Lake Basin Gullies

The Lake Basin Gullies sit on the eastern side of the Crystal Mountain crest, northeast-facing chutes that funnel snow into deep, sheltered pockets. When early-season storms deliver, these gullies fill to chest and neck depth while surrounding terrain remains thin or wind-scoured.

The approach starts from Crystal Mountain's upper C parking lot, following the Bullion Basin Trail up East Peak's southwest face. From the crest, the route traverses east into Lake Basin where the gullies drop roughly 700 feet on a consistent northeast fall line. The aspect and crest position shelter the snow from prevailing winds, preserving powder conditions that exposed slopes lose within hours of a storm.

The descent is steep enough to generate full submersion in deep powder. Turns bury the skier to the chest; maintaining speed through bottomless snow is the central challenge. Below the gullies, the terrain mellows into Cement Basin before the exit follows the packed Bullion Basin trail back to the parking lot.

This is an early-season objective. November storms can deliver skiable conditions here before the resort opens or before higher alpine terrain is stable. Assess snow stability carefully despite the apparent shelter; the gullies are steep enough to slide. Pit tests on the documented trip showed stable snow, but early-season snowpack is inherently uncertain.