Shane McConkey: 16 Years Gone But Still Inspiring As I woke up on Thursday and realized the date, it came to me that it is soon to be 6 years since the world lost a great man. Skiing lost its greatest, most dynamic influence and I lost one of the most motivational people in my life both on and off skis. 6 Years ago to date we lost Shane McConkey to a tragic ski base (skiing combined with base jumping) accident. In this he was pushing the sport; he for the most part created, innovated, and progressed. For many people they can recount exactly what they were doing when life changing events occurred, for me Shane’s death was one of these. Sitting in a college library scrolling through […] SnowBrains | March 26, 2025 3 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Report: Fear, Anxiety, & Relief in “The Chimney” Report from March 20, 2025 “Scott Schmidt described [The Chimney Sweep] as being like a 90-meter ski jump. This is an appropriate analogy, particularly at low and low-medium snow levels. When viewed from above, the inrun looks long, and it feels even longer when you are skiing it.” – Dr. Robb Gaffney in Squallywood Difficulty: Medium Snow 8, High Snow […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | March 21, 2025 0 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Report: Backflips Off The Tram Building & Mainline Pocket | Big Hucks Off “The Drifter” & “Smooth Air” Report from March 18, 2025 When you’re old, you need a plan. And a friend. Or, better yet, a friend with a plan. I had local legend Aaron Fox guiding me yesterday and he had a plan. There are so many options on a sunny powder day at Palisades… You can get overwhelmed. You can easily make the wrong call. […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | March 19, 2025 0 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Report: “Best Day of the Year at Palisades (for me)” – Cody Townsend Report from March 17, 2025 “Best day of the year at Palisades (for me).” – Cody Townsend, 3/18/25 I think Cody is right. It was the best day of the year at Palisades for me so far for sure. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cody Townsend (@codytownsend) The day started cold, windy, and snowy. KT-22 skied […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | March 18, 2025 0 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Announces it Will Remain Open Through Memorial Day Palisades Tahoe, California, is an unparalleled spring destination, boasting the longest skiing and riding season in Lake Tahoe. There is much to love about spring at Palisades Tahoe, from the corn snow and crazy events to live music and après afternoons, once again proving why the resort is the official Spring Skiing Capital®. Related: Palisades Tahoe, CA, Report: Sunny Wind-Buff […] Industry News Press Release | March 18, 2025 0 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Report: Sunny Wind-Buff Snow Fun in the “Ahhh Chutes” Report from March 16, 2025 Yesterday was a sunny, wind-buff snow day at Palisades Tahoe, CA. We weren’t sure what to expect, so we got out there early. The previous day delivered wind buff magic at Palisades that we sampled from 3-4pm after backcountry skiing. Right off the bat, the wind-blown snow was stiff and catchy. It wasn’t great. Then, […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | March 17, 2025 0 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Report: “Chute 75” | Saw The Skull & Crossbones, Skied It Anyway Report from March 14, 2025 After backcountry skiing in the morning, we rallied for a few laps at Palisades Tahoe, CA. We bubbled directly onto KT-22 looking for windbuff. We were told Chute 75 was smooth and flat we we went there first. It was perfect. Wind blow snow, no moguls (on the upper part), good turns, high speeds. Our […] Conditions Report Miles Clark | March 15, 2025 0 Comments
Patroller Injured and Skier Partially Buried Following Inbounds Avalanches at Palisades Tahoe, CA, Yesterday A ski patroller at Palisades Tahoe, California, was injured Thursday morning while en route to perform avalanche control work near the KT-22 chairlift, reports the SF Chronicle. The incident occurred around 8 a.m. after a major storm dumped over two feet of snow in 24 hours, creating significant avalanche risk across the Sierra Nevada. The patroller suffered a leg injury […] Avalanche AvyBrains | March 14, 2025 0 Comments
Palisades Tahoe and Olympic Valley Freestyle to Host Toyota U.S. Freestyle Championships March 27-30 In partnership with Olympic Valley Freestyle, Palisades Tahoe, California, is proud to announce that it will host the Toyota U.S. Freestyle Championships from March 27-30 on the legendary Red Dog course. This premier event will bring together the nation’s top moguls and dual moguls skiers as they compete for national titles in one of the most challenging disciplines in winter […] Industry News SnowBrains | March 14, 2025 0 Comments
Why KT-22 at Palisades Tahoe, CA, is the Best Chairlift in North America Shane McConkey once called KT-22 “the greatest lift in America.” McConkey also said, “There’s just a helluva lotta fun to be had on that mountain.” As the story goes, in 1946, Sandy Poulsen, the wife of Wayne Poulsen, founder of Squaw Valley Ski Resort, hiked to the top of an intimidating 8,100-foot peak. To get down the steep mountainside, she […] SnowBrains | March 6, 2025 40 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: Over 12 inches of Snow For California This Week SUMMARY: A series of moderate storms will usher in a welcomed return of winter weather this week, bringing multiple rounds of snowfall and much cooler temperatures to the Sierra. Two main waves will impact ski areas across California, the first moving through from late Saturday night into Monday, and the second arriving midweek from late Tuesday through Thursday. Snow levels […] Weather WeatherBrains | March 1, 2025 0 Comments
The 6 Best Spring Skiing Resorts in North America Spring skiing is a sacred activity in North America. The seriousness of winter was gradually worn away as skier’s and rider’s furrowed brows soften due to playful spring snow conditions, the skin of members of the opposite sex, and strong alcoholic beverages. In North American ski towns, spring is about renewal, alternate activities, goofy costumes, snowller blades, hot tubs, and live music. Many ski resort offer some sort of combination of the above mention sacred springtime activities but only a few offer up the whole enchilada. These are the chosen ones: […] Industry News SnowBrains | February 22, 2025 4 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Brings Back Town Race League Series for its 75th Anniversary Palisades Tahoe, California, is excited to announce the return of the Town Race League Series, an iconic community event that has been on hiatus for several years. In celebration of the resort’s 75th anniversary, Palisades Tahoe is reviving this beloved race series, offering locals a fun and competitive way to spend their winter evenings. Related: [PHOTOS] Palisades Tahoe, CA, Report: […] Industry News SnowBrains | February 21, 2025 0 Comments
2 Avalanches Reported at Palisades Tahoe, CA Palisades Tahoe, California, reported two small avalanches today, requiring ski patrol and rescue teams to respond. The slides occurred around 10:50 a.m. on the Palisades side of the resort, one in the Enchanted Forest area and another near Olympic Lady. Resort officials reported no injuries from the incident. Ski patrol members and avalanche rescue dog teams were immediately dispatched to […] Avalanche AvyBrains | February 14, 2025 0 Comments
[PHOTOS] Palisades Tahoe, CA, Report: Steep Skiing and Amazing Vistas Report from Sunday, February 9, 2025 Of all the furry creatures that call Lake Tahoe home, the booming population of black bears are probably the most famous. More seldom seen is the badger, though sightings occur almost every year. This past weekend, a large group of Badger Chemists were spotted at Palisades Tahoe. Not surprisingly, Badger Chemists are found in […] Conditions Report Zach Armstrong | February 11, 2025 0 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Report: Two-Day Blend of Powder Days and Bluebird Après Action This report is from Friday, February 7, and Saturday, February 8 We prayed to whatever snow god would listen. It was a warm 37℉ and rainy Thursday night at Incline Village, and we needed those temperatures to drop for a fantastic Friday of riding at Palisades Tahoe, California. We each took a shot of Lebron x Hennessy to bring us […] Conditions Report Jack Bynum | February 10, 2025 1 Comment
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Has Seen 53″ Snow in February With Another 39″ in the Forecast In the past 24 hours, 14 inches of new snow have fallen on the upper mountain of Palisades Tahoe, California, and it has been snowing all morning. The resort has seen 52″ of fresh snow in February. Another snowstorm is brewing in the Pacific and heading its way. Two low-pressure systems are set to approach the coast by Wednesday night. The […] Industry News SnowBrains | February 7, 2025 0 Comments
[VIDEO] Palisades Tahoe, CA, and the Legacy of Former Mountain Manager Jimmy King Jimmy King has moved to Senior Advisor, and Kyle Crezee has become the new Mountain Manager. Olympic Valley, Calif. [January 15, 2024]— After an incredible 50 years of unwavering dedication to Palisades Tahoe, California, and over three decades shaping its slopes as Mountain Manager, Jimmy King has passed the torch to the next fearless leader. Kyle Crezee now steps in […] Industry News SnowBrains | January 16, 2025 0 Comments
Palisades Tahoe, CA, Operations Update: Mixed Precipitation Followed by Powder Operations Update: Mixed Precipitation Followed by Powder By Maddie Condon/Palisades Tahoe on December 27, 2024 The storm that rolled in on Thursday dumped 12 inches of new snow in 24 hours on our upper mountain, and 2 inches of snow at the base. That being said, winds are playing a big factor in our operational ability, as this storm is […] Industry News SnowBrains | December 27, 2024 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: White Christmas Incoming for California–Up to 30 Inches Expected This forecast was written at 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 21 We’re kicking off the Christmas week with multiple waves of snowfall across the Sierra, delivering deep turns just in time for the holiday. Upper snow levels this weekend will give way to colder air by Tuesday, setting the stage for moderate to heavy snowfall in many resorts. Another system […] Weather WeatherBrains | December 21, 2024 0 Comments