Squaw has filed for a permit to replace the Siberia chair next year, which will bring the total to 4 approved lift projects. Do you think it will really happen...or is it a unicorn?
http://unofficialalpine.com/?p=6131
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Squaw has filed for a permit to replace the Siberia chair next year, which will bring the total to 4 approved lift projects. Do you think it will really happen...or is it a unicorn?
http://unofficialalpine.com/?p=6131
Got a ski lease off alpine meadows road on deer park road or something like that. 1st grade son and I got silver passes - went in w families from his school; money didn't really seem worth it but it's families from his school so we thought it would be a good social thing.
1) is my best bet skiing alpine meadows? Usually ski squaw. Skied alpine one time ever, last year, it poured rain on us and was probably the worst day skiing of my life. I assume when it's on it's good but wondering if it's always worth skiing there or if venturing over to squaw is ever worth it. Going in blind here, need some reassurance. Note: my only goal is keeping my boy stoked on skiing.
2) assuming you know that general location, and assuming I were to ski at squaw, is there any way to ski down to from kt22 or that area? Kind of looks like it on a map but can anyone confirm? This would not be w my son, just solo.
3) related: is there any touring from that area? Meaning right there from the alpine meadows road? Again I've only been there once IN THE RAIN so idk much about the area.
4) what are good touring areas near squaw? I only tour without my son, only do resorts with him. Haven't toured a ton near squaw but I'll be up in that area more often - done sugarbowl to squaw a couple times, castle peak etc. Then nothing south until tallac. Haven't researched much yet, hoping to get some suggestions first.
Thanks for any advice!
Alpine is rad, but very different from Squaw. There's alpine people and there are Squaw people. The smart ones know that both kick ass but some days are way better at one or the other, trick is figuring it out.Quote:
Originally Posted by JAREDS
Yes, technically you can ski down from kt, but you better not let anyone see you and any slide you set off will probably bury you and the road under multiple feet of snow. Not a good idea.
Only touring from the road would be a long slog to get to stuff you can get to real quick from the ski area. In most normal or better seasons, the stuff across 89 is in play, but low elevation, crappy exposure make it pretty inconsistent. Best bets for touring would generally be west shore or Donner.
http://www.avalanche.org/data.php?da...1&sort=&id=150Quote:
Originally Posted by JAREDS
To elaborate--the boundary at the top of KT--the obvious way to ski down to AM road--is on private land and is closed. If you get caught out there you will lose your pass at best. The terrain you would be skiing is also private land. There has been in a the last couple of years a connection that was open for short periods of time (I don't think it ever opened last year). The route involves both low angle downhill and some climbing and puts you at the top of Estelle Bowl if I recall correctly--advanced, off piste. All of Squaw's boundary is closed--which means touring into Granite Chief Wilderness from the top is also not allowed.Quote:
Originally Posted by mmmm...pow!
In general Squaw has better beginner terrain--up near the top unlike most areas. Alpine has better intermediate groomers. Alpine is more family friendly--easier to find your kids if they're skiing on their own and a mellower vibe (at least if it's been snowing). Alpine has some excellent in bounds sidecountry off the top. AM has an open boundary. I don't tour but you could tour out past the boundary towards the Twin Peaks area--in fact a lot of people go past the boundary in that area on powder days--a lot of them probably don't realize they are OB, and patrol does control the cornice. How much control work they do below I don't know. Theoretically you would be charged for a patrol evac if you get hurt OB. Squaw is better on storm days--Red Dog, Squaw Creek and KT--but be prepared for huge lines. Alpine's good stuff is often closed on storm days. Alpine has terrain on all four exposures so it's better in spring and spring like conditions (Junuary).
There are Alpine people and Squaw people who would never deign to ski at the other area if they didn't have to and then there are those of us who like both areas. I've never seen the point of limiting oneself to one or the other--I guess it's a lifestyle statement--like Alpine vs tele vs snowboarding.
Id also throw out that Alpine has a bunch more inbounds hike to terrain than Squaw. Which allows for a few more hours of fresh lines. And the west shore is a short morning drive away if you are looking to tour. As long as it snows to the lake this year.
No need to limit yourself to one or the other, and the whole squaw people vs. alpine people is stupid (they're both great). It just depends on the conditions and time of year. A few years back I was staying all the way at the top of Alpine Meadows road (nearly walking distance to the lifts) and would still driver over to Squaw sometimes. Alpine is definitely easier / much simpler with the kids.
The open boundary policy is pretty nice and there's some great side country / BC terrain you can access from both Summit and Scott chairs. But as others have said, the west shore is not far away... and hopefully this year we'll get some lake level snow that sticks around to improve access.
what map? did someone post my map and then delete it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ottime
One of the advantages of Alpine is the easy drop off at 10 minute parking and the Kids Zone. When the kids need a break, one parent heads inside and the other parents ski. If you trade off every few runs, you can get a fair number of summit runs in before it is your turn to sit in the lodge. When the kids are done for the day, one parent heads home and the others get another hour of runs in.
The new web cam on the Kirkwood web site is awesome.
No. I was only referencing your post tongue and cheek style. Someone said in that thread about how your map would only cause trouble by getting gapers to go back there and making patrols work harder. While that did not happen with your map, I do expect this to require more work by patrol.Quote:
Originally Posted by powdork
But seriously, which is Avalanche Bowl? Is that the one behind glove rock? I'm kind of fine with that, but they do seem intent on tracking out the side country which makes me kind of sad. Some day they will be running hucking clinics in the Gulch.
^^^^^
That's my assumption...you ski Thunder Bowl and then they give you those awesomely ehhh 3 turns before cranking the hard right to make it to the Spur traverse.
Hilarious that they moved it from looking at the base of chair 6. Guess they did not want to show the cluster at the base on a pow day. looks good thoughQuote:
Originally Posted by skysos
Is it me or do they not have a trail map on the website. Granted i may have looked right over it, but all i see is the valley property map.
Welcome.Quote:
Originally Posted by JAREDS
Venturing to Squaw can be worth it, especially since you like and know Squaw. You will not want to do that on Saturdays and holidays, but I think that your silver pass probably blocks those out anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by JAREDS
One thing to keep in mind is that there is a free shuttle that may run right in front of your door -- it comes up Mineral Springs to John Scott to Deer Park, then up the access road to the resort. It can be a godsend, especially during busy times. I believe that it takes the uphill leg of Deer Park (known to some of us as Dear God for the treacherousness of the last 20-degree pitch with a 90-degree turn, up to the access road), so depending on where your lease is, you may need to walk to the corner of John Scott. From there, you can hit Alpine or take the shuttle to Squaw and not have to deal with parking.
Others have answered this. It is owned by Troy Caldwell, and it is often dangerous avalanche terrain. People have poached it, and some have died.Quote:
Originally Posted by JAREDS
I don't know anyone who does straight touring from there, but Munchkins and Field of Dreams -- traditional sidecountry routes down from the top of the Lakeview chair on Scott -- end above you, and if there's enough snow on the road, you don't have to take your skis off to get down.Quote:
Originally Posted by JAREDS
One other suggestion: Consider putting your kid on Alpine Rangers or on the Locals Program. All three of ours did teams for years, and besides the skills development, it meant that they created a group of friends they could only see in the mountains. In ten seasons, our kids have rarely complained about going up, and never during team.
Just wanted to say that the California Avalanche Workshop on Saturday was well worth my time. Heard it sold out? A lot of good info and relevant speakers for the most part.
When was that?Quote:
Originally Posted by The Dad
Winter 2000-2001. Mike linked it up thread. They were Truckee High kids, IIRC. I remember talking about it with ski team friends (different school).
I remember that day. Yellow Chair was top of the hill at Alpine. Definitely nuking and a super sad situation.
Did you like 213's equations? Mad advection and vorticity, yo! 700 mb waves dropping some right-hand rule action!Quote:
Originally Posted by ShakeMeUp
Glad to hear it was worth your time. Dave (and everyone else, but especially Dave) spent a lot of energy pulling everything together. Hats off to him, and I'm already looking forward to next year.
For reference, my article is posted here (page 20). http://www.americanavalancheassociat...32_4_Cover.pdf
It was interesting to see how frighteningly similar our accident was to Tunnel Creek.
Sweet, lets start a meth lab.Quote:
Originally Posted by kidwoo
I'll be in Hope Valley Snow Park most nights, you'll have to come down and shred. You'll like
Squaw killed the popular Locals program....but hey, if you buy five lessons for $1900, you get the 6th for free!Quote:
Originally Posted by The Dad
http://unofficialalpine.com/?p=6157
anyone have a more detailed idea of where they're talking about? Above Champs? Below Champs? RD Ridge?
See the closed area in this map shot? I think maybe there and the tree area to the upper left of it. Which is great news for storm day skiing. I forget offhand if they rope off the upper left or not. I always find myself wanting to drop into the closed gully area, so I hope that's included.
https://www.tetongravity.com/images/..._am__forum.png
The closed area has a pretty deep creek in it, and isn't there a holding pond at the bottom.
I thought the area above left of the closed area was called Pinball, or it could just be me?
It's great with good snow cover doesn't get much sun too. They should thin left of Far East
that's the best skiing when Red Dog is the top of the mountain. 6 minute hot laps!
Anybody going to the Sacramento TGR premiere tonight?
If they thin enough to make the RD/FE trees more like the trees below Olympic Lady (thinking skiers right down the ridge, IIRC) that'd be sweet.
Really good article, Schralph, thank you. Great read while we're waiting for the bc season to begin. Can't spend too much time on all the ways something can go terribly wrong. Your emphasis on "it's not them, it's us" is spot on and very helpful.
I can see the creek being an issue early and/or late in the season but don't remember seeing a holding pond down there... although maybe that's just because of the lack of precip recently. I was assuming that would be the area because I thought the article said it would open up skiing that was closed off previously.Quote:
Originally Posted by tahoe420
Great write up Alex!Quote:
Originally Posted by SchralphMacchio
Just here to post some stoke for THIS SEASON... but using footage from LAST SEASON!!! OMG!
If it can be this good on a 3rd worst season ever, imagine what an average year would give us....drool.
http://www.tr.slaythegnar.com/KW_04_05_14_034.jpg
Attachment 159324Quote:
Originally Posted by Ottime
This is avalanche bowl. Last Saturday of the 13/14 season. Can be seen from spur traverse. Continuing the stoke. Ready to be back out there.
Maybe wear your airbag in case you wind up in the creek?Quote:
Originally Posted by TahoeJ
Yeah, as 666 said, but okay, then where is Rueter Bowl? That was the name I knew that face by. Could it have, gasp, two names?Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastPDR
That really sucks, unless they stay clear of the spur. The skin out if there pretty much puts you square at the Notch Rock, which is just a shuffle away from, well, a bunch if shitty skiing. Hope they ski the west facing trees back into TC, or lap them back up trough Martins.
Doesn't Hot Wheels Gully at Alpine run right over a creek? Maybe just smaller / shallower so less of an issue?Quote:
Originally Posted by old goat
Alex,
Just read the article and want to say it was really valuable. I think you've done a really good job of giving valuable insights into the particular incident and you are also pointing the way toward a necessary component of avalanche education and risk evaluation that is a little bit under developed right now. I would like to see the sort of thing go further. when I had my own incident or I triggered something on myself a couple years ago at your castle be, I really wish that I had had a couple of questions ready at hand in my mind to ask before getting on that slope. I think you need to have a few critical evaluative tools ready at hand in your brain and practice using them the same way you practice using your beacon. did you start a separate thread about this article?
I believe there was a more recent incident too. IIRC, alkasquawlik made a last-minute decision to go back via the Squaw side, but he lost two buddies.Quote:
Originally Posted by LightRanger
I never really understood the distinctions, and always had my kids on teams, but that's really too bad.Quote:
Originally Posted by gone2alpine
There's still Mountain Rangers and Alpine Rangers, although those prices have risen lately too.
Tahoe Prosperity Center is in the last week of the broadband speed test. Please take their survey and speed test -- it will help move towards improved broadband access in the whole basin.
http://tahoeprosperity.org/speed/
Interesting. I don't recall that one at all, nor does a Google search turn anything up...Quote:
Originally Posted by The Dad
Here's the TDT article on the 2001 incident: http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/art...NEWS/102238579
Pretty sure it was the same incident. If I remember correctly, Cody discussed it during a Low Pressure Podcast last year: http://lowpressurepodcast.com/episod...lyse-saugstad/Quote:
Originally Posted by LightRanger