Round 2 for the Sierra.

Last winter was a disappointment for many.  It never really even got started until late January.  So, after a year like that, most of us learn to not to expect too much.  But we are still hungry.  So when the weather outlets began forecasting another round of snow, timed right when I had childcare coverage, I knew I was going to go.  In the days right up before the storm, models began backing off and Tahoe Weather Discussion led a post with the phrase, "more cold than snow."  Bummer, I thought, but I knew I could still poke around a little and stack some wood at my friend's cabin.  Plans were laid, and expectations were low.  And then it snowed.  (And I do apologies, as I had some camera issues on day 1, so some fuzziness must be endured).

Court looking at something.

"If we just slide a little snow, into the crux, we might be able to cover up the meat grinder."

Chris, thinking that sounded crazy, opted for a semi blind 15 footer.  Bwhaa!

And scored some powder down below.

The good kind of powder.

Court follows.  But is that as deep as you can go?

Not just a few inches on top of refrozen crust.  Not a foot.  But many, several feet of snow.  And yes, it was cold.  And the snow was best described as white smoke.  It was really hard to say how much has fallen, as this stuff was so light, that it began to settle right away.  It could dump for hours, but the snow depth could remain the same, as more piled up on top, the house of card fell away below.  The result?  A fantastic skiing surface, well bonded to the October layer below, supportable and rip-able.  And that top layer - cold smoke.

That is more like it.

The Paparazzi were out and working.

Long, quiet, deep runs.

jib stoke.  Plenty of stuff to hit.

Time for lap three.  Red Bull gave court wings, but be careful of getting too close to the sun Icarus.

The last run did not blow.  Oh, wait, yes it did.

"Hey buddy, where did you go."

It is a true bromance.  These guys are posing for their Holiday Card.

I met up with Court and Chris on Friday at the Chair 7 base of Kirkwood.  A few Subarus were already in the lot as we arrived, and a skin track had been set.  Great, no trail breaking.  Hiking up the beginner terrain under Chair 7, it quickly became apparent that the day was going to be good.  All three of us had been out a few weeks before and had a good idea of where the first snow of the season had left a base.  We went straight there.  The problem with copious amounts of blower on top of limited base, is that you can easily sink all the way to the bottom.  If you sink to rock, well that is not fun.  But the zone from Oly to Rabbits was well covered and ready to go.  So we went.

Saturday, the tracks from Friday were filled back in as the storm raged.  Tony skins.

Some prefer to wait for the lifts.  Tony prefers deep pow.

White Room.

As you got lower, things tended to be thinner.  Far from dust on crust.

Stoked.

Sentinel Bowl looking tracked.  Imagine if they actually spun the lifts.

Court enjoys this little section.

Waist deep, fluffy and untracked all the way down.

I think it is okay to call this snow "blower."

After three laps, we were ready to call it a day.  My partners needed to get back to South Lake, and I had been up since 4AM.  Back to the cabin to start the fire, drink some beers, stack some wood and rest for the next day.  I laid plans to meet Tony, back at Chair 7, at 8AM.  Lucky for me he was running a few minutes late, and I was able to score a breakfast burrito (albeit, a poorly made, poorly wrapped and expansive one from the General Store - come on KW, pick up the food service game!), fill my gullet and get ready for Day 2.  We went back to Rabbits and Sentinel from lap one, and then headed over to sample Oly and lower Oops form lap 2.  Good stuff.  Tony was not into a lap 3, but that was fine, as I was meeting Court up on the skin track, for another go.  The snow just kept coming, no doubt about that.  Took the third run right down lookers left of the skin track in chest deep snow.  It does not get much better than that.  At the lot, Court turned to me and said, "you really should ski tomorrow."  A quick call home to an understanding wife, and plans were laid for a sunrise hike on Sunday.

"Nacho, get back.  Daddy wants to jump off of this thing."

Looking down into the Kirkwood Valley.

Dropping.  First taste of Jim's for the season.

Down below, it was still pretty good skiing.

All the way to the flats.

Up on the Wall, late in the day, this Bay Area ripper makes some turns.

Well consolidated, and creamy.

And deep.

Back to the car, pick up the pass, down some lunch.  Hanging out in the 6 lot, multiple parties were coming in and heading out on the hill.  With the sky clearing, I follow two groups up Buckboard and toward the top of 10.  Man, it was a shock how tracked out the hill was.  Zachs was basically bumps, as was Buckboard.  And KW was claiming there was not enough snow to open.  Seems like there was not a push to open (BTW, they are now scheduled to open this Friday, November 16th).  The lead group turned around just atop the knoll that separates the Wall from Buckboard, and they surprisingly skied right down through the most tracked out area of the hill.  The middle of the Wall was well loaded, and had three tracks.  the rest of us skinned there.  I took some pics and then I was up.  Of course, clearing weather turned to pea soup.  When visibility let up just a bit, I headed down in some creamy goodness. Then off to the lower nose to sample some more fantastic snow.

From atop Thimble Peak, the views are positively wintery.  Fawn Ridge, Emigrant Basin and the Sisters.

Court had enough sightseeing, and decided it was time to make some turns.

He enjoyed the clean slate.  Break trail up, you get your choice of line down.

Of course, with a crowd of 10, there are plenty of options.

Just make sure you don't cross that skin track.  Finding plenty of room to roam.

The storm broke by 8PM, and the stars were out.  6AM seemed way to close, but I was ready.  Morning temperature was 6F.  The sky was clear.  Light was bending over the hills.  And we hiked up to Eagle Bowl to get what we think were the first turns of the season in there.  As we were skinning up Thunder Saddle, we looked back and saw that at least two other parties had made turns and were on our heels.  The goal was the top of 99 Steps.  The sun was out, the air warming, and the stoke level high as we took turns breaking trail.  Needless, to say it was good.  Very good in fact.  But the real creme de la creme was the snow back in the saddle.  Back in the shade.  The top of Two Man was about as good as powder skiing gets.

Most of the entrances into the Saddle are still thin.  This straight line is usually a rollover bowl.

But it is worth threading the needle when Two Man has so as good as it did.

Deep turns all the way through the bottom.

Even down around 6000 feet, a solid snow cover is found.  Welcome back winter.

What a start to the season.  And more is in the forecast.  BA said we would have a cold, early start to winter, and turn out he was spot on.  If you have been wondering if it would worth heading up to Tahoe for the Thanksgiving Weekend, the answer is a resounding "yes."  While we might not see the 100" storm we had two years ago, this will be the best opener we have had in years.  And at the very least, the drive up on Wednesday looks to be clear.  Welcome Winter, and please, take off your coat and stay for a bit.

First snow of the season.

The storm came in late Sunday, and through the next several days it snowed off and on.  By Tuesday, some folks were already out on the hill enjoying the start of the new season.  I waited until Thursday, in part because I had a window, and in part, because I enjoy some sun.  I had made plans with two separate groups, figuring if someone dropped out, I would still have a partner.  Kind of a good thing I did, as I got a text from one, in the early morning hours, that they would not be able to make it.  No worries, glad I double booked.  The drive up was quick, with a little drizzle and some concerning warm  temperatures.  Funny thing is, I lost my second partner when he showed up at the trailhead with no boots.  Fall turns can be funny like that.  We, in part, are practicing for winter.

Being late fall, there was still a little bit of color on the mountain.

The drive up was pretty easy, and super beautiful.

Like this is rough to look at for a few hours.

The hike up started in low clouds.  By mid way, the clouds lifted to a general grey.

But across the valley, things were beginning to open up.

What is one to do.  Even at a resort, it is just silly to travel into the back country by ones self.  So I did what any self respecting earn his turn guy would do.  I saw someone up the hill just a hundred feet, so I stepped in, and skinned up at a good clip.  As I caught up, I chatted a bit, and found a riding partner.  Good work.  The climb was perfect.  The early morning's low clouds began to peel away as bits and pieces of glorious sun shine broke through.  The air was warm, but still crisp.  It was a fantastic morning.

It snowed a bit along the Sierra Crest.

Hiker checking out the cornice he just caused to slide.  It went from about five feet back.  

There were plenty of folks out on the hill.  Taking a gander at Monte's, before they head further in.

Clouds lifting off Round Top and the Sisters, with Buckboard starting to get some sun.

The sun was starting to have its way on Zachs, but this guy enjoyed his first turns of the year.

Glove Rock shows itself.

And this crew is on a mission.

After a quick break and change over at the top, it was decided to hit Monte's before the sun completely turned it into cream cheese.  The turns through the rocks at the top were nice and chalky.  The runout into the bowl was just a tad crusty, but not too bad, then the snow in the bowl was perfect chowder.  Just thick enough so you could really drive in without fear of hitting bottom.  Perfect for deep, fast carves.  Then it was time to climb again, as the snow turned from super fun, to something else.  A quick switch, and it was time to skin back up and take a look at the shadowy side.

(My) first turns of the season.  Woot woot!

Meanwhile, down the ridge a ways, two groups were converging at the Wall.  The folks on the right had hiked from the top of 6.

It looked good.

Through the cliff band, and just getting into the good stuff.  #3 hit some nice snow.

The forth rider, just dropping in and about to negotiate the rocks.  Early season gnar.

Looking into Cham.

Actually considering Ski School, but alas, the gut was dry.

Headed over toward Sentinel Bowl, taking the high line to get a view in to Oly, Cham, Patrol, Ski School and Jims.  Gnaraliscious.  Spied a group heading up the main gut of Sentinel and decided to head down to them.  Fun chalk was found on the shoulder of Glove and honest to goodness powder was found in the Rabbit Trees.  Honest to goodness.  And then it was time for a another slog up, with a another group of folks.  And it ws decided, while I could not ski through Ski School, I sure could skin up to the exit and then hit Fireball.  I think that is what it is called.

So, yeah, it snowed a bit.  Warming over the weekend will melt a good bit of it away.  But we have a good start.

Tracks laid, and another group on there way up.  It got pretty hit up on Thursday.  Stoke level high.

These guys opted for the porn (that is powder, turning toward corn) snow of Sentinel.  

They were pretty stoked on their first turns of the season.

So, if you are a pro, or ski like one, these lines looked ready.  

Looking out toward Spur wishing I had a bit more time to play.

High above the kirkwood Meadow and Route 88.  Smiling.

Took the third run in.  The top was more chalk, but as I got down into the slot in the trees, things turned softer.  Variable at first, but then it was perfect cream cheese, with a little powder still on top.  Ahhh.  And while I did find some bits and pieces of fun skiing below mid mountain, the warming air, the increasing shadows and the thin coverage made for some interesting skiing.  A great first day of the season.  A few resorts have started to open up.  Kirkwood set the date at the 21st.  With some more snow, they might be persuaded to open.  They did have crews out there preparing for snow making and packing down the lower runs.  Anticipation and stoke run high.

Not a bad looking gnar face for late October.  Nom.  nom.

Looking back up at the tag I just laid.  

Again, October is stunning.  Unfrozen lakes and fresh snow in the early season.  

Bye bye.  We will be back soon.

So, while it is not really yet Game On!, it is coming soon.  More snow possible next week and into early November.  At this point, we don't need a whole bunch.  Just something to cover up the old tracks.  Okay, a bit more than that, but you get the point.  Wax up them skis.

Making a few spring turns.

Quick little report on some spring skiing.  Went up to Kirkwood for my final day of lift served for the season, and bumped into Court.  We were going to take a few laps on the lifts and then perhaps head out for a short hike.  Cool air and strong winds were keeping the mountain pretty firm for early May, but it was still fun times.  That is until we learned that folks with restricted passes, were restricted from the closing weekend.  New rules from the new owners.  No worries.  We put on skins and headed out toward Emigrant Lake and Melissa Corey Peak.  Neither of us had been out there this season, so we figured it was time to slog on out there.  Not as easy a task as when the backside lifts are open and running.  But it was worth the effort to get some nice smooth spring corn.

Court drives his way into the sunnyside of California Chute.

Like Bailey's, it's creamy.

And steep.

This is what happens when you lean your camera out over a cliff to try to get the shot.

Down low the snow was perfect corn.

And all this done with but one ski pole.