Tahoe Vid 11-20-2004

[bcrider]

Here’s a little viddy from the Tahoe area on 11/20.

Right click, save target as.
http://splitboard.com/vids/11-20-2004.wmv
16meg

[Trackhead]

Windy day, eh?

No speakers at work. I'll have to watch it again at home.

Nice backdrop with the lake. Looks like where I live.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Nice C. thanks for sharin. Looks like you were able to find some spots where the wind was depositing some goods.

[bcrider]

TH, yeah...windy as f*ck!

Ty,
Thanks and yes...we were pleasantly surprised.


Friday night
Scored some Kings tickets through some friends and took my buddy mmcpheet that was in town for some weekend skiing. We played Memphis and it was a great game all the way down to the wire. 105-103, Kings.

Here’s C-Webb with his half-hook. Notice ALL the other Kings watching…not getting ready to rebound. Luckily we still got the win by 2 even after getting killed on the glass.
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed...20_2004/01.jpg

This cat nailed the half court shot at half time and won himself a brand new Tacoma! It was sweet.
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed...0_2004/001.jpg

Saturday
The next day we set out in search of some bc turns in the Tahoe area. The reports were that the conditions were “firm” and less than stellar. When you’re a meager weekend warrior you take what you can get and once again this optimistic view rewarded us.

We planned to hit a back bowl on a local mountain that is named after the Washoe Indian word meaning “Great Mountain”.

The ascent
We stayed on a dry then icy summer trail for about 2.5 miles when we finally hit enough snow to skin on.
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed..._20_2004/1.jpg

In the mid elevation trees we found a nice little surface hoar growing.
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed..._20_2004/5.jpg

On the way up we got a nice view of the south ramp, the chutes looked ok but the lower section needs more snow.
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed..._20_2004/2.jpg

mtnrider takes a breather, Fallen Leaf and Big Blue behind.
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed..._20_2004/3.jpg

And continues on.
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed..._20_2004/4.jpg

mtnrider photo mmcpheet
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed..._20_2004/8.jpg

Steep skinning practice. I found it to be easier and more efficient than booting. photo mmcpheet
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed..._20_2004/9.jpg

The others did not.
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed..._20_2004/6.jpg

We topped out on the main ridge in 40mile an hour winds and cold temps…quickly looking for cover from the wind. We found some rocks to hide behind and took a look around while we refueled.

The Crystal Range.
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed..._20_2004/7.jpg
descent coming next….

[bcrider]

The descent

After a short break on the ridge we decided it was time to get out of the fierce wind. photo mmcpheet
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed...20_2004/19.jpg

mtnrider airs it in on his first run of the season! photo mmcpheet
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed...20_2004/10.jpg

I checked out a line a little further over. Note the wind blowing up the ridge. The snow was firm but edgeable on top and transitioned into windpack. photos mmcpheet
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed...20_2004/11.jpg

http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed...20_2004/12.jpg

Lower down we found some softer snow that had accumulated on a knoll and gully. photos mmcpheet
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed...20_2004/13.jpg

http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed...20_2004/14.jpg

mtnrider
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed...20_2004/15.jpg

mtnrider with Fallen Leaf Lake in the background.
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed...20_2004/17.jpg

mmcpheet getting some near the bottom of the gully.
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed...20_2004/16.jpg

On the way home we were treated to some fire in the sky.
http://splitboard.com/TR_PICS/cathed...20_2004/18.jpg


The end

[gimpy]

nicely done doooood. did you guys hike up via fallen leaf lake summer trail???

[Sierra Cement]

Kinda cool when you go corn hunting and you end up skiing wintery wind deposit. Way to get after it in these meager days......I wish I coulda joined you guys. Was the trail clear of snow all the way to Cathedral Lake?

[bcrider]

Gimpy and SC,

I havent approached that part of the mountain from the Fallen Leaf side…only from the main summer trail. I opted for this route as it’s the one I’m familiar with. In hindsight, I should have used the fact that I hadnt approached from that side as an excuse to do so. The trail we took was dry and icy to just above Floating Island Lake where we could skin from.

Ja,

Sweet pic!
The Crystal Range and Gilmore Lake complimented by a Heiny!

Which way did you appraoch? Summer trail, Fallen Leaf trail, of Spring Creek Rd?

[Sierra Cement]

Great photo Ja Surf. Did you ski back down the ridge to Cathedral Bowl?

Even thought it's been cold, it's amazing a lot of these high lakes are not very close to being frozen over yet. I took a tour to Winnemucca Lake last year at this time (just after Turkey Day). The lake was 90% frozen. I hunkered down and watched the wind whip spindrift over the frozen surface. Even though it's been cold lately, we are not very close to frozen lakes yet. More snow, less cold.

For Tallac, I wouldn't reccommend the approach from Fallen Leaf unless there is a monster base....in which case the road would be closed. There is just one little, brutal summer trail winding up to Cathedral Lake from the west shore summer cabin tract. If you're not on that trail you are in Buck Brush Hell. The other alternative would be to march on up the Glen Alpine trail - but most of that has southern exposure and is long and indirect. I think you guys picked the best route to Cathedral Bowl. Sweat Hill from Spring Creek is probably a brushy hell right now too.

[Sierra Cement]

Oh yea, I forgot.

Ja Surf - Any remnants of tracks in the cross yet? How well is it filled in?

[Telenater]

Actually, the lakes may be closer to freezing than you think. It's really hard to tell unless you can view their temps in profile.

There's a lot that goes into it, but lakes tend to ice over fairly rapidly due to the way the water mixes when the temperature profile becomes uniform and the stratification breaks down in the fall (surface water cooling lower than water at depth and causing full depth mixing removes thermal reserves and allows freezing over only a week or two).

[Baconzoo]

Great TR and vid.
What are you editing with? I'm guessing by the image pans, Premiere Pro?

[bcrider]

Great TR and vid.
What are you editing with? I'm guessing by the image pans, Premiere Pro?

Thanks!

Nah…I learned on a one-legged version of Ulead Studio 6. Due to the $$ savings I saved on that version, I felt obliged to invest $99 into their latest offering, version 8. I really like being able to adjust the playback speed and the panning stills. The titles and stuff are more powerful too.


Downloading your park vid now…..

[Mountain Freak]

NIIIICE!!!