Lake Tahoe Mini Meetup

[Svend]

Mike, if among the vast number of skis that you are demoing, you happen to click into a pair of Fischer Motive 84's, could you pay particular attention for me, please? I am interested in that ski, but few reviews available, and no demos to be had here.  Supposed to be one of the best mid-80's skis presently made.  Many thanks! And enjoy....

[Liam]

It's wonderful that you've timed your trip with one of the few snow cycles they've had this season!  Buono Fortuna!

I don't know Tahoe like Jbotti (or any local)-but I've had the opportunity to visit on 4 occasions (all April Spring skiing trips...so my comments are probably seasonal specific).

But here are my impressions:  I love 'Second -Tier' Tahoe.  Don't get me wrong, Squaw is the extreme capital of USA for a very good reason and it's a must on anyone's agenda who skis in Tahoe.  But, I have had great success skiing the steeps of other hills in Tahoe, and exploring the lesser traveled places.  Also, Though I agree with most that Heavenly is over-crowded and very 'resortish' in a bad way-It's expert terrain is wonderful, and will have the lowest crowds of any expert terrain anywhere in Tahoe (but you'll have to initially ski through the gaper masses to get to it!).

1. Steeps-Yeah, Kt-22 and the Palisades (and the zKitchen Wall etc) are landmark, must ski areas for anyone who wants to sample some of the best in-bounds steep skiing in America.  However, You'll ski those steeps with lots of other people (and many of them fairly world class in their abilities).

Alternate options: Mt Rose Chutes, and Mott and Killibrew Canyons at Heavenly.  Yep, heavenly has a big cookie cutter crowd on much of the mountain:  However, Everytime I've skied there I've been all but alone in Mott and Killibrew canyons (and the skiing has been steep and excellent)

2. Trees: Sierra at Tahoe...I didn't really understand why the ponderosa pine was considered the greatest tree-skiing landscape until I skied here.  Heavenly's Trees are also excellent.   Oh, neither of these tree skiing areas are anything like what Bushwacker usually skis -far more open and no scrub bushes.

3. Off-piste Terrain-Kirkwood!  Not the steepest (but definitely the deepest!)-but the best and most varied off-piste skiing available in greater Tahoe.  Plus the place is beautiful and has the coolest vibe of any tahoe destination resort.

I always describe Kirkwood as the California version of Alta except it has More sunshine, fewer beards, and prettier girls! 

LP-I like the Mt. Rose/ A-Basin analogy.  I hadn't thought of that before, but they do have some similarities.

4. Bumps:  Well sure, Squaw turns out the bump super heroes like Moseley and all; but for my money, on a spring afternoon, you can't beat laps on the FACE at Heavenly.  Seriously, skiing down gunbarrel and the face with the sun shining,staring at the huge, beautiful blue lake (it's the run they use in all the post cards, it really looks like you are skiing into the lake) on the biggest, baddest bumps in the region while everyone else is top loading down the lift to get back to the casino is a can't miss great feeling.

Man,  you got me all nostalgic for a Sunny ski day in Tahoe.

[jbotti]

There is definitley some great stuff to ski at other resorts besides Squaw. One of the truly hidden gems in Tahoe is Alpine. If you know your way around you can ski fresh lines at Alpine all day, but you have to hike some and ski in the open out of bounds area. It's actually a wonderful hidden gem!

Squaw has gotten 33" since Monday and 18" last night. Forecast is for another 14-20 inches today and tonight and 3-5 inches tomorrow. They also have very high winds today so the upper mountain is on wind hold and should be closed all day. That means 2-3 feet of fresh untracked on the upper mounatin when they open it up tomorrow morning!! Tomorrow should be a real powder day at Squaw!!

I am looking forward to showing LP and HA around. I also think with this much snow the coverage should be pretty good tomorrow. It should be a really fun ski day!!

[Liam]

There is definitley some great stuff to ski at other resorts besides Squaw. One of the truly hidden gems in Tahoe is Alpine. If you know your way around you can ski fresh lines at Alpine all day, but you have to hike some and ski in the open out of bounds area. It's actually a wonderful hidden gem!

Squaw has gotten 33" since Monday and 18" last night. Forecast is for another 14-20 inches today and tonight and 3-5 inches tomorrow. They also have very high winds today so the upper mountain is on wind hold and should be closed all day. That means 2-3 feet of fresh untracked on the upper mounatin when they open it up tomorrow morning!! Tomorrow should be a real powder day at Squaw!!

I am looking forward to showing LP and HA around. I also think with this much snow the coverage should be pretty good tomorrow. It should be a really fun ski day!!

Whoa!  Now that's the kind of snow numbers you like to hear!  rip it up!

I went to Alpine twice...both times surface conditions were horrible (but then again, both times they were the only ones open in Tahoe due to high winds!)--Terrain looked wonderful-it had great coverage, but it was all re-frozen spring snow that didn't thaw out.  I'd love to get back there when the conditions are good. 

We have a mini powder day shaping up right now and into tomorrow...I'll be giving impromptu lessons on Powder skiing at berkshire East tomorrow (which, for those of you who can't get to Tahoe, should be wonderful and worth checking out!)!

[LivingProof]

High Angles and I await the pleasure of skiing with JB tomorrow. Folks, it snowed all day at N'star, which is more sheltered from the wind and all lifts open all day. Close to a foot when we arrived this morning, at least another 6' today. Runs that were closed and dangerous on Sunday, just skied great today. Snow is not Utah blower, but very skiable unless on flatter terrain or into the wind. Tahoe has been transformed in the last 3 days. I would like to actually see the lake before I leave!

Liam - nice write up on the Tahoe area. I hope to return.

Svend - Fisher was at our demo, but, did not ski the 84 (or any other Fisher). Did ski the Sultan 94 today and it did pretty well. Would have preferred a wider ski in some of the heavier drifts, but, the ski just performed to my satisfaction. The weak link continue to be it's driver who needs more time in powder. But, I am getting much more comfortable. As Josh states, looking for more speed is a big part of the answer.

My legs and I have a compact...get me through 2 more days, then a well deserved rest.

And, today at noon, Snow Hot and Phil were married in a lodge up on the mountain.
Live long and prosper!

[Gary]

Mike..what a great treat to have that much snow on the ground for you to play in.

Sounds like today will be another fun day...

Pass along my congrats to Phil and his bride....much happiness!

Curious to see what skis you're on today too.

Of those skied...A favorite resort so far?

Best, g

[Svend]

Hey Mike,

Great trip you're having.  And brilliant timing with the arrival of some fresh snow.  Finally getting to give the new Sultans a good workout.  But how are the legs holding up?

No worries about the Motive 84's.  It was a long shot, but thanks for thinking of me.

Enjoy the last couple of days, and hope you get a bluebird day to enjoy the fantastic views there.

All the best!

[LivingProof]

High Angles and I had a great day at Squaw with John Botti. John is very generous and just a great person to ski with. I skied the deepest snow that memory permits me to claim - waist deep when I crashed (twice). This day was memorable for me and HA. I'm sure HA will speak for himself, but, I've rarely seen someone smile as much at the end on the day. JB, we owe you! High Angles is one helluva skier in his own right. He just ripped some turns in unbeliviable powder and steeps.

Personally, a day for skis much wider than a 94, one that I will never forget. Squaw was mostly closed due to high winds, but, the skiing we did was just WOW.

In the wonderful world of the internet , one gets to meet some great people. I am humbled, honored and excited to ski with all of you..my friends.

[jbotti]

I hope HA and LP go back to Squaw today. Yesterday they only had two lifts running and it was a storm day with very poor visibility. None of the upper mountain was open and KT-22 was only open in the afternoon. We spent the whole morning skiing in the trees off the Squaw Creek lift (even Red Dog was on wind hold).

Today will be one amazing day at Squaw with over 60" of untracked snow on the upper mountain and a bluebird day as well!!

It was a real pleasure meeting and skiing with HA and LP. Both have a love for skiing that matches mine.

HA was ripping great turns in difficult terrain all day.

[Gary]

Hey Guys....so glad you all got to "get into it"...

Timing is everything....hope someone was taking pics to share.

G

[Liam]

Did you say 60 (!!!) inches?!?  Holy smokes, I have never had the opportunity to ski through something like that ...what a dream that must have been!  I mean, dang, we get a foot around here and it lights up every skier's face, but 5 feet of snow sitting untouched is something to dream about.

Congratulations on a well-timed trip guys.   

I'd love to see photos/ videos of that.   

[jbotti]

We didn't hit 60 yesterday because we were skiing the lower mountain which had been open the previous day. When we caught some truly untracked it was 2 to 2.5 feet deep. In the trees where we caught it fresh it was deeper than that.

People trash the snow in Tahoe all the time. And while I admit it is definitely heavier snow, the area makes up in quantity what it lacks in snow quality!! In a good year you can ski 15-20 days where you are in 3 feet plus of fresh snow, until it gets tracked out which is very fast!

Yesterdays snow was pretty good quality for Tahoe and it got real cold today so that will help suck some moisture out of it. Today was the day, a bluebird day and cold with 60" of fresh. Doesn't get much better. Hopefully the gang changed their plans and skied Squaw today, although anywhere in Tahoe will have been a party today!

[LivingProof]

We did not opt to return to Squaw for our final day, revisited Mt. Rose. Several in our group attempted to get to Squaw, but, traffic just did not move and went elsewhere. It was a bluebird day without wind. Mt. Rose had it's busiest day of the year and this appears to be true at all resorts as it was the best day to ski this year. Rose groomed many trails and the few left for pow got skied out pretty quick. Some chutes opened around 1 and were epic, but, also got skied out very quickly. Rocks were a problem as there is no base.

Yesterday was my seventh straight day on skis and the body did not respond in the early morning. Found some technique (finally) and finished the trip on a high note. A great week of skiing...and got to meet another forum member. Thanks again John.

[jbotti]

Yeah that's pretty much how we were skiing it on Thursday

Not quite!!

[HighAngles]

Well I'm back online.  Needed today to recover!  What a week in Tahoe.  I couldn't have asked for more.  Started snowing Monday morning and basically didn't stop until Thursday night.  It took everything I had to keep my body going because I skied hard and fast pretty much every day, all day.

I'll have lots to report over the coming week or two.  I got a good amount of time on a bunch of the 2013 skis.  I also took a pile of HD video from my new POV camera (Contour+).  Bazzer from Epic forced us to stop and get some great pictures during the week (and am I glad he did!).

Skiing with Mike (LP) and John (JB) was a real pleasure this past week.  You couldn't ask for better company.  John's generosity and knowledge of the mountain made my day at Squaw one of those very special "life experience" ski days.  A day I will not soon forget.  Overall this ski trip is definitely in my top 3 over the past 20 years - the area, the conditions, and the people made it so memorable.