Details

Ellery Bowl is an easy and fun quick hit in the spring. Park at Ellery Lake on Highway 120, just east (downhill) of the turnoff to Saddlebag Lake. From there you can see the entire route and judge whether or not it's worth it or whether you want to go for something bigger nearby, like Dana or White Mountain.

If you opt for Ellery Bowl, it's pretty straighforward and basically impossible to get lost. Cross the dam and start heading up. At about two-thirds height you'll come to a flat area below the headwall and this is a good place to scope the cornices and rethink the avalanche risk before heading on. In any case, you'll want to look for the route that appears to have the least cornice danger and you'll probably want to rest a second and have a drink so you don't have to stop. You'll be in the drop zone for 10-30 minutes or so depending on your fitness and the snow conditions.

The headwall will get somewhat steeper as the season progresses and the cornices push out and fill in. As spring wears on and the cornices collapse, it will mellow out a little. On this day in June when I took the photos, I measured the top at 47 degrees over about 100 feet (using a compass inclinometer sighting on a tangent, which gives a more accurate general slope than using a card on a ski pole or similar method).

Once you get to the top, there are some nice sheltered spots among the rocks to rest and relax and enjoy the views of Mount Dana.

To descend, simply point your skis back over the way you came and have fun!