Summary

Description

This tour offers spectacular views from the ridgetops and a variety of terrain including mild slopes, steady climbing, traversing ridges and a descent through trees. It covers about half of the classic Mount Reba to Cabbage Patch tour but there are some significant differences. On the positive side you don't need a shuttle and you avoid the snowmobile use at the Mount Reba end of the classic route. On the negative side this route has considerable more climbing and less downhill.

Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map

Miles: 0.0 - 0.5
Elevation change: +100 feet

From the trailhead (1) ski north (right) on the snow-covered road for 0.5 mile until you reach a road junction (2). The road to the west (left) leads to Blue Creek Point. This tour continues northeast (straight).

Miles: 0.5 - 0.9
Elevation change: +50 feet

Continue northeast (straight) for 0.4 mile until you reach a road junction (3). The road to the northwest (left) is part of the Mattley Road and Mattley Ridge tours.

Miles: 0.9 - 1.4
Elevation change: +150, -50 feet

Continue northeast (straight) for 0.5 mile until you reach the location where the main road makes a sharp turn to the south (right) (4). This is about 100 yards past Big Meadow Creek and at the location where a lesser road continues northeast (straight) into Thompson Meadow.

Miles: 1.4 - 2.1
Elevation change: +150 feet

Turn south (right) to continue on the main road and follow it first to the south and then to the east for a total of 0.7 mile until you reach an almost 180 turn to the left in the road (5). In this section the road first climbs steadily and then becomes level.

Miles: 2.1 - 4.0
Elevation change: +650, -50 feet

Continue on the road that at first climbs, then drops a bit and finally climbs around a ridge for a total of 1.9 miles until you reach the ridgetop (6).

Miles: 4.0 - 5.3
Elevation change: +200, -100 feet

Follow the ridge generally north for 1.3 miles until you reach a point 0.2 mile to the east of Peak 7873 (7). This point is the intersection of three ridges: the one you have ascended, the one toward Flagpole Point that you will continue on, and the one to the northeast that is part of the Mount Reba to Cabbage Patch tour.

You are now almost at the halfway point. Although the return trip is not as straightforward to follow, the trip is less time-consuming because most of the route is downhill or meanders along ridges.

Miles: 5.3 - 6.1
Elevation change: +100, -100 feet

Ski west toward Peak 7873, pass to its south and continue along the ridge for a total of 0.8 mile until you are on the south side of Flagpole Point (8). The tour does not ascend to the top of the Point.

Miles: 6.1 - 7.4
Elevation change: +200, -50 feet

Head southwest along a ridge for 1.3 miles until you reach the high point on Mattley Ridge (9). The climb to the high point is through dense trees.

Miles: 7.4 - 8.7
Elevation change: -650 feet

Ski south through some trees and then south along the ridge at first through a clearing but through trees as you get lower for a total of 1.3 miles until you reach Mattley Road (10). Near the top, just after entering the clearing, you will encounter a snow survey station.

Miles: 8.7 - 9.6
Elevation change: -300 feet

Turn west (right) onto Mattley Road and follow it generally southwest for a total of 0.9 mile until you reach Cabbage Patch Road (11).

Miles: 9.6 - 10.2
Elevation change: -150 feet

Turn southeast (left) onto Cabbage Patch Road and follow it for 0.6 mile until you reach a road junction (3) where you skied earlier.

Miles: 10.2 - 11.1
Elevation change: -150 feet

Retrace the route for 0.9 mile back to the trailhead (1).