for the least bushwhacking.