Cement and Lake Basin Ski Tour

We took an approach that deviated from the usual Bullion Basin approach at around 5600' and then followed a roughly NNE bearing up to about 6600' on the shoulder NNW of East Peak.  The snow on our WSW ascent aspect was stable and soft with just a bit of crust from the previous day's sunshine, with some variability based on altitude and microterrain features.

At the ridge, we transitioned and dropped into Cement Basin on excellent snow to about 6000', although the last little bit of vertical wasn't particularly worthwhile.  We transitioned there and skinned on a slightly rising path to meet the Basin Lake Trail, where we followed an established skin track up to the col at 6400' that is SSW of Basin Lake.

The ridge that runs W above the col holds a large number of N-facing lines that held deep, cold snow that made for excellent skiing, and we took multiple laps there, with enough space and snow to share with some other parties in the area.

To exit the zone, we skinned along the ridge (looking wistfully down even more enjoyable N-facing ski lines) and transitioned at the high point at 6750' above Scout Pass.

We took an approximately WSW line on our descent that split the difference between the lines marked on some maps and in some guidebooks as "Clubhouse Bowl" and "Ted's Buttress".  Most of the descent was enjoyable skiing, but the last 100' of elevation loss to intersect with the Bullion Basin trail was thoroughly overgrown with slide alder and small trees filling in the gaps between already tight trees.  (Looking at NAIP satellite imagery from 10y ago versus 5y ago confirms that this area has filled in significantly.)  A longer traverse on the ski down, roughly following the PCT S to about 6350' and then skiing fall-line would provide an enjoyable descent (labeled "Solar Slab" in some guidebooks) with a relatively thin perimeter of vegetation to punch through to get back to ascent/exit trail.