Tahoe (3/23 - 3/26) SNOWMAGEDDON!

[Jaybez]

Just got back in from the second leg of our anniversary trip to Tahoe. That was the most snow I have ever seen in my life! It started snowing the minute we got there and hadn't stopped when we left. It seemed like each night the weather guy was calling for another 2 feet here or 4 feet there. We thankfully had refuge in the embassy suites at the base of the Gondola. Which, wasn't the most luxurious place, but they gave free breakfast in the morning and free drinks from 4:30 - 6:30 after the last runs. Nothing like free alcohol when soaking in the hot tub.



In any event Day 1 resulted in no pictures. The wife and I took "Adventure Lessons" at Heavenly and neither of us wanted to be the dufus holding up the fun. Not that it would have mattered. With the constant dumping of snow, your normaly picture perfect Tahoe was nothing but white out with incredibly flat lighting. The lesson, however, was fantastic! My guide was about my age and had been boarding heavenly since he was nine. We did a couple quick runs on the greens to check skill levels before stepping it up a notch. Once you let those guides know you are up for anything they can throw at you, they don't hesitate. We covered most of the trails on the mountain and then all his favorite tree runs. One set of woods near Dipper had waist deep powder and a particularly large grouping of wind lips. Catching air was fun... until I tomahawked one of the landings. Fluffy powder crashes are still 100 times better than the usual back east.



We didn't get to any park stuff as most of their big terrain parks were closed and the features removed. The just couldn't maintain the jumps and landings with all the snow fall. I didn't mind though, because there were large banks of snow to thrash on the sides of a lot of runs, a fairly good number of natural features to hit(the log below), and some nice bumps and jumps a long the greens and track runs.



Day 2 and 3 we tried to hit Kirkwood but didn't buy a pass because the ticket agent said they would be shutting everything down in about ten minutes. The winds picked up and were forcing a lot of places to close. Heavenly shut down the gondola and lifts to the summit where winds were gusting above 100 mph. We mainly stuck to the california side, where it was a little more sheltered from the winds. Even still I could have sworn I came to a dead stop during one particularly long gust. The pictures below of mainly from these last couple days.



For me, I loved all the powder, but I am a bit disappointed I didn't get to take in a clear day. I guess you can't wish for snow and sun and expect to get both.





near thetop of powderbowl lift





Gunbarrell(black or double, I think)





Wife hittin some trees





There is a lake out there somewhere





Me and PowderBowl Woods





She's a powder hound





Pretty nice stump jump off of Maggies Run





more snowy trees





Perspective

[mmmtaters]

You timed this so well. I agree that Tahoe wouldn't be the same without the views, but an incessant dump is the only thing that can make up for it...

[RMacSki]

I think we are planning a trip to Tahoe next year. trying to avoid the 2 hour hassle from Denver to resorts for a change. And I hear those views are amazing.

[Jaybez]

Yeah the drive in from Reno wasn't bad at all. In fact the drive back in the weather wasn't terrible either. I def want to return in hopes of catching a bluebird day. Might stay in north lake next time. I would like to hit squaw, northstar, and homewood. But I heard residents around squaw were being asked to evacuate for avy danger.

[kcarroll417]

I flew out to Tahoe on the 24th. Skied Friday - Sunday at Homewood. Squaw and Alpine Meadows had everything basically shut down from the top. Homewood was a great choice and pretty much skied untracked Friday and Saturday. Damn it was deep.

[kcarroll417]

[IMG][/IMG]





Video of my buddy busting @ Homewood:D

[Jaybez]

We wanted to hit homewood, but the road was closed at Emerald Bay and it would have taken forever to get around counter-clockwise with the weather.

[Ski Bunny]

Sorry you missed the lake views, but you hit the pow pow just right! Looks like you had a blast!

[2slikstix]

sweet



Ill be back there next season

[RMacSki]

video isnt working for me. has IMG tags around it