Lake Tahoe 2015/16 - Year of Godzilla Baby Jesus

[Ottime]

What I hate about chain control is the miles and miles of dry pavement of clank clank clank at 18 mph, stopping to snip a broken cable or chain, and saying fuck it when the second pops and in spring you plan to grind and paint the wheel zone anyway. If chain controls were some what reasonable in CA, I'd have no problem with a 2WD.

And no, I don't want to put a sticker on my car. All it takes is some dumb ass hitting you behind chain control and you have an infraction. I have that kind of luck.

Btw, I would carry chains regardless of law. Even with AWD there are times where they are a very good idea.

[Ottime]

Looks like it snowed at Mammy last night? Any reports?

[~mikey b]

Heading up to Squaw for their Closing Weekend.
Wondering about digging out our Rock Ski's or sticking with our Daily Drivers.

Anyone have any insight as to how much "stuff" is showing through the snow in the open areas? Or care to offer advice?
Yeah I know - Tech Talk jong!

All skis are rock skis.

[bodywhomper]

In December 2010 I was on the side of 80 at 6am putting on chains while it was -5 out, in the dark and it was windy as fuck. Took 20 minutes to get the feeling back in my fingers. Bought a Honda Pilot 2 weeks later. It was a good decision.

As i said, my peeps are efficient and plan ahead a bit. I'm other words, they know what they are doing..... :P

Also, there are other varieties of chains, ones that allow for higher speeds and some that go on fast and easily. There was a fairly comprehensive thread on that subject in tech talk a few years back.

[TahoeBC]

Still good coverage and skiing to be had out at Carson pass

Last Thursday went out there with shakykees and noknees, I don't think there related

A fresh coating of shallow snow fell above Winnimucca making for a super smooth skiing surface, soft snow on a really nice edgeable base made all aspects ready to go immediately and with a cloud hanging over Roundtop conditions stayed good. Some mean looking clouds had us bug out earlier than we would have.











Headed over to E-back next







Except for booting up to the shoulder of eback we manage to stay on snow the to and from the car, although a couple spots on the road back up to the pass from dead tree are not gonna last much longer.

Friday I was hoping the cloud on Roundtop had kept things from warming up to much as I think the Moon Coolies would have been good on Thursday. I recruited Powdork to head back there on Friday with me to give it a try, but they had frozen up solid, looked like two people had got it the day before in good conditions after we left though.

I wanted to try out some new crampons I got that connect to the toe fittings on a tech boot
http://www.proguiding.com/tech-crampon.html

So I hatched a plan to climb the left coolie then do a sideways traverse out to the bowl above hourglass.

Powdork had forgot his axe and partway up decided wisely to back back down, that sideways traverse was pretty sketch, I was wishing I had an axe in addition to my whippet. Hourglass skied really good though.

Powdork in the coolie


Some video showing conditions on Friday

[whatsupdoc]

Skied Price today from Wrights Lake.

The road is gated at the top where it forks - one direction goes to the Rockbound TH and the other goes to Twin & Island Lakes. It's a 1 mile walk to the TH from the gate. A few snow drifts on the way up but they had tracks through them so no problems getting up there. I saw Priuses up there.

Walked to just below Twin Lake on pretty much dry ground. A bit of snow/dry ground mixed to Island Lake, and then nice snow above Island Lake. 12 miles round trip - further than I thought it would be. It's a solid 1800 feet or so of good fall line skiing from the top. It's a long ways to walk for that much skiing, but it's a kick ass summit. Skied about 12:15 and corn was good. A little sticky low down and a little sun cupped low down. 11-11:30 would be pretty money.

Pano from the top looking back towards the lake

[TurxSki]

Squaw has been a lot of fun this weekend & past few.
Did not get too sticky today - slow corn bumps, but lots of peeps.
They (KSL?) did real good - great way to sell next season pass!
Spring skiing wise - cutting peeps some slack wise - versus KW frinstance -
some are hiking way out - some nutty park jumps & "interesting" off the trail airs.
It's weird to do so much hike/traverse/sidestep/herringbone to get to some (kick-ass) turns.
Gonna miss it...

[TahoeJ]

The Shirley banked slalom needs to become a new tradition. Crazy to see how far down it was carved out by yesterday afternoon.

[Vets]

Squaw has been a lot of fun this weekend & past few.
Did not get too sticky today - slow corn bumps, but lots of peeps.
They (KSL?) did real good - great way to sell next season pass!
Spring skiing wise - cutting peeps some slack wise - versus KW frinstance -
some are hiking way out - some nutty park jumps & "interesting" off the trail airs.
It's weird to do so much hike/traverse/sidestep/herringbone to get to some (kick-ass) turns.
Gonna miss it...

Turx, It was fun skiing with you and your crew today. The snow was much better than expected. Here are a few photos from our hike-to run.

[Ottime]

^^^which run is that? When I was there a few weeks back, my son and I found a run with banks behind the top station of big blue. It was the firmest snow come afternoon and he had a blast jumping or banking on the berms.

Wanted to head up there this weekend to get one more day of lift served. Life though.

Wondering if I'll actually get a day at Sonora or Shasta. Just took on some new work and I am busy.

@Turx, I love the reverse traverse late season hiking at Squaw. Although, with Granite chief not turning, the hiking is almost too required.

When is Mammy closing down?

[Vets]

^^^which run is that? When I was there a few weeks back, my son and I found a run with banks behind the top station of big blue. It was the firmest snow come afternoon and he had a blast jumping or banking on the berms.

Wanted to head up there this weekend to get one more day of lift served. Life though.

Wondering if I'll actually get a day at Sonora or Shasta. Just took on some new work and I am busy.

@Turx, I love the reverse traverse late season hiking at Squaw. Although, with Granite chief not turning, the hiking is almost too required.

When is Mammy closing down?

According to Squaw's funky online trail map it is Magoo's. Turx heard another name from a ski patroller, but I forget what he said.

Mammoth is supposed to stay open until at least June 12th from what I am hearing/reading.

Let me know if you'd like to do a Sonora day.(or Ebbetts, or Carson.) The passes are only an hour away from my house.

[Vets]

Dookey67 skiing near Tamarack Peak on June 1st.

[TurxSki]

According to Squaw's funky online trail map it is Magoo's. Turx heard another name from a ski patroller, but I forget what he said...

"Cornells"...??
We have been calling the area Tree Chutes.

Traverse lookers right off Shirley Lift, under The Funnel, then boot up towards Granite, and go just over the top.
We dropped in under The Roof/Attic, and skied the chute next to the rocky cliffs (below Corkscrew).

You can see Granite Peak behind me in the pic.

[bodywhomper]

If one was to be driving midday to Reno and had some time for brief turns, where the best/easiest access? Rose area, donner summit, or donner pass. How about dusk patrol while in Reno?

Thanks and cheers?

[Vets]

If one was to be driving midday to Reno and had some time for brief turns, where the best/easiest access? Rose area, donner summit, or donner pass. How about dusk patrol while in Reno?

Thanks and cheers?

Here are a few photos and a short video of a Mount Rose Highway Summit dusk patrol Dookey67 and I did last week on May 31st. While we had a pretty late start time of 6:15 PM, we still found good snow conditions as well as finding a location for our June turns the next afternoon.

Dookey67 starts down.


Dookey67 further down.


A short video that should give you an idea of the snow conditions.


Dookey67 starts down a chute.


Dookey67 heading back down.


Feel free to send me a PM for more beta.

[bodywhomper]

Thanks for the stoke! I'll pm later today.

[skier666]

Was planning on taking the kids to Mammoth to ski Sunday and the weather at Main Lodge just went from 50F and Sunny 24hours ago to now saying 38F with rain/snow. Ugh. Playing it by ear but just needed to vent that my season has been less than ideal. It will be June 12th, c'mon Ullr, and provide a mid-June day for this family. [/end of rant]

[powdork]

It will be June 12th, c'mon Ullr, and provide a mid-June day for this family.

He is. June 13th.

[Ottime]

I was thinking of getting out one more time with the kiddo.

Does anyone know how much is open on the lower mountain at Mammy? Looks pretty well burnt. I think chair 3 would be fine for us, but doubt he'd want to hit the top gondy more than once.

I was imagining that long, flat, sticky return to chair 1, after skiing the north side. Ugh.

666, just prop yourself up knowing your son shredded ski school and 10. And that surprise powder day at Sugarbowl.

I was lamenting my lack of spring skiing this year, but I can't complain too much. I did get a few real good days, and one epic day this winter, even with not starting until 9:45. Only regret was not sending Danger that day. I've been wanting to redeem myself on that one for a good five years now. It was good to go, but I balked. Oh, well.

[meter-man]

Does anyone know how much is open on the lower mountain at Mammy? Looks pretty well burnt. I think chair 3 would be fine for us, but doubt he'd want to hit the top gondy more than once.

1, 3, 23, gondy are spinning. Most of the Chair 1 stuff (not the pipes -- I'm sure you're gutted ) is open. Skied most excellently Mem weekend.

666, you guys will have a solid morning, and be swimming in the pool by the time the t-storms roll up. Enjoy. [And congrats dood!! ]

[skier666]

meter-man was correct...around 6 inches of heavy June pow fell Saturday night at Mammoth. It was pouring rain at the parking lot at 7am for breakfast and miraculously stopped at 8am. Great June pow turns on Climax, Cornice Bowl, Wipeout Chutes. Lots of interesting cloud layers and visibility issues here and there but I found untracked in P1 off Chair 23 (after some rocky down-climbing to get in there) at 11:45am. Lower mountain is barely holding on however. They have built up the WROD on Broadway, but the rain and warm temps yesterday could not have helped. It will be intersting to see if they can make it to July 4th if they are using the 'open till Broadway melts' formula.

[TurxSki]

So, Boreal are opening their Summer WROD this weekend for "Summer Shred Sessions"!

The Mktg guy was on a News Show this morning talking about their Yuro Snow-Making equipment.

Called the WROD a "Glacier"...well I guess if it sticks around until first snows this Winter, then fair enough...

Vets/Dookie I think Y'all might have your next (lift-served) Patch-Skiing destination...

[Vets]

So, Boreal are opening their Summer WROD this weekend for "Summer Shred Sessions"!

The Mktg guy was on a News Show this morning talking about their Yuro Snow-Making equipment.

Called the WROD a "Glacier"...well I guess if it sticks around until first snows this Winter, then fair enough...

Vets/Dookie I think Y'all might have your next (lift-served) Patch-Skiing destination...

I plan to be there.

[TahoeJ]

Man made WROD in the summer? I think maybe you guys need to try mountain-biking... Or climbing... Or find a Sugar Momma to fly you to the Southern Hemisphere. ;-)

[Dhelihiker]

My new rule is if the snow stops being white and smooth (that's how most people describe me) its time to bike, that was 2 weeks ago