Nov 16 2012

Alpenglow Sports Winter Film Series

Dave Nettle kicks off Alpenglow Sports Winter Film series at OVI.

Over 300 people attended the first showof Alpenglow Sports Winter Film Series last Wednesday, 14nov12. Dave Nettle presented highlights from six recent climbing trips, including some ultra classic free lines on the sandstone wall of Zion, to hidden gems in the remote Adamant Range of British Columbia.

The show will be held at Squaw Valley’s Olympic Village Lodge, aka OVI, at 7 pm. Come early for dinner and libations. Each show is FREE and will feature a raffle for prizes from Sherpa Adventure Gear. Proceeds from the raffle go to support Adventure Risk Center.
Keep making backcountry turns

Nov 14 2012

Passage: Annalise Kjolhede

Sorry for the lapse in content here in the middle of the week. Work can get in the way of that but it has had some very positive side effects for awareness of what is going on along the boundaries of ski resorts. And one negative. I don’t normally like to get involved in the announcement of tragedies in the backcountry, but am compelled to post this one, perhaps because I was nearby at the same time doing the same thing and feel like I lost a friend I never met. For the moment, let us ponder the following and resume with regularly scheduled programming next post.
Keep making backcountry turns

Nov 13 2012

Tahoe ski resorts open for Thanksgiving

Forecast is looking good!


Had a small debate today with a friend on whether it is Winter or not. According to the calendar it is not winter, but when has the calendar ever been able to predict the day a season begins? The shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere may be the official recognized first day of winter, the day bureaucrats can agree to call the beginning of winter, but in my book winter begins when it’s cold enough for the snow to stick around and there’s enough snow to ski on.
Keep making backcountry turns

Nov 11 2012

Twelve-13: Day 2, Earning ’em in-bounds

 

Are all those cars full of backcountry skiers?
Not completely, but a lot were.

The second winter storm of the season left a healthy coat of fresh snow in the Tahoe basin and backcountry skiers were out in force, skinning in-bounds at Sugar Bowl and Alpine Meadows this weekend. In theory there would be fewer obstacles lurking in the shallow snowpack on the groomed runs and everyone would get a great workout in.

At Sugar Bowl’s Judah parking lot it looked like the trailhead to Bunny Flat there were so many cars, at least 120. Most of those cars were seasonal employee’s going through orientation. Even so, I personally saw at least 20 backcountry skiers buckling up, rockin’ out to AC/DC, and heading up from the Judah Lodge over and across to the top of Christmas tree, where the skin track continued on up to the top of Lincoln peak.
Keep making backcountry turns

Nov 08 2012

Gravity Master – serious brakes for serious blading

Get your pads on and ride.
Pray you don’t need to stop.

Ran into a man at the Start Haus last week (I’m pimping gear and stoke for them) who was headed out the door with a serious piece of speed machinery in his hands – I’m talking wheels, not edges – for pavement, not snow. Where the no fall zone begins a lot sooner, and the consequences of a wipe out get out of hand in a hurry. This is shussing with full armor, mental and physical.

I’m talking about a six-wheeled roller blade and I’m talking stability at speed but, gulp, no good way to stop. Until now.
Keep making backcountry turns

Nov 06 2012

Alpenglow Sports sponsors TBVC again!

Register to help support SAC.

 
Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe City is sponsoring the Tahoe Vertical Challenge again this year, and hopefully the 3rd time will be the charm. Last year there was limited participation from backcountry skiers, largely due to a lack of snow for racking up the vert. Winter has already left her calling card for this season and Alpenglow is raring to make good on their promise to help support the Sierra Avalanche Center this season.

Here’s how it works. If you’re a backcountry skier and earning your turns, be sure to log your vertical at the Tahoe Vertical Challenge website. When (last year it was an IF) 15-million vertical feet are reached Alpenglow will donate $3,000.00 to the Sierra Avalanche Center.
Keep making backcountry turns

Nov 05 2012

First Look: Voile’s Charger BC

 
Ever since the Kahru Guide was introduced the lingering question has been how fat is too fat for a waxless metal edged ski? Voile has decided to find out by pushing the boundaries with the Charger BC and a waist width of 110mm, not a hair less.

How wide is too wide for a waxless metal edged ski? Charger BC says 114 mm. What say you?


Keep making backcountry turns