Experience the unforgettable drama of this quiet National Park.
Wild Ski Tours in Nevada's Basin & Range
An introduction to backcountry skiing in an iconic western landscape
Images
![DSC05076.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/9fd99355-9a88-4634-a020-f9aa96ff0ee7?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Booting the final steps to the summit of Wheeler Peak. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC05189.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/977d7bb7-dff0-4667-b812-a50f9feed5a5?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Dropping into the east facing bowl beneath Wheeler. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC05052.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/d6007d8f-c24c-4f49-8f73-dbe7ebfbe47f?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Ascending the long, low angle bowl from the north. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC05132.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/76d1abbf-cc07-4f8e-8f61-b0131bb4753b?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Skiing the summit ramp north off of Wheeler Peak. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC05039.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/657b3fd2-10ef-4d65-8c85-c64e6fd798df?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
The Doso Doyabi Couloir. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC05209.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/d6370fe6-20bd-4f68-a5d2-eb1dba2d312b?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Skiing the couloir beneath Wheeler's north face. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC05141.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/1fd0fe66-7a1e-440b-8788-d5e44649c34b?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Doso Doyabi as viewed from Wheeler Peak's north ridge. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC05264.JPG](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/7205a068-9b07-4e0b-ae93-5c8d2af75ead?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Boot it and ski it. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC05267-2.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/57d8e299-4ed4-48da-832b-9f0c15280182?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Taking a moment to appreciate these ancient organisms. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![Frontpage-079.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/101455d8-282a-45c7-bf07-866270e89ade?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Disaster Peak to the east Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![Frontpage-065.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/fa84a84b-c67c-4f60-8703-d1f0cb725f37?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Hop-turning at the top of the south face. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![Frontpage-067.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/a64507f1-5c91-47a1-a1f2-852ed35b6739?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Skinning up the west ridge for a second lap. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![Frontpage-073.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/399cf32a-02c4-487f-a0f3-53c790519d50?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Dropping in for lap two, Bilk Creek Mountains in the background Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![Frontpage-093.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/6c717f20-72d6-4f9e-bd8e-29c4a6528ed9?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
A clash of crazy landscapes. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![Frontpage-099.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/6791f772-2900-4785-874e-72554df9128f?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Pre-dawn light on the Trout Creek Mountains. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC07282.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/ef8ef193-50f8-40ed-9210-46db463d2114?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Standing on the summit of Boundary Peak. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC07310.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/e2543d6b-fa0c-474b-845e-dcecb9482d37?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Booting back up Boundary's south face. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC07284.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/e2f79721-bc46-422b-a042-8b6e298aa6dd?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Traversing to the summit of Montgomery with Boundary Peak in the background Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC07275.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/a99fc0fb-9325-4d67-ac9f-b790d0f4fd48?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Montgomery's alluring east face. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC07265.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/93506106-2bc7-4ff6-ad07-6af4c8648a07?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Booting the ridgeline to the top of Boundary. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC07299.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/c9830e7c-56c0-497f-9059-f1f0f89eb8cc?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Skiing the apron at the bottom of Montgomery's east face. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC07347.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/b095d905-1719-4bc1-ab84-5e61d4f44e09?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Skiing out towards the trail in Boundary's northeast bowl. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC07352.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/fea0c2d6-ee85-469d-bc51-188087061202?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Looking for the trail on the way down valley. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC03646.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/1bba1c58-3c04-465d-a65e-37e1fc0647bc?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Skiing the southwest face in creamy pow conditions. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC03607.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/f488f7f5-d971-4d9a-934d-3850114c1ad1?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Summit of Santa Rosa Peak viewed from the west.. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC03595.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/53033b6b-01a1-4772-a1c2-2d589208c2db?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Booting the top of the southwest face. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC03514.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/4c24888a-a600-49ee-ac6d-6c609a757a3e?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
The southwest face beckons. Shot taken from the west ridge. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC03668.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/a50b07c4-2408-45d0-ba2c-d07747644be4?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Skiing the sage on the way down McConnell Creek. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC04234.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/2921dc61-dd3b-461f-abab-de88bc45fec7?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Skiing the open face above the Necklace Couloir. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC04190.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/3d1ea036-dbaa-4763-8508-2e352a30d3a7?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Studying the terrain while ascending the north ridge. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC04247.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/503452ab-cfc0-4127-a296-042d1c26f70e?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Dropping into the bottom portion of the main face above the Necklace Couloir. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC04166.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/9b7d607c-3820-4d49-a8c3-f0bfd0fcc64a?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Stellar views of the Necklace and Scimitar Couloirs dropping off Pearl Peak. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC04178.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/b6c0d176-7dd7-47f8-a9ca-c81d7890f3b2?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Ascending the north ridge. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC04200.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/ef8e17b0-8f0b-4a70-b342-2c5bbbcbe7c3?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Ancient bristlecone pin grove below the north ridge. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
![DSC04252.jpg](https://fatmap-digitiser-assets.imgix.net/b142053f-4f49-4473-b5d0-079384c06178?w=328&h=250&fit=crop")
Navigating the exposed passage in the Necklace Couloir. Conor PhelanCreative Commons: Attribution
Description
Vast. Quiet. Rugged. Remote; these are all words that readily apply to the stunning Basin & Range topography of Nevada. It turns out that the most mountainous state in the Lower 48 has a lot of great backcountry skiing.
Be prepared - skiing these far-flung peaks requires an unusual level of self-sufficiency. There are no avalanche ratings, you are often far from the nearest gas station, and you almost certainly won't find any skin tracks to follow. Do your homework, and take the leap...you will likely find these tours to be among the most unique and rewarding of your season.
Every aspect of ski touring Nevada's Basin & Range fosters a sense of wonder and adventure. As you drive endless dirt roads, keep an eye out for herds of pronghorn and bighorn sheep. Soak in the most incredible sunrises and sunsets from your sagebrush campsite. Ski dawn to dusk for days on end without seeing another human being.
Welcome to the Great Basin.
Adventures
Escape the crowds...and then some.
Ski across the Cal-Neva stateline during this big day of big descents.
Tough to access but worth every step.
Ancient pines & exposed lines on the Southern Ruby's high point.