Central California

[~mikey b]

East side of Sonora pass mañana

[davieboot]

QUESTION FOR FOLKS EXPERIENCED WITH ALPINE TREKKERS (since I had never used them and Turx and Tini need some assistance): how do you get them adjusted to boot and binding properly? We were fussing with them at the trailhead, but it seems like a bit of time at home getting Trekkers adjusted to boot and binding separately would be helpful. Both of them had a few issues with kicking out of the toe

You have to adjust them at home, and make them the right size so that the forward pressure is correct when stepped in.

It also helps if you recognize that they suck, leave them at home, and use actual AT gear (or a tele rig if you are Mike and/or hate the ligaments in your knees).

[~mikey b]

Thanks. I (or someone else) might have to help Turx out a bit. I should trim Cinders' skins too.

Turx and Owen

[TurxSki]

Nice Pic.
The slowest setting out first

Yes, we had a very groovy time. Thanks for your all your help, and your poles!
Sorry that Krystal was feeling a bit under the weather, on Sunday.

Hey, respect due to Trekkers. They actually worked better than we expected.
I only released out of my bindings 'cos I had trouble on the little downhill bits - new skins wouldn't slide so I'd topple forward onto my knee's and they'd pop out.
Yes, I should have messed with them at home There are instructions, and even a help-line (if it's still up?)

Because of various reasons, Trekkers/Skins are prolly a better bet for us right now than a full-on AT rig...although I do have a pair of (little)BRO's still in plastic in case I change my mind...

[Vets]

I skied Ebbetts Pass with Dookey67 on Sunday.
Here is a link to the TR.

[~mikey b]

Sonora Pass was fantastic Saturday

[~mikey b]

Sonora Pass was fantastic Saturday

and Sunday
and Monday

Nobody else out today....

[TurxSki]

I'm gonna guess you got there a wee bit earlier, and went a wee bit higher, than when you took us out to the Nipple?

Hey, did KrystalCartwright end up getting over that head-cold she got that day we went out? Or is it still affecting her?

[rod9301]

can you still cross ther creek at the first switchback west of the summit?
and is the approach to leavitt from there still good?

and is the y couloir good?

just came back from shasta and southern oregon, good skiing, buy started to rain!

Sent from my SCH-I500 using TGR Forums

[~mikey b]

yes, you can rock-hop across the creek

yes, that's the way to go

yes, I was told it was good on Saturday, but I haven't been out that way in a couple weeks

[~mikey b]

Bear Valley Deal In The Works

http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/n...a4bcf887a.html

Posted: Friday, May 24, 2013 8:08 am | Updated: 10:11 am, Fri May 24, 2013.

By Stephen Crane | 4 comments

Sale pending, says owner spokesman

Summer is just around the corner, but winter sports enthusiasts may want to keep the ski wax handy. If all unfolds as anticipated, Bear Valley Mountain ski resort will be open for business next season under new ownership.

“There were two or three (interested buyers),” confirmed Greg Finch, president of Dundee Resort Development and managing member of the current ownership group. “And this is the first who brought us the paperwork. So we’re now working with the purchase and sales agreement on the contract.”

Finch, based in Edwards, Colo., is one of three members of the owners group, which acquired the resort back in 2005. He was optimistic about the sale and excited for the impact on the area.

“I think the community will be delighted with these (potential buyers),” he added, though a confidentiality agreement prevented him from giving details on who the buyers are and what the specifics of the deal look like.

While Calaveras County offers a wide range of events and activities to bolster the summer tourism industry, the winter months depend heavily on Bear Valley ski resort to draw in tourists, and the rippling effect of its presence is felt by everybody along Highway 4.

“(Bear Valley) is our lifeline, especially in winter,” said Sid Marsh, the owner and operator of Ebbetts Pass Visitors Center, which celebrates its grand opening Saturday in Arnold. “(The sale) would help our economy up here. If it didn’t happen, it would probably just devastate the town.”

Eric Jung, a real estate broker with Bear Valley Real Estate, is eager to see the deal go through as well, and with good reason. He’s lived in the area for more than 40 years and seen the ebb and flow of the economy.

“I was here in the ’70s and ’80s when we had all the bars and restaurants open virtually all the time,” he recalled. “And prosperity was always just around the corner for us.

“We have to be a little bit cautious, as less than half of acquisitions get past that (contract stage), but we know that the news of a sale, especially to somebody with the means to implement the master plan, can only be good news for our market and our home owners.”

The master plan calls for a significant expansion of Bear Valley Village and a new chairlift linking the village to the mountain.

According to Finch, the deal should go through within the next 30 days.

“But we’ll know for sure within 45 days,” he added. “(The prospective buyers) are motivated by several reasons to close soon, and so are we.”

The sooner the deal can go through, the sooner the new owners could begin work at the resort in preparation for next winter.

“They want to have as long a runway as possible,” said Finch, alluding to the time and preparation required to build momentum for a typical resort’s opening.

That alone is a good sign for locals who have high hopes for a quality buyer that wants to see the resort succeed and strengthen the economies of the surrounding communities. But for now, all they can do is await confirmation that deal is done.

“It all sounds good, but we’re just holding our breath and waiting,” said Jung. “I can’t see it doing anything but good for the area and for the pass.”

[skier666]

Sonora Pass - May 23rd, 2013

No skiing as we just drove through on the way to Mammoth but it looked like you could still cross the river at the hairpin and the Y looked pretty loaded from the road.

[~mikey b]

another excellent day on Sonora Pass - a couple two three laps out No Name way - good corn - LL Rd gate is still locked - looks like it could be worth a walk in still

GiBo?

[GiBo]

Sorry I missed ya. Was up at Forrestdale patch skiing and trying to find fish. Sun cups were in full force, but a good time was had climbing around.

[~mikey b]

the Y still goes

LL gate still shut

No Name a bit haggard

[Vets]

the Y still goes

LL gate still shut

No Name a bit haggard

I heard that Leavitt Lake Road opened today. Has anyone been out there to give a conditions report?

[~mikey b]

Ski Lake area holding decent snow. Unsure about creek xings in your car. Taco Mama a better bet.

[~mikey b]

http://www.uniondemocrat.com/News/Lo...lpine-ski-area

Suitor seen for Alpine ski area
Written by Sean Janssen, The Union Democrat June 21, 2013 12:30 pm

A deal is in the works for new ownership at the Bear Valley Mountain Resort.

Bear Valley managing partner Greg Finch this week confirmed a sale is imminent but declined to say who is angling for the Highway 4 operation.

He said it won’t involve any big shots wearing mouse ears.

“It’s not Disney,” said Finch, executive for Colorado-based Dundee Resort Development, referring to a pervasive rumor Disney Resorts was the suitor.

“That would be wonderful, though, wouldn’t it? I don’t know how that started … but it’s a great rumor. I almost hate to squelch it.”

Finch said he’s “hopeful” a transaction will close in the next 60 days but remained vague as to whether it is a full sale by partners Dundee, San Jose-based developer Toeniskoetter, Breeding & Halgrimson and Palo Alto-based Radar Partners, a venture capital firm, or an addition of an investor to the existing partnership.

“It’s in a confidentiality phase. I’m optimistic this is going forward. I think the community is going to be very pleased with … new parties coming in with new capital,” Finch said. “They have all the things you would want, especially some experience with Bear Valley and some familiarity with Bear Valley.”

The 1,700-acre ski resort went on the market last year. Included in the offering are slopes leased from the U.S. Forest Service, the 53-room Bear Valley Lodge hotel, restaurants and retail shops in Bear Valley Village, a 9,000-square-foot employee housing complex and 11 acres identified for condominium development.

After about seven years of planning and environmental review, Alpine County approved a development plan in December 2012 that will permit construction of more than 300 condominiums, a new lodge, a chair lift from the village to the mountaintop and an outdoor amphitheater.

Bear Valley owners have previously stated an infusion of millions of dollars in capital through either a sale or investment partnership will be necessary to advance the plans.

“Everybody’s going to be sitting down and doing some serious planning,” Finch said, once a deal is finalized. “The plan is ready to go.”

If a sale occurs, the special use permit must be transferred from the current ownership to the new one, according to Dave Vosti, acting public service program leader for the Calaveras Ranger District of the Stanislaus National Forest, where Bear Valley is located.

The current owner must relinquish its permit while the buyer requests a new one, good for 30 years, Vosti said. To acquire it, the Forest Service must get a copy of documentation of the transfer of private property like the lodge that sits on federal lands and make a financial ability determination, which typically takes a couple months or so, he said.

“(Transfer time) really is dependent upon how long the financial ability determination takes,” Vosti said.

In simplest terms, Vosti said the deeper pockets a buyer has, the quicker the process will be, whereas a permit applicant who meets minimum qualifications undergoes more scrutiny.

Finch said timing is important, as an annual operation plan has to be submitted prior to opening for the season in November or December, and new owners will need some lead time to be able to submit changes.

Last year, the Forest Service set an Oct. 15 deadline for that plan but Calaveras District Ranger Teresa McClung said it varies.

“It’s usually in October,” McClung said, but added the only real “drop-dead” deadline is prior to opening for ski season.

In addition, numerous safety inspections from the Forest Service and state regulators have to take place on chair lifts and other equipment prior to opening, Vosti said.

[~mikey b]

Bear Valley deal in place

http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/n...9bb2963f4.html

Posted: Tuesday, July 2, 2013 9:15 am | Updated: 11:55 am, Tue Jul 2, 2013.

By Stephen Crane | 0 comments

Resort will open this winter

Bear Valley Mountain will be open this winter. The only question that remains – who will be running it?

Dundee Realty U.S.A., which acquired the resort in 2005, has been in ongoing talks with a potential owners group, and those talks are progressing.

“We do have a purchasing and sales agreement signed,” confirmed Greg Finch, president of Dundee Resort Development and managing member of the current ownership group. “The buyer now has a certain period of time to review everything, and we’re in that due diligence period now.”

Finch anticipates the sale’s status should be determined in “30 to 60 days from now, but it could be shorter.”

“They’re very aware that if they’re going to do this, the quicker the better,” Finch continued. “We’re running out of summer.”

Due to a public disclosure agreement with the potential buyers, Finch was unable to provide many details about the group, but he did want to curb the rumor mill.

“One thing I will tell you – it is not Disney,” he said. “It’s a small group and includes some local interests and some guys who have been in the ski business.”

Those other ski resorts include “more than one … and real places – names you would know,” Finch said.”

The potential buyers met with Finch last week on location in Bear Valley as part of the ongoing negotiation process, and a few locals noticed their presence.

“(Finch) was here in Bear Valley yesterday (Thursday), and members of both sides of the equation (were) on-site, meeting with each other,” said Paul Petersen, owner of Bear Valley Cross Country and Adventure Company. “It’s like any deal; they can fall out at the last minute, but, right now, it’s proceeding along the lines of what these things require, which is time for the buyer to do their due diligence.”

Finch is optimistic about the deal, but he also knows the reality of business deals. So the current owners group is still “operating exactly as if it’s not going to be sold,” he said.

Regardless of the current deal, he guaranteed Bear Valley would be open for business this winter. And if it is under new ownership, Finch is confident it will be positive for Calaveras.

“I think the community will be happy with the buyer.”

[~mikey b]

Bear Valley back on market
Written by Mike Morris, The Union Democrat
September 05, 2013 12:30 pm

A prospective buyer of Bear Valley Mountain Resort has backed out of the deal, but Bear is still expected to open for the season, the resort announced Wednesday afternoon.

The purchase contract, signed by the unnamed company in June, was terminated this week.

“The interested group had been working through due diligence for several months and, although it remains interested, concluded there is insufficient time now to complete the process and then take the reigns this close to the start of ski season,” read a statement released by Bear Valley.

The resort, off Highway 4 in eastern Alpine County, plans to open for the 2013-14 ski season. Bear Valley aims to hire more than 200 additional staff members for the upcoming ski season, and a job fair is slated for next month in Arnold.

“Given the fact that it is September and there are many moving parts of this transaction, it is not feasible for a team to take ownership of the resort now and effectively prepare for the 2013-14 winter season,” said Greg Finch, managing partner of Bear Valley Resorts. “As we worked through the contract process, it turned out that the ski area was the easy part and the village land assets provided the complications. We believed we had effectively dealt with the issues, but we just ran out of time.”

Bear Valley spokeswoman Rosie Sundell explained that managing Bear Valley Village can be complex because it includes Forest Service, county and private land.

The resort is now owned by partners Dundee, San Jose-based developer Toeniskoetter, Breeding & Halgrimson and Palo Alto-based Radar Partners, a venture capital firm.

The 1,700-acre ski resort went on the market last year. Included in the offering are slopes leased from the U.S. Forest Service, the 53-room Bear Valley Lodge, restaurants and retails shops in Bear Valley Village, a 9,000-square-foot employee housing complex and 11 acres identified for condominium development.

After about seven years of planning and environmental review, Alpine County approved a development plan in December 2012 that will permit construction of more than 300 condominiums, a new lodge, a chair lift from the village to the mountaintop and an outdoor amphitheater.

Bear Valley owners have previously stated an infusion of millions of dollars in capital through either a sale or investment partnership will be necessary to advance the plans.

[~mikey b]

According to my sources, "It's snowing like a sonafabitch up in Strawberry".

[~mikey b]

from YubaNet

Lottery Registration Open for Yosemite Ostrander Ski Hut

With Yosemite National Park Open, Cross Country Skiers and Snowshoers Can Make Plans to Stay Overnight at Historic Ostrander Ski Hut
Published on Oct 29, 2013 - 7:30:57 AM





Yosemite Conservancy Ostrander Hut info



YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, October 29, 2013 – With the winter season approaching, and Yosemite National Park now open to the public after the recent government closure, Yosemite Conservancy announced today that it is accepting lottery registration forms for the 2013-2014 season at the newly restored Ostrander Ski Hut, the cherished rustic stone cabin used by intrepid skiers and snowshoers who make the 10-mile journey from the park's Badger Pass Ski Area to Ostrander Lake.

"Yosemite is open and new memories for winter enthusiasts await. Trekking to Ostrander Ski Hut offers an unforgettable winter adventure because of its solitude and breathtaking views of Half Dome, the Clark Range and Mount Hoffmann," said Mike Tollefson, president, Yosemite Conservancy. "Improvements to the ski hut made earlier this year restored original features to ensure that it can be enjoyed by new generations of visitors."

Yosemite Conservancy donors provided $63,000 in support to repair stone mortar and lodgepole pine beams essential to the historic character of the building, refinish original countertops of solid planks of sugar pine, replace old water tanks to improve water quality, and repair a dilapidated wood shed.

"Much of life happens here, young and old come together, new friendships are kindled, and history and traditions are made," said Alice Tenscher-Dunbar, a 20-year visitor to the hut. "Ostrander Ski Hut is a backcountry treasure."

Yosemite Conservancy manages the two-story stone ski hut perched at the edge of Ostrander Lake at 8,500 feet. Built in 1941, the accommodations are suitable for individuals or groups up to 15. The ski hut is staffed by a full time hut keeper and is typically open mid-December through early April. Facilities include single bunks with mattresses, community cookware stocked in a common kitchen, wood for heating, solar powered electric lights for evening use and two outdoor toilet facilities. Nightly rates range from $35 Mon.-Thurs. and $55 Fri.-Sun. Proceeds collected from the ski hut, along with contributions to the Conservancy, are poured into projects and programs that preserve and protect the park and improve the visitor experience.

Lottery applications must be returned by 5:00 p.m. PST on Nov. 20, 2013. Results of the lottery will be emailed by Nov. 25. Starting on Dec. 2, remaining reservations can be booked by calling 209-379-5161. Reservation information, equipment lists and a description of facilities can be found at www.YosemiteConservancy.org/Ostrander.

Through the support of donors, Yosemite Conservancy provides grants and support to Yosemite National Park to help preserve and protect Yosemite today and for future generations. The work funded by Yosemite Conservancy is visible throughout the park, from trail rehabilitation to wildlife protection and habitat restoration. The Conservancy is dedicated to enhancing the visitor experience and providing a deeper connection to the park through outdoor programs, volunteering and wilderness services. Thanks to dedicated supporters, the Conservancy has provided more than $75 million in grants to Yosemite National Park. Learn more at yosemiteconservancy.org or call 1-800-469-7275.

[LightRanger]

^^^ Reminds me to look into Pear Lake reservations.

Y'all need to start a new thread, what with this new snow on the ground and all.

[~mikey b]

this is the thread

I don't need to do a new on every season do I?

I don't think so

[LightRanger]

Just makes it a little easier to go back through if you're looking for something. And gets rid of the memory of last season's crappy snowfall. But fine, be a nonconformist.