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donner summit

Experienced Mountain Guide Dies in Solo Climb at Donner Summit’s Black Wall, CA

Experienced mountain guide Aaron Livingston perished in a solo climbing accident at Donner Summit’s Black Wall at Lake Tahoe, CA. The 32-year-old had been free soloing at the popular climbing spot on Monday evening, September 4, 2023. Livingston had been working for Alpenglow Expeditions as a member of their California guide team. The team at Alpenglow is devastated at the […]

ClimbingClimbing
SnowBrains | September 12, 2023
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Top 5 Powder Stashes at Sugar Bowl Resort, CA

Sugar Bowl Powder

Brought to you by Sugar Bowl Resort Sugar Bowl Resort sits atop Donner Summit, CA, and is notorious for its deep snowpack and scenic vistas. It is also home to some of my favorite powder stashes of all time. The resort consists of four peaks, each with its own unique zones. A powder day at Sugar Bowl means touring the resort […]

Featured ArticleFeatured Article
Katy Shipley | March 29, 2022
1 Comment

9 Incredible Sierra Nevada, California Snow Records:

Squaw Valley, alpine meadows, california, snowiest month ever, februburied

The Sierra Nevada is no stranger to big snowstorms. As far back as the November 1846, The Donner Party learned this the hard way with a 5-foot overnight snowstorm. Since snowfall record keeping began in 1879, there have been some incredible snowstorms in the Sierra Nevada of California. The Sierras still get huge amounts of snow with Sugar Bowl ski resort leading the charge with 500″ of snow per year. This isn’t surprising as Sugar Bowl is located on Donner Pass, where many of the records below took place. […]

SnowBrains | December 28, 2021
3 Comments

Sugar Bowl, CA Report: Still Winter on Donner Summit

Vintage Film Footage (1930) of backcountry skiing on Donner Summit, pre-Sugar Bowl | YouTube – Bela Vadasz Report from March 22, 2021 Brought to you by Sugar Bowl Resort The Spring Equinox was over the weekend, but it sure felt like winter at Sugar Bowl on Monday. After a weekend of instructor training with an AIARE Level 1 Avalanche Course […]

Conditions ReportConditions Report
Mike Bartholow | March 26, 2021
1 Comment

Snowmobiler Dead After Cornice Break/Cliff Fall/Avalanche Near Lake Tahoe, CA Yesterday

A snowmobiler died after falling off a cornice break/cliff fall/avalanche at Frog Lake just north of Donner Pass near Lake Tahoe, CA yesterday, March 20, 2021. We are getting conflicting reports from The Sierra Avalanche Center and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office with one saying it was a cliff fall and the other saying it was a cornice break/fall/avalanche. The […]

Industry NewsIndustry News
AvyBrains | March 21, 2021
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The Tahoe Backcountry Alliance Requests Public Help to Ensure Success of Donner Lake Run Parking Lot

With good snow and exciting lines, the Donner Lake Run has become a popular backcountry ski area for the likes of Tahoe backcountry users. Beginning at Donner Summit Skyline, the Donner Lake Run offers incredible, picturesque views of the Tahoe area. There’s just one problem… In order to gain access to this area, backcountry recreationists must park in the neighborhoods […]

BackcountryBackcountry
Spencer Cox | August 27, 2020
4 Comments

Still Thinking About; Soda Springs Mountain Resort, CA

A Pre-COVID-19 Closure Report brought to you by Ski California Thanks to diligent, on-going media coverage the world is aware that threat of a human-transmitted, novel virus, COVID-19 has created a new and sadly necessary social barrier among society. It has seized global economies, put the clamps on industry, and generally raised pulses. But however weird the wind may blow […]

Trip ReportTrip Report
Paulie | March 26, 2020
0 Comments

Sugar Bowl Resort, CA Launches $8 Million Snowmaking Initiative

Sugar Bowl steeps

Sugar Bowl Resort, CA sits nestled in the peaks of Donner Summit.  Known for its heavy snowfall and exciting terrain, this Sierra Nevada gem belongs on the bucket list. Even though this resort sees record breaking winters, investments in snowmaking are still on the priority list.  According to a recent Sugar Bowl Resort press release, the resort has announced an […]

Industry NewsIndustry News
Katy Shipley | August 7, 2018
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