10/11 Tahoe Weather, Conditions, Stoke, and What's Up Thread

[whiteness]

The suspense is killing mee! Should I just drive up to KW now?! Why won't they update their site! Arrrgggg I wanna skiiii!

There I feel better...

[dookeyXXX]

Skied Boreal Wed. night. They had The Accelerator lift running, but really only 1 run (with a few tributaries) open. Tahoe Boilerplate, but still good to get the first turns of the season in and the legs warmed up.
Hit up Boreal again tonight. Sadly, when I got up there at 7pm the Accelerator wasn't running (assume it was due to the wind, which actually wasn't that bad). Skied 9 laps off the Castle Peak chair before calling it a night. More Tahoe Boilerplate action, but again not bad for a warm-up.
The local news is claiming that the storm coming in on Saturday is "the kind of storm that will set the resorts up for the rest of the season."

[LightRanger]

Sadly, when I got up there at 7pm the Accelerator wasn't running (assume it was due to the wind, which actually wasn't that bad).

I think they're a bit more conservative about that lift after some issues in the past. I can't remember the exact numbers but the auto-slow is at like 35-45, and the auto-stop is like 55-60? Something like that. But yeah, I remember a rumor a few years back that the USFS had given them a nice talking-to about that lift and wind.

[Flexon Phil]

Workin through the weekend at the shop. Plans are to get out midweek for our first turns. If anyone is up over the the next couple of days, swing by the Start Haus and rub it in.

[Sinecure]

Workin through the weekend at the shop. Plans are to get out midweek for our first turns. If anyone is up over the the next couple of days, swing by the Start Haus and rub it in.

Will do. Need to pick up those clamps.

[nickwm21]

Workin through the weekend at the shop. Plans are to get out midweek for our first turns. If anyone is up over the the next couple of days, swing by the Start Haus and rub it in.

Picking up my VCTs today. I hoping you guys have brought them back to life. They were beat to shit.

[nickwm21]

Anybody know if Alpine is gonna open this weekend?

They would have sent us all 8 emails if they were opening. Im guessing no.

[guermo]

Anybody know if Alpine is gonna open this weekend?

Jeez Alpine, Dec 10th?! Three weeks later than squaw? Things have really changed over there!

[theetruscan]

Jeez Alpine, Dec 10th?! Three weeks later than squaw? Things have really changed over there!

Oh, FFS. I laughed at my mother for getting Squaw and Alpine passes. Now I'm stuck hiking for 2 weeks. Whatever, maybe I'll get in shape.

[tokinskier]

getting really excited about this 3 to 6 feet forecast, can't wait to ski! yee haw!

[The Dad]

Jeez Alpine, Dec 10th?! Three weeks later than squaw? Things have really changed over there!

I think that, after five years of shooting for Thanksgiving and failing, they figured they'd be realistic. Then reality changed.

Thing is, it means that the seasonal workforce has presumably been hired with an eye to the December 10 date. I can't imagine they'd be able to turn the ship in time to open this weekend.

Hopefully, the holiday weekend is another story.

[guermo]

I think that, after five years of shooting for Thanksgiving and failing, they figured they'd be realistic. Then reality changed.

Thing is, it means that the seasonal workforce has presumably been hired with an eye to the December 10 date. I can't imagine they'd be able to turn the ship in time to open this weekend.

Hopefully, the holiday weekend is another story.

I don't think so man. It's gotta be the new ownership. I recall riding roundhouse oct31 and finishing up july 4th plenty of times.

[The Dad]

I don't think so man. It's gotta be the new ownership. I recall riding roundhouse oct31 and finishing up july 4th plenty of times.

I can't recall the last time a Halloween opening would've been feasible.

Putting that aside, and assuming that this is strictly economically driven, there are strong economic incentives to open on Thanksgiving weekend. Any multi-day weekend is a money-maker for a ski area. And opening for Thanksgiving helps drive Xmas/New Years bookings, which determine whether most North American ski areas turn a profit over the season.

The reality is that opening this weekend probably wouldn't have been terribly useful even if they'd planned on it. The anticipated snowfall rates and winds would've made it hard to open many lifts or much terrain -- avy control alone is going to be a bitch.

But I think that, if it's not too late to get ready for a Wednesday opening, it makes economic sense for them to do it. Here's hoping....

[StormDay]

I would prefer Tuesday. Since I'm already planning on playing hooky and going skiing before the in-laws arrive on Wednesday.

I'm sure Squaw, Heavenly, or Northstar will be happy to take my money.

[AKbruin]

The calm before the storm:



Taken from my deck yesterday morning. I love this place.

[SkiNebraski]

"Get ready for an early winter... significant snowfall is forecast for tonight continuing into the weekend!!! The mountain is allready in great shape and we expect to be open some time next week.... Stay tuned for more updates and grab your season pass now at our discounted rates!"

Kirkwood website, stoked. If this is true, skipping hood for the wood. Anybody have any extra tall tees for me to borrow for opening weekend?

[Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer]

Sierra Avalanche Center is starting forecasts for the 2010-11 seasons. Make a donation.

http://www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/

[powdork]

I can't recall the last time a Halloween opening would've been feasible.

04/05 - Huge October 19 and 20 storms give most resorts enough snow to open. Many do at least for weekends, and Halloween was on a Sunday that year I think.

[unpossible]

Did someone say October 2004?:

[LightRanger]

04/05 - Huge October 19 and 20 storms give most resorts enough snow to open. Many do at least for weekends, and Halloween was on a Sunday that year I think.

Yep.

I remember skiing a four foot base at KW on October 27. Never gonna forget that one.

[Ottime]

I may have just been granted a hall pass for Tuesday. Woot! Drizzle down here on the coast and still warm temps in the Sierra. Could we be so lucky to get a band of warmer, wetter, stickier snow?

"Get ready for an early winter... significant snowfall is forecast for tonight continuing into the weekend!!! The mountain is allready in great shape and we expect to be open some time next week.... Stay tuned for more updates and grab your season pass now at our discounted rates!"

Kirkwood website, stoked. If this is true, skipping hood for the wood. Anybody have any extra tall tees for me to borrow for opening weekend?

The best thing about it is that KW already has a 33-44" base... according to their snow phone. In reality, it is a 0-8" base, with a few deep holes of snow exceeding that. I imagine they will open, but beware of the K-Factor. And be ready for rocks under all that new light snow.

The calm before the storm:

.

Sick shot AK; much nicer view than the Sunset.

[Sinecure]

I'm going to some employee training at Alpine tomorrow. I'll report in on anything I hear about early opening. Last I heard they were scrambling to get stuff ready to try to open ASAP. Since Squaw is spinning this weekend, I wouldn't be surprised to see Alpine running something by next weekend, but I don't know that for sure yet. There used to be major dick-waving competition between Squaw and Alpine on opening and closing dates, but that seems to have died down lately.

[StormDay]

04/05 - Huge October 19 and 20 storms give most resorts enough snow to open. Many do at least for weekends, and Halloween was on a Sunday that year I think.

Alpine skied quite nicely that day.

[guermo]

I can't recall the last time a Halloween opening would've been feasible.

But you've only been around for five or six years right?

Oct 31st 1997 I think alpine opened that year, no? The big 97-98 El Nino.

[Sinecure]

Alpine isn't going to make the call on opening for Thanksgiving until this coming Monday. But they did just send me an email asking if I'd be available to teach next weekend, should they open. That's a good sign. It sounds like they want to open, but I don't know if they've got everything organized to do it. Some folks will be earning their pay in the next few days if they do open. Ski Patrol is going to have to drag chair pads through lots of snow (I hope).