Report from February 25, 2023

Today was one of those bizarre happenchance days where you roll the dice and hope it comes up a 7.

We woke up early, got on the road and hit dead-stopped traffic.

The World Cup at Palisades Tahoe jammed up the roads everywhere.

We called an audible, threw an aggressive U-turn and somehow hit more traffic…

Eventually, the traffic petered out and we were free.

Up we climbed.

Up above Lake Tahoe and into a cloud.

Putting in the skin track was a chore through thicket, brush, and mossy twig.

Up higher the skinning came easier and the views vanished in a foggy shroud.

The view from the top of this peak can be breathtaking.

Today it consisted of icy barnacles and jagged rocks in blowing mist.

We lingered not.

We dropped down, dug pits, felt slab, and moved to less consequential terrain.

On the 2nd slope we tested, things felt better.

Broken terrain, less steep, more familiar, less consequence.

As we geared up, the lake came into view…

More visibility made everything feel less scary.

Drop in.

Left turn.

Right turn.

Not the best snow, but not horrible either.

Sketchy windboard quickly turned to predictable cream cheese

The snow was a workout.

Grunting for every turn, but it was soft and it was fresh.

Towards the bottom, it became a sticky mank that demanded  100% effort and the flexing of every muscle in your core.

Obstacles abounded down low…

Rock, stump, bush, stab-you-stick.

At the lakeshore, we were all smiles.

The audible worked.

Traffic and frustration averted.

Good times, new lines, and “pow” acquired 🙂

Apres burritos.

Thanks, Tahoe.

WEATHER FORECAST

AVALANCHE FORECAST

PHOTOS