The past few years in and around Lake Tahoe have hosted abnormally dry Decembers leaving us with man made snow and very few lifts. However, this December broke Tahoe’s loosing streak, bringing Tahoe a phenomenal December with heaps of snow and over half of Squaw Valley open. The beginning of the month gave Tahoe dry powder from a large storm that accumulated up to 16″. Near mid month at the beginning of Christmas Break the Tahoe basin received a wet storm that really filled in on the upper mountain but delivered rain on the lower mountain. Rain followed the storm as the low moved out of the basin delivering good spring skiing on the mountains. A cold storm on Christmas Eve buffed out most of the resorts and created some fast chalk and wind buff as well as keep temperatures cold for break. A second storm even colder brought the exact same results and the end of the month before high pressure moved in after January 1.
The video above is from Nick Russell’s account of December 2014.
Near the end of the month temperatures began to warm up and the skiing became worse on the north facing aspects. However, south and east facing aspects exposed to the sun held great spring skiing. We decided to build a jump in the sun for flips, spins and getting the best from the soft conditions (it is featured in the video).
Photo Tour of Jump:
Yeah Boys!!!