Skip to main content
News

Lover’s Leap Conditions Spring 2023!

By March 31, 2023No Comments

Lover’s Leap Spring Update!

Lover’s Leap March 30, 2023

We have been receiving calls and emails from throughout the country on the conditions at Lover’s Leap and Lake Tahoe.  After three years of mild winters that kept us climbing throughout the year, California was hit hard with massive Atmospheric Rivers(AR’s).  These storms brought the drought stricken Sierra much needed moisture and snow pack to rejuvenate our streams and reservoirs.

Our local ski resort Sierra At Tahoe, just a few miles away from Lover’s Leap, has already received 675 inches( over 56 feet)of snow!  With more storms forecasted in the coming days, they should easily break 700 inches.

First bolt on End of the Line. Usually 12 feet off the ground!

The Lover’s Leap base is around 6,000 feet elevation and the summit just over 7,000.  Right now at the base of the East Wall there is about 10 feet of snow(making the first crux of the Line super doable!!!).  Once we hit a consistent high pressure, the warm spring sun will melt this pack away quickly.  It’s not unheard of to lose over a foot of snow in a day, especially at this elevation.

Our Mountain Poodle Mascot!

Here at Lover’s Leap Guides, we hope to be running trips at the Leap by late April or early May.  We are currently running trips at Sugarloaf.  With an elevation of 4000 feet and great South West exposure, the “Loaf” is snow free and has been perfect in between storms.

 

Spring Climbing at Sugarloaf

Loafing Around! March 2023

At Sugarloaf we offer guided multi-pitch climbing, Lead courses, top rope climbing, groups and private days.  Once we hit a consistent high pressure pattern, Lover’s Leap Guides will be offering spring Self Rescue courses at Sugarloaf.

Rappel Instruction at Sugarloaf!

As always, if you ever have questions on conditions, routes, places to camp around Lake Tahoe, please feel free to give us a call or an email.

We look forward to seeing you out at the cliff and hopefully to share a rope with you!!
See you soon!
Petch

Petch has been climbing since 1989 and has passion teaching and guiding as much as he does for climbing. At the end of an eight month climbing trip that took him and his partner from Joshua Tree in Southern California to Devils Tower in the eastern part of Wyoming, and everything in between, the final stop turned out to be Lover’s Leap. The right turn towards Lover’s Leap landed Petch in the campground in 1993. Climbing for eight months and a bank account of zero, he quickly found a job at the Strawberry Lodge. Falling in love with Lover’s Leap and Strawberry he found making a home easy. A guiding job opened in 1996 with teaching youth backpacking and rock climbing. The exciting future of guiding as a full time profession led to the opening of Lover’s Leap Guides in 2003. With his enthusiasm and knowledge of Lover’s Leap, Lover’s Leap Guides has become the most popular and busiest service to climb at Lover’s Leap. He has spent countless hours working with the Access Fund, CRAGS, and the Forest Service to maintain trails, protect nesting raptors, and community outreach. Climbing most of the routes at Lover’s Leap, he has also added numerous routes of his own. From 5.5 to 5.12D, some of his first ascents have become modern day classics. A good chance you will probably climb one of his routes when you climb with Lover’s Leap Guides. Petch is certified by the AMGA as a Rock Instructor and holds his certification as a Wilderness First Responder and CPR.