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Wanted: single snowy Sierra slope good for spring skiing

Dane Shoemaker, left, passes a pair of skis across a creek to Mary Small, right, as they set out toward a peak known as Winter Alta in Sequoia National Park, March 30, 2015. The area is typically blanketed in enough snow to ski across the creek, but a paltry snowpack forced skiers to hike their gear on trails, across streams and up rocky slopes to reach the snow. A group of friends have taken this trip through deep powder, braved icy slopes and weathered rain, wind and snow in an annual quest to reach a ski cabin in the wilderness of Sequoia National Park for the past 13 years. The fourth year of the devastating drought that has dried up wells, forced mandatory rationing and jeopardized California crops has also put a burden on backcountry skiers in search of their fix. (AP Photo/Brian Melley)
Dane Shoemaker, left, passes a pair of skis across a creek to Mary Small, right, as they set out toward a peak known as Winter Alta in Sequoia National Park, March 30, 2015. The area is typically blanketed in enough snow to ski across the creek, but a paltry snowpack forced skiers to hike their gear on trails, across streams and up rocky slopes to reach the snow. A group of friends have taken this trip through deep powder, braved icy slopes and weathered rain, wind and snow in an annual quest to reach a ski cabin in the wilderness of Sequoia National Park for the past 13 years. The fourth year of the devastating drought that has dried up wells, forced mandatory rationing and jeopardized California crops has also put a burden on backcountry skiers in search of their fix. (AP Photo/Brian Melley) Dane Shoemaker, left, passes a pair of skis across a creek to Mary Small, right, as they set out toward a peak known as Winter Alta in Sequoia National Park, March 30, 2015. The area is typically blanketed in enough snow to ski across the creek, but a paltry snowpack forced skiers to hike their gear on trails, across streams and up rocky slopes to reach the snow. A group of friends have taken this trip through deep powder, braved icy slopes and weathered rain, wind and snow in an annual quest to reach a ski cabin in the wilderness of Sequoia National Park for the past 13 years. The fourth year of the devastating drought that has dried up wells, forced mandatory rationing and jeopardized California crops has also put a burden on backcountry skiers in search of their fix. (AP Photo/Brian Melley)

By Associated Press 3 min read

SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) – We’ve trudged through deep powder, braved icy slopes and weathered rain, wind and snow in an annual quest to reach a ski cabin in the wilderness of Sequoia National Park for the past 13 years. We always had skis on our feet. Until this year.

The fourth year of the devastating drought that has dried up wells, forced mandatory rationing and jeopardized California crops has also put a burden on backcountry skiers in search of their powdery fix.

So it was that seven friends hit a dusty trail in hiking shoes Sunday, toting good food, tolerable wine and hefty skis and boots strapped to our backpacks, on a hopeful quest for a few good runs.

Snow lovers who win the November lottery for a bunk at the Pear Lake Ski Hut dream for months of the winter wonderland that lies six miles up a tough trail. Even in spring, you can expect smooth turns on the white blanket covering the steep, dramatic granite ridges, cirques and peaks.

A year ago, we skied from our cars to the hut in fresh snow. Then it dumped for two more days, and we hooted as we shot through the trees in knee-deep powder toward the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River.