The Chutes 2020 Last Call

The end of Winter In the Chutes 2020 is upon us! Only Saddle is left and even that will most likely require a rappel over the small falls in there. Only diehards need apply.

Sven


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sven Svenhardt Back on the Air

Image
 Greetings all and Happy New Year 2023; Have had some technical issues on my end so please pardon the fact that this is the first post of this winter. Despite the National Weather Service dire predictions of a low snow year, so far this has not been the case as December puts us heads and tails above the averages.  Mid-December skiing was some of the best we have ever had with the last storm cycle ending with windless stellar flakes falling straight down with temps in the low teens adding up to 18" of the lightest fluffiest powder I have seen in the Sierras in a long time. Result: skiing was unbelievably good both on-piste and off. After the initial avalanche cycle ran its course with some major climax releases in Miller Time and The Hourglass the snow stabilized nicely for the next 10 days. With colder than average temps and no wind to speak of the snow stayed Colorado-like resulting in fantastic skiing for more than a week.  The only negative at Rose was the almost complete lack
Read more

The Season Winds Down with a Bang & a Whimper...

Image
Lots of BBQ's, beer wagons and costumed patrons led to a great last day of the season at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. Many closing days have been less than extraordinary with frozen crust, snow or high winds. Today was the exeption. Although there was some wind at the top it didn't amount to much and the snow softened quickly with temps in the 50's. The Chutes almost didn't open. Understaffed, the lift department just didn't have enough liftees... in stepped Mikyla (pictured below) a ski patrol rookie who volunteered to run The Chuter Unload... thanks to Patrol for making The Chutes happen the last day. They were absolutely sublime with all gates East of El Cap open. One could also downhill traverse over to El Cap which was the best I've seen it sans pow in many years. Pic is of Naia Selby ripping down it like it was a groomer. I can say with confidence The Chutes were absolutely stunning today and so forgiving that even I felt pretty good dancing with gravity. Groomer
Read more

Loss of a Reno Ski Icon: Rusty Crook Lives On (in all of us).

Image
It seems almost everyone who had anything to do with skiing in Northern Nevada and Tahoe knew Rusty.  I met him after he had broken quite a few ribs in a bad fall on Silver Dollar many moons ago... he kept trying to get up despite his injuries and the excruciating pain every time he moved even a little. Still, he wanted me to help him up so he could ski down the hill and not ride in the patrol toboggan. It took less than 30 seconds to realize he was hurt much too badly to be skiing and and as he winced in pain he urged me to try again and get him up standing so he could get his other ski back on. He was bleeding and had labored breathing and was obviously in a lot of pain and I told him thats just not going to happen as I got his other ski off. He was not happy with me as I crossed my skis uphill to protect him from getting hit at the top of the Silver break-over. Patrol showed up and took over treating him for broken ribs and the open cuts on his face and mouth. He had fallen hard...
Read more