On a stormy April afternoon in 1978, the Cable Car at Squaw Valley came off of one of its cables, dropped 75 feet and then bounced back up, colliding with a cable which sheared through the car. Four people we killed and thirty-one were injured. Robert Frohlich tells the full story of the Squaw Cable Car tragedy and the heroic rescue effort in this Moonshine article >>

The birds are making noise, the snow is melting and temperatures are supposed to reach 67 degrees today in Truckee. Despite the huge snows we received in January, the snowpack has dipped slightly below average. But there’s still plenty of snow in the mountains and spring skiing is excellent: firm in the mornings, creamy from 11-1 and getting slushy in the afternoons. It was a big season for Squaw in more ways that the snow. Patrol opened more terrain in Silverado and extended the boundary in Sun Bowl. Even more terrain at a mountain that was anything but lacking terrain to begin with!

Next to powder, corn snow is the most fun to ski. So live it up this weekend because a cold front with gusty winds will likely move in on Sunday night and firm it all up.

Check out new shades from companies like Spy, Smith, Dragon, Electric, Giro, Uvex and Zeal.
Preview new sunglasses for 2008-09 here >>

Here’s a preview of new helmets and goggle systems for 2008-09, including descriptions of features and photos, from all the major manufactures: Smith, Giro, Salomon, Electric, Spy, Scott, Dragon, Marker, Zeal, Swans, K2, Bolle and Uvex.

This season is just starting to wind down, but manufactures are already ramped up for next season with their new lines of fatties and twins. Here’s a preview of new skis for 2008-09, including dimensions and photos, from all the major manufactures: Rossignol, Palmer, Karhu, Dynastar, Elan, Icelantic, K2, Line, Movement, High Society Freeride, Scott, Volkl, Salomon, Black Diamond, Atomic, Fischer and 4FRNT.

Opedix sent me a pair of its new Knee Action Ski & Board tights to test last month. They’re reinforced with extra supportive material running down the outside of the legs from waist to ankle and completely surrounding the knee. The added support was notable when I wore them downhill skiing, x-c skiing and while practicing yoga. Instead of having to focus on tightening the quad, hamstrings and glutes, the muscles felt like they were already tightened and engaged, letting me make the next turn or stride more powerfully and easily. Read the full review here >

I just got a new wheeled carry-on bag from High Sierra! Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, High Sierra is the official bag supplier for the US Ski and Snowboard teams. The best thing about this carry-on is that it’s not black! Mine is bright green, sure not to be mistaken for someone else’s on the conveyor. It’s also made of ultra-durable fabric and packed with thoughtful features. The main bag has wheels and zip-out shoulder straps. A detachable backpack also zips on to the front in case you decide to check the bag or for easier transport when your bags aren’t checked. All the compartments are well-padded and it’s got dual-sided water bottle pockets and an mp3 player headphone port. It’s the small things like this that keep me from feeling like as much of a junk show while navigating through airport security.

I’ve eyed the north-facing gladded lines just south of West River Street for years. Recently, tracks have been laid down after big storms. On the drive back to Sierra Meadows, after a crowded day at Squaw, I think about taking a day to ski those lines myself. Yesterday we got eight inches and the time was right. I started from the top of Rainbow Street in Sierra Meadows. The summit terminal of the old Poma lift (the oldest ski lift in California) is located next to a water tank at the top of an access road above Rainbow. The Poma lift line down to the Cottonwood restaurant is not that steep (but pointing it on old wooden skis with no edges probably felt like it!), so I navigated skiers left across a meadow to access the steeper terrain facing West River Street. Here the slope steepens to around 34-degrees. Looking down at the Truckee River and West River Street, I dropped into the fresh eight inches. Though I could still feel the scratch below, the turns were fresh and the total vertical – from the top of the Poma to the Meadow by the Truckee River – was 400 feet. From there it’s a short skin or hike back to the Cottonwood. Laps here should be even better after the next big storm. -Rob McCormick

See photos here >>

Despite icy conditions, skiers hucked huge cliffs — and stuck the landings fluidly — at Squaw’s freeskiing competition last week. The performances were amazing. One after another, skiers dropped big air onto hardpack and skied away. It left me wondering whether improvements in equipment had anything to do with the performances. Fat skis and dampening boots and bindings may help, but most of the credit goes to the competitors. “It’s the skiers” says Shane McConkey, “The level of skiing is much higher than it used to be when I was competing.”

See the videos here >>

The Benson Hut trip was a big success with warm sunny skies, an endless sunset, creamy corn and some dry powdery snow.