13/14 Tahoe Thread -- Raddest Thread On The Internets!!!

[TurxSki]

...you can get a small taste of KW terrain off 6...

Not only 6...

Had a fun day on 6 & 11.
It feels at least 20° colder tonight...

Us too!
It felt way colder than the forecast on Saturday. Man that wind moved stuff around some.

If you want to ski, ski. It is a fun thing to do and you have a free pass...

We enjoyed KW on Sat more than HV on Sun, but we skied more at HV. Lot less people around this past weekend.
Norms Nose, off of 11, if you side-step up & around, has pretty good coverage except for a big brown spot near the top. Wintry snow. No-one else was over there, except one troller near the end of the day (he waved).
There was a No Uphill Hiking sign as you get off 11, but we skied down the ropeline, and then started up, so were ok.
Did see one guy (on gaper-gear) getting a ticket as he'd started hiking up right next to the sign!?!
KW for the Win!

Hey, WTF, If you want to go, but don't want to drive there & back, there is a BayAreaSkiBus going to Kirkwood on Sunday. Also some going to Northstar on the Saturday & Sunday.
http://www.bayareaskibus.com/index.cfm/sign_up.htm

[NakedShorts]

I am still waiting for the '38 or '52 type year.

This one is good



No talk of the trees in Fallen Leaf

[skier666]

Turx, we saw you on Saturday and tried to keep up but you're too fast...

[~mikey b]

http://yubanet.com/regional/Squaw-Va...p#.UswrjfuDl8E

Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows Offer New 1-Day and 3-Day Avalanche Education Courses

Squaw's new 3-day AIARE Avalanche 1 course kicks off this Wednesday, with additional courses offered through January, February and March

Published on Jan 7, 2014 - 7:57:36 AM

By: Squaw Valley USA

Jan. 7, 2014 - Starting this Wednesday, January 8, skiers and snowboards can take advantage of new avalanche education courses at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. The one- and three-day courses teach the basics of snow science, how to access and read the avalanche advisory, how to operate standard avalanche equipment (beacon, probe, and shovel), and, most importantly, how to make good decisions.

The courses kick off this week at Squaw Valley with the three-day AIAIRE Avalanche Leavel 1 Certification course January 8-10 for $389, and the one-day avalanche awareness course on January 12 for $149.

Additional courses will be offered at both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows in February and March. Full information including additional dates and details is available at http://www.squaw.com/lessons-rentals...ness-education.

The one-day and three-day course follow the Avalanche Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) curriculum and is taught by AIARE Qualified Instructors.

Avalanche Awareness 1-Day Course

Learn the basics: terrain, weather, avalanche activity and mountain snowpack.
Avalanche statistics and human factors
Avalanche terminology and terrain
Snowpack and weather factors
Obvious clues
Avalanche advisories
Travel protocols
Companion rescue

AIARE Avalanche Level 1 3-Day Course

24 Hours of classroom and field work to become AIARE (American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education) Level 1 certified.
Advanced understanding of avalanche terrain, particularly from the perspective of stability analysis
Discuss how the snowpack develops and metamorphoses over time; and discuss the factors that contribute to spatial variability
Learn standard observation guidelines and recording formats for factors that influence or indicate snow stability
Advanced understanding of avalanche release and triggering mechanisms
Introduce a snow stability analysis and forecasting framework
Improve companion rescue skills including multiple and deep burials
Participants will receive Level 1 certificate upon successful completion of the course

http://squaw.com/lessons-rentals/adu...ness-education

[~mikey b]

Turx, we saw you on Saturday and tried to keep up but you're too fast...

yeah - good luck keeping up with that guy

[The Dad]

I don't see any patterns but holy shit '76-'77 were way worse than the last two years!

Holy shit -- we agree on something!

[powfiend]

Why the fuck would anyone pay 400 dollers for a avi class when there is virtually no snowpack to observe? Hardly even enough to bury a pack for a mock rescue and only rotting snow? Sounds like another classic fail from the great people over in the valley

[TahoeJ]

Why the fuck would anyone pay 400 dollers for a avi class when there is virtually no snowpack to observe? Hardly even enough to bury a pack for a mock rescue and only rotting snow? Sounds like another classic fail from the great people over in the valley

Agreed on the upcoming one but it could / should be a different story in February and March. The more of these classes available the better.

[El Chupacabra]

Why the fuck would anyone pay 400 dollers for a avi class when there is virtually no snowpack to observe? Hardly even enough to bury a pack for a mock rescue and only rotting snow? Sounds like another classic fail from the great people over in the valley

"See this snowpack, students? It's completely stable. You can tell, because it's 2 months old, icy, with various compacted/ moguled/ groomed spots, and the massive rocks poking through the snowpack tell you how well it's anchored.

That'll be $400 please."

[Ottime]

If it is Avy 1, it is much more about terrain management, group dynamics and decision making. Snow science is barely touched upon. That is Avy 2.

[TurxSki]

Unlikely, I know, but wondered if anyone on here knows of any "cheap" Lodging Deals at Northstar for this weekend?
(It has happened).
Cindrz & me are skiing there on Saturday 1/11, and were thinking we might stay overnight, but the cheapest online was around $300!
Really! Really?

Turx, we saw you on Saturday and tried to keep up but you're too fast...

Ha! You're funny!
I guess there's a first time for everything?
Good thing you were (temporarily) slowed down by junior 6'ers.
(You made a very good point about this "low tide" being a godsend for harcore rippers with kiddies-in-training)

[~mikey b]

Sierra Club's Claire Tappan Lodge up on Donner Summit.

$65/night includes 3 meals, bunk, hot tub, etc. But you'd have to get there and back.

[Ottime]

Getting off the star for lunch would take all day. That place is a trek to get in and out of. Will they bag your lunch?

The Ritz is lift side OTOH. And you won't spend any money on gas.

[~mikey b]

It's a bag lunch you tool. And they don't have a car.

A good option, but with it's obvious challenges.

[TurxSki]

Bunk-up's, yes! But bunk-beds, no
(We have given money to Sierra Club over the years, but have never had the chance to stay at CT)

If we can borrow your AmEx, we'll stay at the Ritz, sure.

Talking of bunk-up's (english slang), was stoked to find Nepheles in S.Lake last weekend. You can rent a Private Hot Tub for $20 an hour!
Yeah Baby!

[~mikey b]

You'd likely get a 2 person room for that, but it might be 2 beds. Give 'em a call. Whaddaya got to lose?

[mmmm...pow!]

If it is Avy 1, it is much more about terrain management, group dynamics and decision making. Snow science is barely touched upon. That is Avy 2.

I think you got ripped off on your avy 1.

[lepistoir]

Still unfathomable to me how Tahoe has zero randonee races. The only uphill option we have is the $60 Nachtspektakel at Squaw.

Why does even Shasta Ski Park have a skimo event and nothing around the lake? For all those Amgen and Ironman fans and wannabes, there has to be something to do during the winter other than ride the trainer. Tahoe rando now!
http://www.shastaavalanche.org/node/3300

[LightRanger]

Still unfathomable to me how Tahoe has zero randonee races. The only uphill option we have is the $60 Nachtspektakel at Squaw.

Why does even Shasta Ski Park have a skimo event and nothing around the lake? For all those Amgen and Ironman fans and wannabes, there has to be something to do during the winter other than ride the trainer. Tahoe rando now!
http://www.shastaavalanche.org/node/3300

IIRC, Kirkwood had an event for a couple years back. Maybe more than one season in a row. Guess they're not doing it anymore...?

[Ottime]

I think you got ripped off on your avy 1.

I don't think so. About 100 days touring, and I'm still alive. Never caught in a slide. Seems like that is a good measure. Oh, and my course was about 10% of $400, so I don't really think I got 'ripped off'.

Here is AIARE 1 syllabus. Nothing about snow science here.

I do think that some folks think they are learning about snow science in a three day course, but those tend to be the same folks who think they know shit about shit. Decision making skill is the single most basic tool you that will keep you alive out there, and that is basically what they teach and provide resource for.

Sure, you did a pit or two. Look for weak layers. Discuss, and even practice a little companion rescue. But you are barely scraping the surface of this in Avy 1. If you don't go out and practice these techniques, and take further courses, you don't know squat. And digging a pit is not snow science. It is observation.

Anyway, you can take away a lot from AIARE 1 with a very limited snow pack, even if that snow pack is one solid piece of ice. That said, I found plenty of layers in the snow just last week, with a rounded crust, on top of small facets, on top of large facets, on top of earth. I dug a hand pit with my son and wife, and discussed the layers. Not so hard to do if you just open your eyes, stop being obtuse and belligerent, and try using a few brain cells. But hey, this is TGR, and we don't do that around here. We just express our own superiority over others.

[lepistoir]

IIRC, Kirkwood had an event for a couple years back. Maybe more than one season in a row. Guess they're not doing it anymore...?

Nope. Mammoth used to. Bear Valley is still on. Bachelor...

[BGnight]

Just wanted to update the current local skiing conditons:



IT FUCKING SUCKS

[~mikey b]

I used to be part of an organization that put on free-heel (tele and AT) demos, lessons and races. When we finally quit doing it, the main reasons were cost of insurance and lack of participation. Ski areas weren't always super stoked on dealing with everything it takes for them to set up a venue for something like that. If you want races like that, you might have to do it yourself. Expect to spend a lot of volunteer time planning and executing the event, with only a few folks really into it.

PM Jonathon S. He has recent experience putting races on back East.

[lepistoir]

I used to be part of an organization that put on free-heel (tele and AT) demos, lessons and races. When we finally quit doing it, the main reasons were cost of insurance and lack of participation. Ski areas weren't always super stoked on dealing with everything it takes for them to set up a venue for something like that. If you want races like that, you might have to do it yourself. Expect to spend a lot of volunteer time planning and executing the event, with only a few folks really into it.

PM Jonathon S. He has recent experience putting races on back East.

Which group do you think is most interested in rando races?
1. Backcountry skiers
2. Adventure Racers
3. Muddy Buddy/Ragnarok social racers

[teledad]

Nope. Mammoth used to. Bear Valley is still on. Bachelor...

This didn't happen? http://www.skimountaineering.org/node/3447

I'll note that a race with ~20 people (see the 06/07 results) is unlikely to cover costs, so the fact that the later races were cancelled is unsurprising.