Kirkwood, CA Conditions Report : Variable

Kirkwood Conditions Report — Steep, hard AF bumps….my favorite! Image: Snowbrains

The drive from South Lake Tahoe out to Kirkwood, CA is so beautiful (see bonus photos at end) that you can’t help but feel super stoked when you get to this slice of “rare earth.”

I was feeling the stoke, or in this case overstoke, when I hopped on Cornice Express for my first run.

As I neared the top, I was greeted with the view you see above…and started to suspect that dropping straight down into bumpy terrain was gonna be my only option.

Don’t get me wrong, I can handle this just fine…I just don’t really want to. It’s not exactly ideal on a snowboard.

In no way do I blame the mountain or staff for this first run bad decision, the lift was properly marked with an “Advanced Only” sign. I do love Cornice Express, but the early season variable conditions are a little tough right now.

After surviving the Cornice, I decided to heed the “Experts Only” sign on the Wall, and opted for the Reut instead. And that’s when my fun began.

My recommendation: quick safety meeting, pop in the ear buds, crank some metal and go as fast as you f*ckin can. That’s the formula for a great day right there…particularly when groomers are your only option.