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

[Sinecure]

The WROD at Squaw was sounding pretty loud under snowboarders' feet when I went over there this afternoon around 2:30-3 (was all in shade at that point). Didn't look like much fun. Apparently the line to pick up season passes was pretty long.

On the plus side, I passed my drug test.

[lepistoir]

On the plus side, I passed my drug test.

Apparently not screening for stokaine...

[Sinecure]

Stokaine addiction in remission. The WROD just isn't doing it for me. Given the forecast for December at this point, my stoke may not reappear for a while.

[powdork]

opening day was less crowded than i thought. just a quick vid, no music or anything. crusty, then softer below.

[powdrhound]

I had a blast last Sunday at Heavenly. They had quite good coverage on the open runs, the lines were quick, and the G forces were wonderful.
I really enjoyed trying out the skis I won at the TGR show. Excellent skinny skis, good additions to the quiver.
Had some fine conversations with Mark and Dave while riding Dipper.
I love how everybody is in such a good mood, back on the snow.

[unpossible]

lol powdork, why did you delete that post.

[dookeyXXX]

FWIW and for whomever cares, I'll be out testing some Blizzard skis and Flylow pants at Gnarthstar with Vets today. The WRODs there have been running pretty damn bueno the past week; a bit patchy in places and I did give my old T9's a few au naturale base grinds (a little bummed about that since I'd just had them super tuned at Start Haus, but I ultimately live by Powdork's mantra that every ski is a rock ski anyway, so I'm good in the grand scheme of things), but the snow has been holding up and if you enjoy the early season ritual of ripping groomers and playing Sierra Frogger, then it's a swell time.

[powdork]

lol powdork, why did you delete that post.

i was giving him shit him for thinking yesterday was sunday, when in reality he did mean sunday.

[Dhelihiker]

If you like tree skiing, Kirkwood is the spot. If you like skiing on snow, then not so much.

[SchralphMacchio]

Yeah ottime, big step forward for little Jamie!

Meanwhile ... mountain biking ...

[skier666]

Rolled up to KW early and scored first chair with Coop and be the first human of the day down race course. Top 4th is crap but bottom 3/4 was $$$ for laying down the steel. Did a lap offpiste and wasn't as bad as I pictured but that's probably due to everyone packing it down the day before. :-)

[Bosco]

opening day was less crowded than i thought. just a quick vid, no music or anything. crusty, then softer below.

I like the dog stoke. There is certainly no bad day of skiing for a dog.

[Sinecure]

Hiked up almost to Joint Point (just above Rock Gardin) at Alpine today.

We had some breakable crust, but mostly just snowmobile packed or buffed manmade/windmade. Very grippy on the uphill. Got out around mid-day. Stuff in the sun was mushy on the way down.

Chickenmonkey went with me. Here are a couple snaps from my new phone of him skinning up. Apparently I skin like a duck.

[powdrhound]

Anybody planning on KW tomorrow?

[gone2alpine]

The lack of snow guns in that photo is disconcerting....

[powdrhound]

A push for an event I have not missed since the mid-60's ----------------

The Dec. 2 & 3 showing of the Warren Miller film in Modesto is the major fundraiser for the Society for Handicapped Children and Adults in Modesto. They supply all sorts of equipment and support, including the snow skiing program at Dodge Ridge, and water skiing programs.
The State Theater is an intimate venue, and Friday night has the Parade of Lights outside (makes parking and arrival logistics horrible, though...)

Dodge Ridge and Bear Valley hand out vouchers & some swag.

Tickets are available online at http://societyforhandicapped.org/spe...ller-movie.php or at Sunsports in Turlock and Valley Sporting Goods in Modesto.

Please give them your support.
Thank you very much.

and,
Let it Snow!

[dookeyXXX]

Gnarthstar on Saturday was pretty solid all things considering. The snow held up and Vets, JLA415, and myself enjoyed a decent day of inter-demo ski swapping (I had some Blizzard Bushwackers and Titan 9's, Vets had some Fischer Big Stix, JLA had some Blizzard Cochise, and I borrowed a pair of Blizzard Magnum 8.7's from a buddy and we gave them a whirl throughout the day).

We also played a lot of Sierra Frogger, but on the whole the mountain wasn't that crowded. Vets and I got started with a lap on The Big Easy around 8:45 and then met up with JLA around 11ish. I skied almost bell-to-bell, calling it quits around 3:30 (the snow had really began to set up about then due to the slim shady).

Good day all-around, though.

PS
FWIW, JLA, who is a Squaw regular and had partaken of their WROD on Friday, even stated that the conditions at Gnarth were quite superior to those over at Squaw (better snow, more open terrain).

[gone2alpine]

LOL Dooks. It doesn't take much to beat Squaws offering. After spending Friday AM at Squaw, spent the afternoon at Boreal, and again at Boreal yesterday. Considering Bustar for today though for variety. You there today?

[bbense]

Very thin and boney, did find a few nice corn turns up high on Basin Peak.

[harpo-the-skier]

Very thin and boney, did find a few nice corn turns up high on Basin Peak.

bbense, I presume that is a different Basin from the one outside of Bishop?

Lines at Kwood while I was there. 5 stopped for about 30 minutes in the middle of the day. They said the engine was overheating because it was the only lift running. Typical Kwood ambiance, it wouldn't be Kirkwood if the lifts didn't stop for a least 30 minutes a day. I scooped out a line there that I will be able to skin on Monday. PM me if anyone wants to join. Tired to XC ski on the fireroad to Woods from Carson Pass, but there wasn't enough snow.

[TahoeJ]

Ended up going to northstar yesterday. Once the WROD softened up a bit the conditions were pretty good considering how little natural snow we've had. Still hoping next weekend comes through.

[skier666]

Looks like I picked the perfect week to be skiing Northstar with family. My 3 year old should be sleeping well by Friday after he finishes all his ski drills.

[chickenmonkey]

Here are my photos from yesterday. Took a couple just to show coverage.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/monkeyt...th/6412876897/

I also got to Squaw to pick up our passes. Good interaction with the staff and they even helped me after they were closed. Thanks Christopher!

I did see patrol coming down Red Dog with a stretcher at 4:30, hope they were practicing.

[powdork]

Lines at Kwood while I was there. 5 stopped for about 30 minutes in the middle of the day. They said the engine was overheating because it was the only lift running. Typical Kwood ambiance, it wouldn't be Kirkwood if the lifts didn't stop for a least 30 minutes a day.

does the engine really even know it's the only lift running?

[bbense]

bbense, I presume that is a different Basin from the one outside of Bishop?

The picture is Castle Peak. Basin Peak is the peak on the left side of the basin looking up from the Peter Grubb Hut.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=basin+...+Peak&t=p&z=14