Posts

Showing posts from March, 2021

The snowpack half empty or half full: You decide

Image
 The latest figures for snowfall puts 200" or half our typically 400" seasonal snowfall at the summit. I am sure on their storm boards this is correct. However, as most skiers know, storm boards don't tell the entire story. They are normally set up in the most protected leeward locations in the trees where lots of snow tends to blow in and lay deep and shaded till spring. That 200" sounds pretty good when you think about it considering how meager meaningful snow has really been.  But hey, take a look around. The fact is we have virtually no low elevation show and the mid altitudes are meager at best. The snowfall on South sides is mostly non-existent as anyone who has been out in Manzanita Bowl lately can tell you They are one sunny week away from being bare boned. Even the snowpack on North aspects is nothing to brag about: The Chutes are a case in point.  Just look at the bottom of your skis and my point will be proven. The fact is we have had a very poor year and

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAY!

Image
Raymond Joseph skied on his birthday just like he always does... despite Covid 19, the flat light and windy conditions. He also had a small party, just like any birthday boy should. I think I speak for all of Mt. Rose when I wish him the best 97th year ever and a Covidless birthday next year! Sven  

The Trailblazer

Image
 There is a man who shall remain unnamed... a Freeman so to speak who works hard to build skier trails for the rest of us, craft a sanctuary of sorts looking out over the Carson Range complete with water bottles and, if your lucky, some really potent sake. Starting years ago this modern ski hero began hacking a way through the Mountain Mahogany jungle and then putting a shovel, pick and rock bar to work levering out boulders to craft a really nice trail so that those wanting to explore a little further afield had a way back in. This free man never asked for help or even wanted it working both winter and summer to improve the trail so that all of us could enjoy the pow that remains outside the rope lines.  Thanks for setting all of us free, Freeman! Sven

Weather or not...

Image
 So it appears the RRR Ridiculously Resilient Ridge may be setting up again bringing us some warm weather and blocking any storms that are even thinking about knocking on our door. Daniel Swain of Weather West paints a pretty grim picture of snow totals so far this year as well as what appears to be on tap for this spring. On top of the this is the fact that last year was nothing to brag about either. Although we have seen many small storms cycle through in March (its even laughable to call them storms by Sierra standards) they have been small, cold and windy not helping a whole lot with our snow deficit or adding much water wise to the snowpack.  What can I say, the drought monitors don't look rosy thats for sure... take a gander at what we are looking at: 

The Chutes Report: March

Image
Well, like Covid 19, this season's weather had resulted in some forced adjustments to many people's skiing habits. Lines much longer than normal, parking lots full of Cali plates and a meager snowpack have provided some challenges to our skiing enjoyment. The Chutes have also experienced some interesting conditions due to numerous slides, a cavalcade of blasting following storm cycles and a critical lack of a base that has stayed in place. Together, these conditions have resulted in less than excellent coverage in many of the chutes. The 2" to 5" March cold pow dumps have only really added to this by just barely covering the rocks and stumps that remain just under or poking out of the snow surface. I skied all named chutes in March and found a lot of hazards just waiting for the "wrong turn" to give me a free stone grind and to possibly send me on an airborne tomahawking mission.  Contrasting this were some chute runs which were on snow and coverage about as

Pow: It blows

Image
 This title for a trifecta of reasons: 1) the last 4 "storms" if you can call them that have been accompanied by fierce winds that have stripped some slopes, loaded others or done both to the same slope changing every square foot; 2) the West side of Tahoe has definitely benefitted from these storms while those of us on the Sierra front have gotten a small percentage of the West side dumps due to the shadowing effect of the Sierras and the storms direction; and finally; 3) if one could stay up on wind direction and deposition it could work to one's advantage settling powder much deeper on some aspects and at certain elevations than others.  Although its just been a few inches at a time, everything helps and had the last two weeks been 55 degrees Slide Bowl would be looking a lot different right now. The colder temps and meager snow amounts at least means we were not losing any. The lines have also been shortened thankfully with two doubles and 2 singles being loaded so th

Thankfully Rose has come through for us!

Image
 After much negotiation and education... the Gubment of Nevada has authorized shorter lines... imagine two doubles and 3 singles and how that will help get folks moved a little quicker! THANK YOU Mt. Rose for pushing this through. It will be much much safer then sitting down there in line for sure! Sven

Celebrating Raymond Joseph: 96 and going strong!

Image
 Raymond Joseph is my hero. At nearly 100 years old he is not only skiing, but skiing well! I had a chance to take a few runs with him last week and let me tell you, this guy is a character. With a memory as clear as spring water he related how he first strapped skis on in 1975 on a home made ski run in Alaska. Its been downhill ever since.  A pipeline engineer by trade, Raymond travelled the world working on dozens of major construction projects and everywhere he went, he managed to make his way to the nearest slopes... even when they were several countries away. He has skied in many different countries all over the world but when retirement was looming Ray and his wife chose Nevada for its wide open spaces. However, Raymond didn't push the "Easy Button" even in retirement.  Instead he bought 40 acres in Palomino Valley and began building a ranch from scratch. Finally installing a windmill for water after a couple of years, Raymond and his wife were pretty happy after on

Almost 30 Avalanche Deaths in as many days... one fatality's retrospective

Image
 Sadly we have witnessed many fatal avalanches across the intermountain West this last month due to a trifecta of factors. A persistent weak layer of snow buried deep followed by large snowfalls combined with more people in the backcountry than ever has created the "Perfect Storm" of avalanche conditions. Although the West Coast has been left out of this storm cycle and avalanche danger, the object lesson should still be plain. If you plan to travel into the BC on skis, board, snowshoes or machine, take the time to prepare with an Avy 1 class and all the necessary equipment including beacon, probe and shovel. Check out some of this POV footage sponsored by the USFS of one of the recent fatalities.