Lake Tahoe area skiing -- at least Squaw -- as been INCREDIBLE.
My husband came in Thursday, son and I followed Friday night. MISERABLE drive. CalsTrans posted "4 hour waits at Applegate" -- a spot at lower elevation where they check chains. But it was largely a bluff, I think to discourage people.
At Squaw....
Saturday: a bit to the heavy side. But easily 8-24" depending on the spot and the drifting. A bit groomed, but that is not where I ski, so I can hardly report on that fairly. Upper mountain slow to open, so KT22 got quite skied out. But even so, it was tracked powder, with some firmer moguls developing on the West Face, GS Bowl and even on Red Dog Ridge. Headwall opened, then Granite Chief opened by 1:30, but I stayed on the lower mountain, as it was still quite good - such as Sun Bowl and North Bowl, on Headwall.
Sunday: much lighter snow. Lots falling from the sky. Headwall and upper mountain never opened, but who cared!
Monday: WOW most of the mountain opened. (Not Silverado, for those who know Squaw. Hasn't been open yet this season, and today a 8' deep slide occured when the area was bombed - taking out all the newly accumulated snow. So who knows when we will get in there.) In the meantime, KT, Headwall and Granite opened in rapid succession, the throng moving up the hill like locusts. A break in the storm overnight let mountain op's and patrol do a heroic job getting things going. Broken Arrow, Tower 16, Sun Bowl, Light Towers, C2 Chutes, Dead Tree, Rock Garden -- all in FINE shape.
Our son is part of the Freestyle team, and the coaches late yesterday sent the older mogul team boys home to find beacons, under armor, and shovels, in anticipation of the deep powder and BIG drops from rocks/cliffs like No Way Out ( 30-40 ft drop, Cornice 2 Bowl) and Adrenaline, the 50-65 ft monster off Headwall. I saw some of what they were doing -- pretty impressive. Ski patrol came by Adrenaline, as it is noted for its flat landing and deep "burial" landings -- and they were happy to find that the kids had shovels out and ready to help teammates who made the jump. Including my son.
However he broke his ski doing it... from the chair I could see him down the hill, stopping and holding up his ski. Hours later he walks in the condo, dead Gotama in hand. Coaches lent him a pair for the rest of the day....
So yes, it has been a wild few days at Squaw. And I imagine these stories can be told about the other Tahoe ski areas. And tomorrow may be even better, with Wednesday clearing for a Blue Bird.
Jen
