TR: Harnessing Hardpack of the Hellions - 03/08/08

Date:

March 8th, 2008

Location:

Fermented Firmpack, Tahoe, CA, Sidecountry, USA

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_066.JPG

Weather:

40's on the Fahrenheit scale, sun, and moderate breeze on the ridges.

http://z.about.com/d/space/1/0/p/X/sun2.gif

Hellions:

666, Zippy, Slim, Jrosen32, Mishap, Greydon Clark, Walter Sobchak, Steve from Boulder, MomentSkiEO, dookey67, Corky, Papa Skimoore, and others...

http://www.shakewellbeforeuse.com/images/100_1295.jpg

Still Slayage:

666, Zippy, and Jrosen32

http://www.e-arsenal.net/cannons/fuj...ble-camera.jpg
<actual camera used>

Music: DJ FEXOMAT - "SLAYER tribute mix" (right click, save target as)

http://nsf.dnb-music.com/sounds/Fexo...TributeMix.mp3

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...nsToSlayer.jpg

Synopsis: Hardpack

Two weeks, and no snow. Warm weather, and no fluffly flow. Time to hit the sidecountry and see what's happening on the northern aspects. Oh, and amazing early morning groomers. I'm still in awe that a ski 112mm underfoot can carve so well, but I digress.

WELCOME TO THE TERRORDOME:

A few things to do before departure...I guess we've hit that $4 threshold.

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...3_08_08_01.JPG

Cruised to Whole Wallet for a $32 burrito for the drive. Thank god for cellphone cameras, or you would have never believed me that I saw our finest president to date shopping for white asparagus...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...3_08_08_02.JPG

Who knew 25 mph could look so fast...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...3_08_08_03.JPG

I took my Segway to Kirkwood, and yep, it handles turns like a dream...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...3_08_08_04.JPG

Papa Skimoore and I scored perfect corduroy due to our early arrival...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_04a.JPG

Jrosen32 gets some pockets of winter in Lower Cirque...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...3_08_08_05.JPG

Zippy goes EXTREME SKIING!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...3_08_08_06.JPG

By looking at the old tracks, I wonder who has been hitting this line everyday?

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...3_08_08_07.JPG

Zippy GOES FOR IT!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...3_08_08_08.JPG

0 points for taking the same line....

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...3_08_08_09.JPG

Get ready for a fast exit...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_010.JPG

Mishap SKIING THE THUNDER and RIDING THE LIGHTNING...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_011.JPG

Greydon Clark came all the way from Seattle to make this turn...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_012.JPG

Leaving the resort behind, the group starts walking toward Mammoth...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_013.JPG

But first, we must make it to that hotel up on the ridge...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_014.JPG

I think they'd rather build robots...sorry for promoting exercise <sigh>

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_015.JPG

Zippy waits for the ski shop to open to buy some sunscreen...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_016.JPG

Here is a pic of Mt. Rose that I failed to crop....

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_017.JPG

Sierra Nevada Mountain Range of California...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_018.JPG

When the shop failed to open, Zippy left in disgust....

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_019.JPG

This shot reminds of me of the Antarctic tundra...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_020.JPG

How do I know? Well....I've got the shirt to prove it!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...08_08_020a.JPG

666 took a bid for the summit, but failed miserably.

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_021.JPG

This was my goal. It was going to be either glacier ice or winter wind packed powder. Yep, it was a little of both.

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_022.JPG

Mishap followed my lead...on some 2011 Volants.

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_023.JPG

Ski the Steel, Ski for Real!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_024.JPG

Zippy also decides to go for a personal first descent up and above West Shore...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_025.JPG

I think he's eyeing something...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_026.JPG

Perfect spot to land in shitty snow...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_027.JPG

Doesn't look too horrible...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_028.JPG

He's having fun now....

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_029.JPG

Slim and Jrosen32 decided to make us wait as they skied from the top of California Chute...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_030.JPG

Slim slices the slim shady pickings...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_031.JPG

Jrosen32 airs over George Bush...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_032.JPG

....and gets rewarded with neck deep pow turns down to the bottom

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_033.JPG

After a quick slog up to West Shore proper, the cameraman deserves first tracks...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...08_08_033a.JPG

Zippy makes a pretty turn...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_034.JPG

And proves that the snow is always good at Kirkwood...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_035.JPG

and takes a Moment in Tahoe to show his new bases...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_036.JPG

Slashing the blind rollover...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_037.JPG

The snow is so good that Slim takes the casual approach...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_038.JPG

...at this point, he was forced to get snow on his hoodie

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_039.JPG

Jrosen32 emulates skiing in the Sahara...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_040.JPG

OMG *&^ LOOK HOW DEEP!, his TURN MAKES IT LOOK DEEP!!! LOL

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_041.JPG

Did you know that he had a yellow helmet?

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...08_08_041a.JPG

I got a phone call on Friday evening...he told me West Shore was skiing surprisingly well....now I know why God called.

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_042.JPG

STEEP SKIING SESSION VOL 666

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_043.JPG

This shot is to prove that Slim skied the whole thing...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_044.JPG

Mishap Volant'ing the shit out of this....

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_045.JPG

BEST SHOT EVER!!!!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_046.JPG

666 was skiing too...gosh.

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_047.JPG

Hulk pants getting angry...tries to get me all SNOWY!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_048.JPG

Crux'ing the crux...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_049.JPG

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_050.JPG

Thank god they invented edges....

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_051.JPG

Over to the CASTLE OF DOOM!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_052.JPG

Always fun to watch brotherly competition...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_053.JPG

Next...TeH THUND3R of SADDLE!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_054.JPG

Jrosen shows that jumping cliffs onto hardpack is SO much fun...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_055.JPG

MomentSkiEO feels the peer pressure...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_057.JPG

And with the wonders of technology, we have TWO angles OMG!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_058.JPG

Papa Skimoore, Greydon, and Walter Sobchak took a few laps in and around West Shore while we dicked around by California Chute. On the third lap, Greydon hit Da Diagonal...

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_059.JPG

He was being such a sweetheart, that he even made a tele-turn for me...yay!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_060.JPG

Its Walter's turn....

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_061.JPG

I think he made 63 controlled GS turns down the whole thing...BADASS!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_062.JPG

Steve from Boulder was having a rough day…so we decided to bring him along to make his day….

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_063.JPG

STOKED!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_064.JPG

On my ride home, I always pass the gates to this property…and finally took a photo.

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_065.JPG

Happy Cows are from California…

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_067.JPG

Funny how good the pics come out when driving 80mph…

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_068.JPG

Got to love the backroads…

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_069.JPG

Sadly, not many backroad bridges…

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_070.JPG

But they do take you to Sushi Ran…

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_071.JPG

Where I found out that you can get 33 oz cans of Asahi

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_072.JPG

Bye for now...

*EDIT FOR THE ADDED 1920P HD FOOTAGE from Mishap*

looks like a good time. Nice narration

I think this one qualifies as a megaTR based solely on the number of pics

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_065.JPG

From muscle cars to animal statues. That house is interesting..

that looks sweet, and damn that is alot of pictures!!

Wow, from red pants to suit in one day....that covers the spectrum.

Looks like a good time......hopefully spring ends and winter starts again.

very goodologist.

choice LZ!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_054.JPG

I'm gonna be completely unoriginal and just copy and paste a picture you had already posted simply because it sorta kinda maybe doesn't suck:


http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_040.JPG

So it's confirmed, the beard is back.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skier666

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_015.JPG

---

Cool TR as always. You guys skied boldly.

Nice plug for Sushi Ran - best sushi I've ever had. Although that plate of sushi looks like about 4 C notes to me. And you even wore your maguro colored tie! You always do a great job dressing for the occasion.

All in all, I prefer Fraggle Rock.

Nicely slayed, as always.

When's you boys coming north, anyway?

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_052.JPG

Anyone notice that this drop involves riding over water ice and rock? Burly.

Steve from Boulder was a sad young man, until he met 666, who turned his frown upside down.

Nice-
looks like you guys found some good snow too-

The chalkyness in the shade was $$

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Greydon Clark

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_052.JPG

Anyone notice that this drop involves riding over water ice and rock? Burly.

---

I did! And Dhelihiker did too!

I like the official name of this place - Castle of Doom. :fm:

Nice!

I hope to ski Kirkwood for the first time in a couple weeks, maybe I will bring some much needed snow with me.

[nerd]Fixed a couple of the pics...the extensions were a little off in the FTP program [/nerd]

fun TR... the quest for soft snow....

i especially like your baselayer:
http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_072.JPG

doesn't that tie kinda flap around and stuff while hiking? ;)

The music alone is http://tetongravity.com/forums/image...g/rating_5.gif worthy.

Thank you sir.

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s...08_08_033a.JPG

That really makes the conditions look great

The triple 6er always converts even mediocre conditions in an excellent read.
Nice!

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_065.JPG

I prefer the poor buffalo stranded in the middle of the pond. And the stacked rocks! Really, wtf is up with that place?

Nice TR 666, your new Rubies - you like? Stiffer than white goats?

Quote:

---

Nice TR 666, your new Rubies - you like? Stiffer than white goats?

---

Maybe a tad stiffer, but tons more camber as well...ME LIKEY.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skiergirl

http://www.royalambassadorapts.com/s..._08_08_065.JPG

I prefer the poor buffalo stranded in the middle of the pond. And the stacked rocks! Really, wtf is up with that place?

---

Hee hee. I was about the make the same comment. Everytime I pass it, I think that it's a real buffalo for a split second.