The Cement, Lake and East Traverse is connecting some of the better lines just east of Crystal Mountain. This has been a go to tour for me for many years now. By doing this small traverse it puts you in some fun terrain. If you plan your timing right you can also have some other fun lines along the way. This trip report is focused on two back to back days heading up the Bullion Basin trail. With the first day riding the slopes of Cement Basin before doing the Cement, Lake and East Traverse.
On Monday I received a phone call from Justin who was looking at getting out to the Crystal Mountain area. I had been riding the resort for the past few days as by now the place was tracked out. With that knowledge we decided it would be better to do some touring instead.
We made our way up East Peak via the Bullion Basin trail to find that we were punching i the skin track. After numerous switchback we finally arrived on the summit ridge. Skinning up to the high point we could ride either East Peak or Cement Basin.
Lapping Cement Basin
Without any tracks in the east facing gully of Cement Basin it was an easy decision. Transitioning we made a plan that I would ride towards the crux then stop above. Once there and in a safe spot I would set up and take some photos of his riding. Riding down I was happy to find great snow condition that would blow up with every turn. Once Justin was ready I snapped a few photos not of him but the massive plume of snow he kicked up.
He ripped through the whole line top to bottom with plume after plume behind him. The run was well worth the skin track that we had put it. Soon we were both in the flats and happy with our choice of Cement Basin.
The next few hours were a frenzy of ups and downs taking advantage of our skin track. We were on a race against daylight so the camera wasn’t taken out. Soon enough the day was over with and we were at the Snorting Elk celebrating a great day.
Saturday Doing the Cement, Lake East Peak Traverse
I received a phone call from my friends Scott and Brad who were looking to get out. Knowing that the Cement Basin area was holding good snow with a skin track up East Peak it was an easy decision. We would do the Cement,Lake and East Peak traverse so we could get numerous good lines.
With the skin track already in place we made fast progress up East Peak. Within less than 2 hours we were standing on top of Cement Basin. Since the gullies had our tracks from the previous day we decided to drop a little to the north. This would get us a little closer to the Lake Basin Col and still be fun trees. Before long we were dropping into our first line of the day.
Unlike the day before the snow had settled a bit but was still great as we rode down the open trees. Soon we were in the flats and transitioning for the long skin ahead. Making our way to the Lake Basin col we focused our attention on a nice north then east facing gully. It is one of the longer lines in the area and provided trees followed by an open gully. Once strapped in we dropped the upper portion enjoying north facing open slopes.
After that we took a hard right that put us in an open gully. The snow was still super good quality as we milked as much turns as we could. We were getting both sunshine and powder conditions from top to bottom.
After Riding Cement Basin and Lake Basin it was Time for East Peak
Skinning back up Lake Basin we were happy with our choice of lines. We had already taken two laps and we were heading for East Peak for the exit. The trail breaking had been hard work but well worth the effort as we crested the ridge.
Transitioning on top of the ridge we were excited for the run ahead of us. It would be over 2,500 feet of powder and the end to the Cement, Lake and East Peak Traverse. Soon enough we were dropping the northwest side of East Peak and finding blower powder with every turn.
Soon enough we were at the base of Crystal Mountain and making our way back to the car. It had been an amazing past two days with fun company and a whole lot of trail breaking. It had been a great mixture of steps, chute and glads and it was time to celebrate with a pitcher of bear at the elk.
Thank you for reading this linking up Cement Basin, Lake Basin and East Peak. If you want to see more ski tours within Crystal Mountain Backcountry check out this link.
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