Apr 29 2012

Tahoe Ski Resorts Close for 2012

Keith Lindsay and PJ tracking up Sugar Bowl's backcountry.

Hats off to the Tahoe resorts that stayed open through this weekend. It has been a tough year and it costs money to run those lifts, but the late season snow has been good so they have damned the torpedoes and kept straight ahead. Even if the parking lots were only half full, at least they were half full.

Those who could make it were treated to a good 2-3 hour corn session this final weekend of the resort season. The conditions cooperated with a solid freeze overnight and a fresh coat of snow three days ago. When the lifts opened at 8:30am the runs were still hard and fast. Between ten and half past noon the corn was running and the grins were grinning under a blazing mountain blue sky. As gunky as the snow would get, during the corn hours it was as delightful as spring skiing can be. Silky smooth runs with just enough crème on top to make carving turns as easy as cutting butter and cold enough to still run fast. Pure ego snow and summer air temperatures so you can ski in your shorts if you chose.
Keep making backcountry turns

Apr 26 2012

One last hurrah for Eleven-12?

Now that it's Spring, Winter has arrived.

Figuring out whether to head out to grab a few turns Friday morning has been a colossal waste of internet time. My midday drive to get a workout in at the local pool told me more than perusing my fave local weather sites, including Tahoe Weather Discussion. I can hardly blame Bryan Allegretto, it is spring after all, the spring following an anemic winter in the Tahoe area and interest in spring skiing is at an all time low.

However, now that it’s spring the Tahoe area has seen more snow more regularly than we had while it was winter. So I’m relying on my gut and the fact that it was snowing a bit while driving to and fro in Truckee today to commit to heading out. Besides, I’m not ready to throw in the towel just yet. Spring skiing always delivers some delightful surprises and I think this weekend is going to be another one of those.
Keep making backcountry turns

Apr 26 2012

Hull Mt. March 28, 2012

Finally got some snow in the Coast Range that lasted longer than a day.  Headed up with Mark Chon on Wednesday, March 28.  Still a bit of snow on Elk Mt. on the way in. This was the first time this season that Hull has been deep enough to ski.
What a strange year! In the 17 years of skiing this mountain, I’ve never seen a ski season quite like this one. Hull is usually skiable from December through May.
Sometimes as early as Thanksgiving and can have deep drifts well into June.
We were feeling lucky to be there for the first time this season in late March.

Mark skiing up

The scaled skis worked well without the use of skins. The snow was still fresh. Breaking trail in fresh snow at Hull usually means sinking in a few inches. Wet, dense snow that sticks to everything. This day was no exception. Found it had snowed a bit lower than what the radar had shown. The manzanita and trees were covered in snow. We were prepared for a storm day. This translates to fog, vertigo and high winds. But we were in for a surprise. The sun was peeking through the clouds from time to time. Should have gotten here earlier.
Keep making backcountry turns

Apr 24 2012

Review: OR’s Trailbreaker Pants

OR's Trailbreaker Pant. $195

When the zipper on the right hand pocket of my Mammut Champ pants went south (after something like 700 days of use) it was time to look for a new pair of ski pants. They had to be breathable softshell with an ability to shed snow, not cling to it, with cargo pockets but not the usual floppy box on the side. Ideally the cargo pocket would be like OR’s now retired Exos pants with a diagonal zip closure, but another pair of Champs would be just fine if they hadn’t discontinued them like they promised they wouldn’t. Harumph.

When OR’s PR firm asked if I’d be up for reviewing a pair of Trailbreakers I was intrigued. Most of the ingredients sounded right and OR seemed to know where to put pockets so what the heck, send those Trailbreakers along, even if they do come with stupid gaitors.
Keep making backcountry turns

Apr 23 2012

Visons in Valdez

The Alaskan View of Eleven-12

Any questions why AK is the capital of epic skiing?

Valdez has been off the charts for months and the ski world is in a buzz about what’s happening in coastal Alaska. I can understand the emotions as I sit and rest between ski days gazing out my second story window in mid-April at urban yards still smothered in four feet of white, rotting snow. Each day brings more sun and more skiing as huge avalanches cascade off Mile High Mountain and terminate in the deep blue water of the ocean in Port Valdez. We will be hammering runs in June by the looks of things.
Keep making backcountry turns

Apr 20 2012

TR: Hull Mt., April 18, 2012

Headed up to Hull again. I was jibbing solo. The weather was warm. I was hoping for more fog. If the sun came out, the snow would not be good. Lucky for me, the weather report was showing a chance of rain. Oh, good. Cloud cover to protect the snow.

Hull Mt. as seen from Elk Mt. on the way in.

I drove up Tuesday. Lots of animals out and about. Deer and turkeys everywhere. Almost hit a turkey down by the river- damn!- there goes dinner.
The elk where hanging out by Lake Pillsbury. Haven’t seen the babies this spring.  No bear sightings this time.
Keep making backcountry turns

Apr 19 2012

TR: Hull Mt. April 11, 2012

After 17 years of skiing Hull Mountain, I was finally forced to find another way in. I’ve always wanted to explore approaching the mountain from another road but it’s been just too easy all this time. Boardman Ridge road leads right to the summit but now it’s closed in winter. However, it’s hard to keep a country boy with a jeep out.

A new access road and route for reaching Hull Mountain via Hullaska Ridge.

The main entrance to Hull Mountain, Boardman Ridge, is closed from Dec. 1st until the last day in April. The road opens May 1. Not to worry, there are lots of roads in the area and we found a new way in last week.
Keep making backcountry turns

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