Although it has been skied mid-winter, this zone is best enjoyed as a spring corn destination when the dirt road approach has less snow on it but the main face is filled in. Directly south facing, get on it early if the weather is warm and sunny. This tour brings you to the high point of the range, a rocky blip sitting just above the edge of the towering escarpment. Standing on the summit, the closest person could easily be 15 miles away as the crow flies. To the north a vast plateau rolls for miles into Oregon, to the east the endless Owyhee desert extends to the horizon, and to the south innumerable snowcapped ranges rise out of the Great Basin.

Park as far back as possible, and then skin up the summer road past breathtaking piles of granite boulders until you reach the headwaters of the creek below the main face. The easiest climb to the top is further west along a north-south running ridge. There are a multitude of fun descents, but this route marks the steepest and most direct line from the summit. From broad open faces to complex steep couloirs, everyone in your group should be able to find a line to their liking. Recycle your skintrack, pick a new descent, and soak in the wonder of this dramatic landscape as your carve your way down!