12 Months in a Row Skiing Californiaโ€™s Sierra Nevada Mountains

John Cunningham | | Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report
12 months skiing
Looking back at our lines. 12 months skiing in a row! | Image: Author

Report from Friday, October 27, 2023

We woke up around 8 a.m. to below-freezing temperatures and bright blue fall skies, unsure what to expect for the day.

However, one thing was for sure: we were going to find some snow, strap in, and make a few delightful October turns to accomplish our goal of skiing 12 months straight. 

I had two different locations in mind, but with some helpful insight from a few folks on Instagram, I decided we would try our luck at the patch again.

The dirt road still had a beautiful dusting of snow lingering in the shadows from the small storm on Wednesday/Thursday.

12 months skiing
Parked the car and started hiking up the snowy, rutted-out dirt road. | Image: Author

As we slowly continued along, there was more and more snow visible, and our excitement kept growing.

But the road was in much worse shape than a month ago.

There were two-to-four-foot ruts, large boulders partially hidden by a couple of inches of snow, and a nice coating of ice layering the rocky road.

My Subaru wasnโ€™t up for the challenge this time.

We parked the car, loaded up our skis and snowboard, and started on our roughly mile-long hike to find a patch. 

12 months skiing
Loaded up and on our way to find some October turns! | Image: Denise Sylvester

A short 20-minute hike brought us to the first patch, the one we skied back in September.

The snow was almost completely melted out, minus the fresh dusting from the day before. 

Another five minutes of hiking brought us to the next patch, still scattered with rails and tubes, still showing signs of the summer-time sending.

This was our objective, and it was doable and also less than ideal. 

Rails, tubes, rocks, and some snow. This was our intended zone. | Image: Author

However, I got some inside scoop a couple of days before that the furthest patch up at the pass was โ€˜still looking pretty goodโ€™!

So on we wentโ€ฆ

For the next half mile, we traipsed along the narrow, winding road across rocks, ice, and three to five inches of wind-blown, stiff snow cratered in the deep ruts. 

Donโ€™t get too close to the edge of the road! | Image: Author

After just about a mile and a half of hiking in, hoping to find a patch worth shredding, we laid eyes on the prize.

We had a quick snack, basked in the glory of the stunning mountains surrounding us, and booted up.

Just before dropping in, another skier passed us, coming from another area, and we shared a quick hoot and holler over securing our October turns.

The snow was punchy with a firm wind crust, some solid patches of ice, and of course, some sharks poking out here and there.

Making these October turns and successfully skiing 12 months in a row, with this backdrop, was amazing. | Image: Author

But regardless, it felt damn good to be out there sliding on snow again. 

Plus, I would say it still beat the giant, icy sun cups we were expecting if we hadnโ€™t gotten that little fresh snow.

We got to the bottom with huge smiles and high-fived as we shared a special moment before we started the hike back up for another one.

One more go down the October snow and a quick hike back up to our packs proved to be more than enough for the both of us.

What an incredible way to spend a late October day! | Image: Denise Sylvester

We successfully skied 12 months in a row in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

With ski resorts opening in the Tahoe area in the next few weeks, months 13-19 should be a breeze!

Keep doing those snow dances, people!

 

Forecast

Image: NOAA

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