"This was it, our first foray into the infinite backcountry skiing mecca of the Eastern Sierra. By the time we'd had our coffees, read the newspaper, done our nails etc., and then 4WDed up as high as we could it was already late morning. So much for an early start, the sun was already out in full force and pummeling us. We hiked along snow patched old roads for a couple miles before starting the skin up the mild approach terrain toward Locke. Dehydrated and some of us feeling the altitude, we gave up way before even getting to the main slopes. The chutes of Locke looked amazing but were out of reach. A humbling intro to the incredible scale of the Eastern Sierra. Also of note on this trip: Josh tried to gun his Forerunner over a snowbank and got it stuck... we spent an hour digging it out. But the damage was done: on the drive home a few days later an engine rod blew out. That was the end of the Forerunner. But we'd be back! " — scott • Apr 5, 2008