Chimney Open at Squaw Again Yesterday!

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Unknown dropping the Chimney perfectly yesterday at Squaw.  photos:  snowbrains
Unknown dropping the Chimney perfectly yesterday at Squaw. photos: snowbrains

After its earliest opening in 5 years on Monday, the Chimney at Squaw Valley, USA opened again yesterday much to the delight of insane Squaw skiers.  Only the Chimney Sweep has been skied/open so far.

This next storm is gonna stuff about 8 feet of wet, wind blown snow in there, so expect an insane show in the Chimney on Monday…

“We’re in a Face Vortex.”  -Andy Hays
“Today was good. I mean damn good. Groomers were ripping as they have been all week and the snow off piste is still chalky and fun (especially in the shady stuff). The run of the day, hands down, was Headwall face. A nice southwest wind was constantly blowing snow into the Face and we had free refills all afternoon. After 2 laps on the face, we were too deep in the Face Vortex to make it out. It was so good, that any other run was not even an option. I tried ducking out to North Bowl for a lap, and it was good, but it was not the Face good.
Lesson of the day: don’t fight the vortex.” – Guy LaDouche

PHOTO TOUR:

Screen Shot 2016-01-28 at 10.48.50 AM

Headwall Face yesterday.  photo:  snowbrains
Headwall Face yesterday. photo: snowbrains
El NINO FOR PRES!!  photo:  snowbrains
El NINO FOR PRES!! photo: snowbrains
Headwall Face yesterday.  photo:  snowbrains
Headwall Face yesterday. photo: snowbrains
Tram Face yesterday.  Parking lot look empty...  photo:  snowbrains
Tram Face yesterday. Parking lot look empty… photo: snowbrains
Headwall Face yesterday.  photo:  snowbrains
Headwall Face yesterday. photo: snowbrains
KT-22's Rock Garden yesterday.  photo:  snowbrains
KT-22’s Rock Garden yesterday. photo: snowbrains

 


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6 thoughts on “Chimney Open at Squaw Again Yesterday!

  1. Stop throwing around EXAGGERATED numbers snowbrains for snow totals! 8 Feet? your estimates are never even close. I know you want to hype up the snowfall potential numbers, but lets be somewhat realistic! NOAA is calling for about 2 feet with maybe more (uncertain they say!)

    1. Hey C’mon, thanks for the comment. The way the ridge works at Squaw is that these wet storms that drop 2-feet of snow will stuff more snow than that at the bottom of the cliffs on the ridge (ie the palisades). 8-feet may be a bit much, and yes, we were esaggerting, but it might not be far off with this storm. The wind will be blowing hard up there during this storm and it’ll be packing that wet snow onto the Palisades in higher amounts than the straight snowfall. Kinda cool, but sometimes bad because storms like this can totally bury fun features at Squaw. We’ll see what happens. thanks

      1. Fair enough, i get the windloading thing in the palisades as I have skied the chimney myself (only a a big year, not as bold and young as you guys) Lets hope for big snow

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