Tahoe Weather, Conditions, Stoke, and What's Up Thread...

[MrSmith]

If this storm pans out, I'll be up for this weekend. Maybe a tour on Saturday.

West shore often rips a hefty wind load when it releases on a crust.

Honestly curious how you more experienced bc guys would manage terrain this weekend given the high probability of storm/wind slabs ripping loose on crusts all over the place. It's enough to scare me off of anything remotely steep, I'll likely opt to just battle it out at the resort.

[skysos]

Saturday at KW, there was a patroller standing under the chair telling people to put the bar down. I just looked at him like "Seriously??".

[dookeyXXX]

If ripping groomers even remotely interests you, NS was the spot to be yesterday. Empty, everything immaculately groomed, and a number of runs that had been closed for weeks for race training, were open. They've also sculpted "Magic Moguls" (they never had enough snow to do it last season), which is always a fun diversion.

Methinks the "No Tucking" / "No Straightlining" signs only come out on the weekends and holidays when it's busy as I haven't seen 'em at the Star as of yet.

The irony to all of this is that one of the first things you teach a rugger in a lesson is how to do a straight glide without falling, which is essentially teaching them to straightline out the box...

[~mikey b]

free skiing at Bear Valley next Thu 12/20




Attachment 122518

ski bare!

[gimpy]

^^^^ and then he looked at you and thought " yeah i am serious you fucking toolshed." you think he is there cuz he thought it up. no, he is doin his job as per vailcorp's policy. a good friend (who posts here) had his kid fall of a chairlift so its not w/o merit. if u dont like it, go hike up something where no one will tell you what to do. next time please find something worthy to bitch about. HAH!!!!

if avy issues are a concern, its all about choice of terain. here on the s shore, the luther pass trees are the go-to safe zone mr smith

[dookeyXXX]

To gimpy's post, the kid who died falling off the chairlift @ SB last year is still very present in everybody's mind here on the Northshore, so the whole "bar down" policy/mentality is strong around here. They actually welded safety bars onto the Rendezvous lift @ NS this summer. AM instituted those magnetic vests on Subway so kids can ride alone and not fall off the lift. Again, preventing folks from falling off lifts ain't some ridiculous corporate mandate to limit your fun skiing, it's a safety issue that effects every resort and the ramifications are long-lasting (again, see the story about the kid from SB...that still resonates throughout the Truckee/North Tahoe community and rightfully so).

[~mikey b]

here too - we are implementing a new awareness program about little kids on lifts - you might see more harnesses on kids, especially in snowsports school

[unpossible]

AM instituted those magnetic vests on Subway so kids can ride alone and not fall off the lift.

The magnets were taken off last year, seems they were problematic.

[~mikey b]

trying to confirm a rumor about last year's death at Sugar Bowl - you hear so much bullshit these days, and I want to know the truth - I was told that the kid was fooling around and stood up on the foot rests attached to the safety bar then slipped off - is that true?

I was also told that SB removed the foot rests

this matters to me because I'm the dad of a 6 year old and I patrol and I ski with little kids a lot - vibes to parents and friends



dookie67 - yer box is full

[TahoeJ]

trying to confirm a rumor about last year's death at Sugar Bowl - you hear so much bullshit these days, and I want to know the truth - I was told that the kid was fooling around and stood up on the foot rests attached to the safety bar then slipped off - is that true?

I was also told that SB removed the foot rests

this matters to me because I'm the dad of a 6 year old and I patrol and I ski with little kids a lot - vibes to parents and friends

I've been meaning to ask about this as well, now that my daughter is getting into skiing and I've taken my friend's kid out a few times as well. People often don't want to talk about it in any kind of way that would assign blame after such a tragedy, but when these kids fall off of lifts I'd really like to hear the specific details. I heard the same rumor but who knows...


On another note, this was posted elsewhere in the forum and figured I'd link it as someone here might be interested...

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...w-25-Dec-2-Jan

Ski guide for English family in Squaw 25 Dec - 2 Jan

We are looking for someone who knows the Squaw Valley mountain to guide an English family of 5 around - me (Dad, aged 43), Lisa (Mum, 43), Josh (13 - fast and likes off-piste and water polo), Amy (12 - charming English princess), Theo (9 - ski bum in the making). Coming from London (arrive 24 Dec) and skiing on Monday 25 Dec and every day up to Wed 2 Jan inclusive. Good way to earn some extra money. Staying at the Resort at Squaw Creek, with a car. Can be some of the days - mix and match. Cheers!

[onehotchili]

I've been meaning to ask about this as well, now that my daughter is getting into skiing and I've taken my friend's kid out a few times as well. People often don't want to talk about it in any kind of way that would assign blame after such a tragedy, but when these kids fall off of lifts I'd really like to hear the specific details. I heard the same rumor but who knows...

All,

As a coach with SBST, John Henderson's death was a huge tragedy and I personally re-live that day.... everyday I am coaching. In any case, this was shared with the SugarBowl community the other week:

"Numerous interviews were conducted during the investigation. While many people recalled fragments of the accident, there were conflicting accounts and few direct eyewitnesses. As a result, we cannot state with certainty, exactly what happened. We do know that John was on the chair with two other members of the Sugar Bowl Ski Team and that their coach allowed them to load without supervision. We also believe the chair lift restraint bar was not lowered properly at the loading terminal and that children of this age were unable to lower the bar themselves. We found no evidence of horseplay or foul play. Ultimately our safety practices were insufficient to prevent this tragedy."

Anyhow, hope all parents and kids are staying safe. I got my first days on snow this past weekend.... one at SB coaching and one at AM tele free-skiing. Feels good to be outside on snow. Looking forward to some snow this week!

[MrSmith]

if avy issues are a concern, its all about choice of terain. here on the s shore, the luther pass trees are the go-to safe zone mr smith

Sure, avoid avy terrain, lower angle, trees, etc. Guess I'm a bit sketched out by the still marginal base below tree line in lots of places. I know that doesn't stop everyone.

[skier666]

MrSmith....

I've skied the West Shore area in all types of conditions but the main rollover in the forecasted conditions always makes me a bit sketch. I've seen decent slabs release on usual rocky release points on the rollover. I've skied in rain crusted with 'first tracks' yelling to myself inside why on earth I'm here. Its one of those areas I avoid unless its been skied, hear reports from others, after skiing the lines in the vicinity, etc. It tends to naturally slide as you can see the debris field below....



You can sort of ski in and out of the slough zone on the ridge on skiers right of Zippy's line below. That's what I normally do earlier in the year to check things out....



Here's evidence of the slab I released....



You can see the crown in this photo....



Full tr of that damn good day here:

http://www.slaythegnar.com/2009/02/m...rkwood-022209/

[teledad]

I was also told that SB removed the foot rests

Footrests are gone on Lincoln (the only lift that had them at SB). Lifties are now required to put the bar down when younger kids are loading and having footrests made that problematic (my guess as to why they're gone).

[~mikey b]

Thanks chili.

[CaliBrit]

Anyone going to be at Squalpine wed thur fri?

Thinking of checking out what the weather brings.

[Ottime]

Sure, avoid avy terrain, lower angle, trees, etc. Guess I'm a bit sketched out by the still marginal base below tree line in lots of places. I know that doesn't stop everyone.

I don't plan to be below tree line. There is actually a fair amount of terrain near West Shore that is low angled. Just in a different basin. There are options in CP as well. That is me expecting Saturday to be a bit breezy on the ridges, but not snowing. Plans change with changing conditons. Basically what Gimpy said. Good chance I'd let 666 hit West Shore first. Anyway, I like to head out of the resort and explore and see what the snow pack is doing. If it is dust on crust inbounds, I usually just end up getting hurt, or at least sore. If I tour, I might find something that goes, that is steep, and I feel comfortable with. I am just as happy getting out, away from the crowds, and meadow skip in boot deep powder. And that is the crux - usually the skiing is better out side of the resorts. Usually.

[TahoeJ]

Anyone going to be at Squalpine wed thur fri?

Thinking of checking out what the weather brings.

I'll be at Alpine on Thursday. White helmet, black/charcoal jacket, orange pants. Should be in line early. If we get a foot of light fluffy snow up top like TWD suggests, may have to bring out the gaper cam for a bit.

[Ottime]

click on the full TR. So worth the stoke. And that got me thinking - did any one get out to the Temple these past few days. WOndering what the coverage was like in there. And how hard was the snow?

[~mikey b]

Snowshoer hospitalized following 400-foot slide at Mount Tallac


SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — A Portland, Ore., man was hospitalized with severe leg injuries Saturday after sliding about 400 feet during a snowshoe hike of Mount Tallac, officials said.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Team received a report of an injured hiker near the 9,735 feet peak about 12:05 p.m. Saturday, according to a Monday statement from the sheriff's office.

Brian Meek, 50, was hiking by himself on the trail to the top of the mountain when he lost traction in icy terrain and started to slide uncontrollably, according to the statement.

“He slid over 400 feet down the mountainside in an area known as west bowl, and collided with a large rock,” according to the statement. “He sustained traumatic injuries including multiple compound fractures to his legs which required a rapid response from the Search and Rescue Team.”

Icy conditions prevented helicopters from landing at the rescue site. Search and rescue personnel used mountaineering techniques to reach Meek, who received medical care before being hoisted out of the area by a California Highway Patrol helicopter. He was then taken to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno by a CALSTAR helicopter, according to the statement.

Meek's condition was unknown Monday morning.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue volunteers and Lake Valley Fire Protection District personnel also participated in the rescue effort.

[MrSmith]

Vibes to snowshoer. I was across the valley on Angora wondering what was up with the chopper. Angora was an easy boot pack with softish snow until the last 20 feet when we had to bust out crampons and the ice ax. Those last 20 feet were really firm.

[MrSmith]

Thanks gimpy, ot, and 666 for the discussion/tips/stoke. West Shore looks a bit out of my league, but I'm definitely interested in learning good safe zones for high avy danger.

Ot, I hear you about getting out, it's why I was climbing around Saturday with my skis on my back 98% of the day.

[gimpy]

had a friend in cathedral witness that go down while he was ascending w/ crampons. rock hard on north in the bc.

the sugar bowl incident was not the one i was referring to and it had much worse consequences then my buds lucky daughter. just put the fucking bar down and set an example for the kids.

gotta love BA's positivity. things looking up

[dhklauer]

click on the full TR. So worth the stoke. And that got me thinking - did any one get out to the Temple these past few days. WOndering what the coverage was like in there. And how hard was the snow?

Agreed! Full TR is nice! Broadway still has a few rocks in the middle right now at the choke.......just in case anyone goes for it with a foot of fresh on top. West shore is still a little peppered and will require some navigation. I have personally witness the same slab release at the rollover heading into West Shore

Temple? On the way back to Chair 4? That section was rock solid with an inch of dust on top. Just went around directly to the chair, and didn't look at any of the airs.

[Ottime]

^^^thanks. Yeah, there. I often sneak around the corner to take a look at the airs from below, as a foot of fresh can really pile up deep in the LZ there. Thanks for the WS intel. I plan to ski/skirt that area this weekend.

As for the bar thing, skiing with kids it becomes such a good idea. Personally, especially on longer chairs, I like the bar down, just to hook things (helmet, back pack, etc.) when I stat going through all my shit. I really don't mind it down. Still, it seems like it would be a better use of skills set to have one of the Vail yellow jacket safety/information types yelling at you from below the lift loading station. Keep Patrol out patrolling.