Tahoe Quarterly

Backcountry Skiing at Donner Summit

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Athlete: Lorenzo Worster
Spot: Donner Lake

For me, the West End of Donner Lake has always seemed an ideal place to live. Some of my best days have started out meeting friends at Donner Lake Kitchen, where the huevos rancheros are bigger than your head. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day they say, and my friends and I take that seriously. If we manage to put down the whole order of rancheros, we will head to Castle Peak, Frog Lake Cliffs or beyond. If we have leftovers or a half-order, then it's up to Sugar Bowl and a one-ride ticket that puts us on top of Mount Lincoln. The backcountry access from there is amazing: We can link incredible shots from Anderson Ridge to Mount Judah to Donner Peak, finishing with the legendary lake run. If the conditions are perfect, the Heart Chute is an aesthetic ride, with just enough exposure to get the adrenaline going.

For all other occasions, we're happy to reap the rewards that the east shoulder of Donner has to offer. And, it sure would be nice to offer my friends a cold beer on my deck on the West End of Donner Lake after a lake run or two.

Stats: Glenshire resident Lorenzo Worster has been called one of the best progressive telemark skiers in the world today. In addition to starting up Falling Forward Films, he works with Tough Guy Productions and is a Patagonia ambassador. When not on the snow, Worster works for Integrated Environmental Restoration Services in Tahoe City.

Originally published in TQ Best of Tahoe 2008