1 Shot @ The Chimney, Bluebird Pow, Crud, & Groomers | Squaw Valley USA Powder Day Report:

Guy LaDouche | | Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report
The Palisades were quite inviting today... maybe a bit too inviting?
The Palisades were quite inviting today… maybe a bit too inviting?

Dare I say it was the best day of the season? Almost. Was it one of the most fun days I’ve had all year? Hell yes. We got a little bit of a late start and took our first run at 10am. Big mistake. We had amazing spring pow for our first run, but I gave myself a nice slap in my own face for not getting here by 9am. Siberia and the Palisades were going off first thing in the morning and we saw some nice lines as we rode Sibo up. There was a nice, girthy line under the world famous Chimney’s “Center Line” (more on that later).

Nice line, bro
Nice line, bro

By 11am, the 6 inches of fresh in the last 24 hrs started to get a bit sticky icky. Granite was riding well in the steeper, shadier terrain. By 1pm, we stuck to groomers and tried our best dynamic short radius turns, kind of like the Aussies do it. Park laps were a blast all day!

The intruder in the Chimney today going off Center Line.  photo:  Scott Gaffney
The intruder in mid-flight in the Chimney today going off Center Line. photo: Scott Gaffney

So back to the Chimney… from afar, there was a nice clean line coming out of Center Line. From up close, it was clear that someone had big enough balls to bypass the closed signs and be EXTREME. The landing looks like “thank god it was soft” and I don’t think he got very far. Rumor has it that he got his pass pulled and maybe even got arrested. I heard some kids saying that he got tazed, hog-tied, and handcuffed as well. Oh how I love Squaw.

Solid 50+ footer in the Chimney today.
Solid 50+ footer in the Chimney today.
Chimney CLOSED
Chimney CLOSED. Define ‘closed’…

Make sure you make it up this weekend to enjoy what’s looking like the final pow of the season.

The weekend is shaping up nicely!
The weekend is shaping up nicely!

Photo Tour – 4/23

Devin Nelson going huge
Devin Nelson going huge
Skimac ripping the pow
Skimac ripping the pow

 

Rooster getting backwards on us
Rooster getting backwards on us

 

Ignore the hands
Ignore the hands

 

Lots of grabbing happening today
Lots of grabbing happening today

 

This grab's for you
This grab’s for you

 

Jesse shows us how to spread 'em
Jesse shows us how to spread ’em

 

Shifty!
Shifty!
Everybody's doin 'em. They must be cool
Everybody’s doin ’em. They must be cool

Photo Tour – 4/22, the pow day before

Dumping all afternoon on Granite!
Dumping all afternoon on Granite!
He wishes he was a hockey player
He wishes he was a hockey player
Fresh in our secret place
Fresh in our secret place
Sun peeking through for a short while
Sun peeking through for a short while
Last chair out of Shirley and still coming down
Last chair out of Shirley and still coming down
#snowbrains
#snowbrains

 


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7 thoughts on “1 Shot @ The Chimney, Bluebird Pow, Crud, & Groomers | Squaw Valley USA Powder Day Report:

  1. Does anyone out there remember or have a copy or access to a Squaw Valley film produced possibly 20+ years ago involving Head Groomer Tom Johnson on a night grooming run on the mountain. I am in desperate need of a copy of this film as Tom has recently passed away and his family would greatly appreciate said film. It may have been produced for Public Television in the Squaw Valley area..
    Please contact me

  2. Yeah James! I think Friday was AMAZING! totally felt the same way… What was I thinking for showing up so late! It was at least 14-19 times better than I was expecting. Biggest sleeper day of the season by far and most of all far and away the BESTEST snow I’ve seen that late in any season that I have ever had. YOWZAH. It was such an anomaly mainly because the air was warm and the snow was sooooooo light and chalky. It wasn’t making sense to me but I was not about to complain. And Yes Jimmy it is true. No matter what the condish…. If you had a bummer day… It’s your own fault

  3. You skied for one hour before it got “sticky icky” and “almost” declared today the best day of the season?… riiiiiight. Talk about sensationalized. I skied at 9 am and it was great but come noon it was shit.

    1. It started to get sticky icky if you didn’t know were to find the better snow. Landings were getting soft and there were many jumpable features all over the mountain. The park was fun all day. Everyone has their own definition of best. As my bud Dukaroo likes to say “If you can’t have fun skiing, you f*cked up!”

  4. If you’re poaching the chimney you’ve got to stomp it and get the hell outta there and not wear yellow look at me clothes.

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