11/12 Tahoe Weather, Conditions, Stoke, and What's Up Thread... IT'S BAAAAAAAACK!!!

Its been awhile since I posted so I thought I'd post my summer stoke (so far).

For May (Month 29) we headed to Kirkwood. BigWatty skinning up the gut. The coverage wasn't too bad considering the poor winter:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-r...2/DSCF0117.JPG

Gotta luv summer skinning!
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1...2/DSCF0118.JPG

Leftover mogul skinning:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H...2/DSCF0122.JPG

Ghost Chairs:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G...2/DSCF0129.JPG

BigWatty Droppin in:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-p...2/DSCF0132.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5...2/DSCF0134.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x...2/DSCF0138.JPG

Kona12 and KonaDog:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-g...2/DSCF0142.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B...2/DSCF0143.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0...2/DSCF0145.JPG


For June We hit up Mt. Lola. This was our first time up there and it turned out to be some of the best and funnest summer skiing that we have done during the streak. We were amazed that for such a crappy winter, there was this much snow up there. I can't imagine what it is like in a normal or above year. The whole peak and ridge is configured like a giant snow catching fence. The peak is bone dry and a few steps east of the ridge it was 10 feet deep still. Oh ya, it was a rare mid June Snow storm as well! Thanks for the driving beta dookster!

Oh yes we did!
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4...0/DSCF0327.JPG

Gearing up at the unofficial trailhead:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8...0/DSCF0324.JPG

About half way up it started snowing:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G...0/DSCF0264.JPG

Impressive amounts of snow for mid June of a dry winter.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-R...2/DSCF0272.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2...2/DSCF0275.JPG

June Rime and fresh snow:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-G...2/DSCF0279.JPG

The Summit. The highest sierra peak north of Truckee:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M...2/DSCF0284.JPG

Lets ski! BigWatty droppin in to the storm:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q...2/DSCF0290.JPG

June or January?
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f...2/DSCF0293.JPG

The smile says it all:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-I...0/DSCF0298.JPG

Hiking up for another lap:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t...0/DSCF0302.JPG

summer ski graffiti
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Y...0/DSCF0308.JPG

After a couple laps off of the summit, we headed to a fun long line that wound down the shoulder of the peak and took a lot of vertical off our hike down:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0...0/DSCF0315.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z...0/DSCF0318.JPG

Taking it to the end:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--...0/DSCF0322.JPG


July and August coming next...

For July and August (months 31 & 32) we headed south to old faithful aka Carson Pass. Our goals were the patches on the saddle between Round Top and the sisters.

A marmot welcomed us:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s...2/DSCF0417.JPG

The wild flowers were still out in force:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W...2/DSCF0422.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R...2/DSCF0423.JPG
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C...2/DSCF0424.JPG

We had some time so we decided to climb to the top of round top:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-P...2/DSCF0425.JPG

Looking into the top of the crescent couloir with Lake Winnemucca in the back ground
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-W...2/DSCF0442.JPG

Hope Valley with Maybe (Freel?) in the background:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-X...2/DSCF0436.JPG

Big Blue off to the north:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-F...2/DSCF0435.JPG

The skiing. Things are starting to thin out but still a couple of good patches up there. First we hit the patch on the sisters side of the shoulder:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-U...2/DSCF0443.JPG

BigWatty making some turns:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B...2/DSCF0444.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-u...2/DSCF0447.JPG
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8...2/DSCF0451.JPG

After that we hiked over the shale to the patch off of the shoulder of Round Top:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-v...2/DSCF0453.JPG

This one had a bit more vertical. KonaDog and I getting the goods:
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W...0/DSCF0455.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J...0/DSCF0457.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-W...2/DSCF0458.JPG
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-X...0/DSCF0460.JPG

Looking back up at our graffiti on Patch 1. It was another fun Day.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-z...0/DSCF0462.JPG

For August I headed back up to the same spot for a solo mission on the last day of the month. The prolonged heat of July and August took their toll on the patches. This was probably the least skiing fun I have had on the streak. The hike was still good but the patches were small and very cupped and a bit icy from a cold night. I met a couple of cool people on the trip including a couple of Women from Tahoe that were on a multi day backpacking trip scouting deep back country lines for the winter. Also met a fellow turns all year skier in the parking lot who was going to knock out August and September with an over nighter. I told him to check in here for beta. Who here yet?

A couple of iphone pics from that trip. This is the Round Top Patch
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-C...25282%2529.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-c...25284%2529.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p...25283%2529.JPG

September is going to be interesting. Options may me the North Bowl snow field off of Round Top, the east side glaciers or heading north. We will see!

Dooks and Vets headed to Dunderberg today to get in September turns. They sounded stoked on the deck drinking beers yesterday. Even with their description of ice spines and non-edgable snow. As Vets said, it is always for fun.

I am sure there is an extensive TR coming from Vets, but Dunderberg did hold the snow today. We made laps on the Formerly Known As Hidden Glacier, But Now Known As Hidden Samurai Glacier. Jacks Glacier is getting smaller, with the famed ice tunnel already collapsed, but offered better snow. Today was skiing and rodeo all in one. The goal was an 8 second ride...

Guest appearance today by Mag Optimus Prime as well...

Attachment 120104

and here was dunderberg on friday
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...berg-august-31

Ok, so I've officially acquired 12/13 skis for this season. Time for new thread? :)

Oh, and I run Pirelli Scorpion Ice & snow during the winter.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skier666

Ok, so I've officially acquired 12/13 skis for this season. Time for new thread? :)

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New Snow = New Thread.


File Under FWIW/BTW: I'm @ 2 pairs of new skis for 12/13 (Blizzard Bushwackers and a virgin (i.e. never-been-mounted) pair of Spatulas courtesy of Start Haus).

In sorta-skiing related news: It was good to drink brews with Ottime on Saturday @ the Kirkwood Chili Cookoff 2012, although KW loses serious points for throwing a chili cook-off that didn't feature any vegetarian chili (not to mention that more'n half of the chili stands ran out hours before the event concluded...how hard is it to make enough chili for a 5-hour event?)

In ferilla skiing related news: It was equally good to ski the Dunderberg Double Glacial System with Vets and Gone2Alpine on Sunday. Then me'n Vets schralped Method Man up on Carson Pass on Labor Day (it's called "Labor Day" so we felt compelled to work-for-turns).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skier666

Ok, so I've officially acquired 12/13 skis for this season. Time for new thread? :)

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Sorry, I've been busy. I'll get things sorted in a couple days.

Moo moo.

okbye

Yeah, not time yet. Technically we should all be posting in the 10-11 thread again since it's that snow some of us are skiing...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gone2alpine

Yeah, not time yet. Technically we should all be posting in the 10-11 thread again since it's that snow some of us are skiing...

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I dunno...with that 25-30 ft. drop at the end of Jack's Glacier into the pond it could very easily be 08/09 or older snow...

:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dookey67

I dunno...it could very easily be 08/09 or older snow...

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Well, you should know...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vets

http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG2822c.jpg
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG2825c.jpg
http://www.patchskiing.com/IMG2827c.jpg

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Yeah, to wait for the first snow (that sticks), to start the new thread would be best.
(Or firing up of snowmaking for real?)
But sometimes there is no stopping RF.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TurxSki

Yeah, to wait for the first snow (that sticks), to start the new thread would be best.
(Or firing up of snowmaking for real?)

---

Until someone posts some photo's of Phresh Phat Powder Tracks, this current season is still alive and kicking.

Let it Snow!

Well, on a positive note, the npac is starting to wake up. We have the first NW swell of the season coming this weekend. And another storm opens up in the Gulf and drives rain down to Portland by Monday. After that, a nice fall like pattern starts to set in. While no rain is in the long term models, we do see some storms starting to roll through the north central Pacific. Maybe some swell makers. It looks like the start of the turn.

While TGR and WM flicks are playing fantasy scenes of 11/12 snow, it's still not the new season, IMHO. At least only pre-season 12/13.

That said, I wanted to ask if any bay area mags are going to the Jeremy Jones' Further show this Wed in SF that wants to take a date or two on me? I can't make it due to work and would still love to get the Alpine and Bachelor tix that come with the movie. I'd be happy to get you set up with extra tix at will call. I'd get you a drink ticket too, if I could, but maybe I'll just have to hand you an Arooogant Bastard when I get the voucher. Anywon feel like working this out? PM me, please.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lepistoir

going to the Jeremy Jones' Further show this Wed in SF that wants to take a date or two on me?

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prolly want to x-post in this thread
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...oll-Call/page2

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skier666

Ok, so I've officially acquired 12/13 skis for this season. Time for new thread? :)

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RF jumped the gun last season and look what happened. I suggest new thread maybe in January.

My weatherunderground forecast is showing a system on the 26th....its the last frame but its there and coming from the PNW

Been exploring quite a bit around Kirkwood this summer, getting stoked on some of the side country opportunities, Still don't have much of a desire to fight the Bro-Brah's for fresh pow, but I believe there will be some lift served BC action over there in my future. Hoping maybe Heavenly will run a bus from the south shore this winter, maybe for a few bucks the driver will drop you off at Carson pass, then catch a ride back at the end of the day!

Just throwing this out there, while the climbing weather still kicks ass ...

Does anyone want to trade trad skills for BC skills?

Meaning, I'm looking for someone to help me get learned in trad climbing: better rope skills, rack management, placements, etc etc, and I would be happy to trade what I know about ski touring - terrain, gear, thought process, educational resources, "learning the snow," snow camping experiences etc.

Kind of random, but perfect timing - considering that climbing time is now and by the time the trad climbing is wound down, switching mental gears to touring will be coming up!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TahoeBC

Been exploring quite a bit around Kirkwood this summer, getting stoked on some of the side country opportunities, Still don't have much of a desire to fight the Bro-Brah's for fresh pow, but I believe there will be some lift served BC action over there in my future. Hoping maybe Heavenly will run a bus from the south shore this winter, maybe for a few bucks the driver will drop you off at Carson pass, then catch a ride back at the end of the day!

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Those two pics incorporate daily plans each day in the winter...say hello, give me a grape Jolly Rancher, and I'll be your guide :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skier666

Those two pics incorporate daily plans each day in the winter...say hello, give me a grape Jolly Rancher, and I'll be your guide :)

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Be careful following this guy. He does not require snow coverage to ski said zones. Rocks are his snow.

Seriously, you are out and exploring some really good zones. And there are more nearby. Some of my favorite spots to hike to are right in the valley, hidden by trees.

As for the storm on the 26th, or there about, it was showing on the QPS models for several days, but as of this morning, it is gone. But the storms are still there rolling through the NPAC, and that means swell season is here. Time to enjoy the surf, MTB and a little fall color in the hills. Winter will not be far behind. I have Veterans' Day coverage, so I should be skiing that weekend, so, we will need some snow by then.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skier666

...say hello, give me a grape Jolly Rancher :)

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Cheap Date

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ottime

Be careful following this guy. He does not require snow coverage to ski said zones. Rocks are his snow.

Seriously, you are out and exploring some really good zones. And there are more nearby. Some of my favorite spots to hike to are right in the valley, hidden by trees.

As for the storm on the 26th, or there about, it was showing on the QPS models for several days, but as of this morning, it is gone. But the storms are still there rolling through the NPAC, and that means swell season is here. Time to enjoy the surf, MTB and a little fall color in the hills. Winter will not be far behind. I have Veterans' Day coverage, so I should be skiing that weekend, so, we will need some snow by then.

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^ He speaks the truth.
http://www.loloville.com/43rts.jpg
http://www.loloville.com/44rts.jpg

Then again, skier666 might have some things to say about my hiking route selection too:
http://www.loloville.com/30rts.jpg

In other news, Kirkwood just let us know they killed the Network Pass for future years. EPIC Pass here we come!