Tahoe Backcountry Update: Good Snow Up High

by Ryan W. Williams

Tahoe is beyond magical.  We are blessed to call this place home.

Major perk: Winter is always on in Tahoe from November to May, it’s just a matter of how deep and how high one is willing to go.

This season  has been a sleeper up high and deep.  Since the season kicked off, we have enjoyed over 24 powder days.  Yes, multiple powder days in Tahoe this year. 

What truly defines a powder day?  If you enjoy fast, steep, smooth, no ice turns with blower snow engulfing you on each turn…then yes, I guess it’s a powder day. 

Even though it’s not our normal Tahoe 3 feet of bottomless dream conditions, the snow and sun this year has been a blast.  A no one is out there.  They are all in Jackson Hole. Thank You.

And yesterday was just that.  Hunting for winter in Tahoe and finding it February 21, 2015. 

Zen day in Tahoe backcountry with only our crew of two in this zone, just 1.5 hour from car.  Truly sacred.

Zone: North Shore of Lake Tahoe 9,500-10,500 feet

Aspect with Powder: North-East facing slopes

Conditions: Wintery blower smooth snow

Time: 5 hour loop

Vertical: 1000’  (three runs completed)

Slope: 55-40 degrees

Location: _____