Lake Tahoe Skiing Blog

Skiing Stoke from Lake Tahoe

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Hot and Cold

The Pacific Crest on Tuesday morning, March 8.

The Pacific Crest on Tuesday morning, March 8.

On the heels of a February which delivered only one storm, March has welcomed us with the return of much needed precipitation. Atmospheric rivers have blasted into Northern California with copious amounts of moisture typically starting as rain and finishing as snow. Higher elevations have received several feet of the white stuff since March 1. Last weekend’s storm finished wet and heavy keeping patrol busy with avalanche control on Monday morning. Cold temps Monday night dried out and vastly improved the snowpack for those who got out early on Tuesday. Wednesday it warmed up and started raining again. The forecast for this weekend has been scaled back but we may see solid snow totals if it stays cold enough.

Donner Peak on Monday afternoon, March 7.

Donner Peak on Monday afternoon, March 7.

Pacific Crest and Mt. Lincoln.

Pacific Crest and Mt. Lincoln.

Tuesday morning glory.

Tuesday morning glory.

Winter rolls on

Kevin Verlander takes a walk on February 1, 2016.

Kevin Verlander takes a walk on February 1, 2016.

Last week’s atmospheric river produced two to four inches of liquid and finished with cold temperatures and great snow. Gale force northeast winds on Sunday night created wind slabs on a variety of aspects. Two skier triggered slides were reported in the vicinity of Relay Peak and Incline Lake Peak on Monday. Overcast skies on Tuesday generated a few more inches of fluff. We have had so many great ski days this winter it’s hard to believe it’s only early February.

Even south aspects look good these days.

Even south aspects look good these days.

Windslab avalanche near Incline Lake Peak.

Windslab avalanche near Incline Lake Peak.

Rider triggered slab avalanche on February 1, 2016.  37 degrees, southeast face, elevation 8,700 feet, 8 inch crown.

Rider triggered slab avalanche on February 1, 2016. 37 degrees, southeast face, elevation 8,700 feet, 8 inch crown.

Playing hide and seek at Sugar Bowl on January 31.

Playing hide and seek at Sugar Bowl on January 31.

Volatile Snowpack Finally Caves

Avalanche debris below Light Towers and Slot.

Avalanche debris below Light Towers and Slot at Squaw Valley.

Something had to give with our recent snowpack and over the last few days it finally did. New snow and strong winds collapsed layers of buried surface hoar resulting in large avalanches throughout the Tahoe region. On January 15 nearly everything steep at Squaw Valley slid during avalanche mitigation. Slides on Headwall and Palisades were rated category 3.5. Several post control releases occurred in Enchanted Forest and Snag Cliffs. Unofficial backcountry guru Brennan Lagasse witnessed natural releases on the West Shore and Donner Summit. On January 14, local pro skier JT Holmes was buried in a slide near Cold Stream Canyon. He was dug out and revived by companions and is reportedly OK. Incoming storms will continue to stress persistent weak layers. Hopefully everything will shake out and settle with the wet storms over the next few days. Check the SAC forecast for daily updates. Sierra Avalanche Center

Buried surface hoar is uncommon in Tahoe and warrants special consideration from backcountry travelers. Read more about this atypical condition here: Reno Gazette Journal Sierra Snow Conditions Create Rare Avalanche Problem

Reno Gazette Coverage of JT Holmes Avalanche Burial

Headwall crown.

Headwall crown.

Slab avalanches propagated all the way from Light Towers to Headwall.

Slab avalanche propagated from Light Towers to Headwall.

Feeling like Winter

Stairway to heaven.

Stairway to heaven.

Consistency has been the name of the game this winter. Small storms keep rolling in keeping conditions fresh. Big lines have been going down at Squaw Valley and the backcountry has been impeccable day after day. For the first time in years it’s starting to feel like a real ski season in Lake Tahoe. Pent up demand has Bay Area skiers rolling up in droves, local businesses are cranking and powder hounds are smiling. Gale force winds associated with our latest storm shut down lifts at Squaw Valley today. The current snowpack has several layers of buried surface hoar which should be carefully monitored by backcountry travelers. Forecasts are calling for more moisture over the next week.

Sierra Avalanche Center

Open Snow Powder Forecast

Mt. Tallac looking ripe on January 9.

Mt. Tallac looking ripe on January 9.

Ski tracks exiting Tram Chute at Squaw Valley.

Ski tracks exiting Tram Chute at Squaw Valley.

3,000 vertical feet to go.

3,000 vertical feet to go.

Dazed and Confused

Is this really Lake Tahoe skiing right now?

Is this really the Lake Tahoe backcountry right now?


It’s difficult to tell whether the skiing is all time good right now or if it just feels that way because it’s been so long. Either way, it’s hard to find much to complain about. Last week the mountains around Lake Tahoe received two to three feet of heavy, base plastering snow followed by another storm which dumped two feet of low moisture fluff. It has stayed cold all week with highs just over 30 degrees keeping ski conditions perfect. The persistent weak layer that was a concern before Christmas has subsided and current avalanche hazard is low at all elevations and aspects. Ideal snow conditions and minimal avy risk make this a cycle of skiing we won’t soon forget. Be sure to check the Sierra Avalanche Center website every day before heading out. SAC forecasters dig pits all over the region which can help us better understand the local snowpack. Sierra Avalanche Center

Sugar Bowl's Mt. Disney on Christmas morning.

Sugar Bowl’s Mt. Disney on Christmas morning.


Is this real life?  Nobody at Sugar Bowl at 8:30 Christmas morning.

Is this real life? Nobody at Sugar Bowl at 8:30 Christmas morning.


The west face of Mt. Lincoln.

The west face of Mt. Lincoln.


Grant Kaye gets up early.

Grant Kaye gets up early on December 26.


All time or just an illusion?

All time or just an illusion? Photo by Grant Kaye.


Plenty of great skin tracks out there right now.

Plenty of great skin tracks out there right now.


Sneak a peak.

Sneak a peak.


Let the good times roll.

Let the good times roll. Photo by Grant Kaye.

Holidaze from Nut Hut Studios on Vimeo.

The Force Awakens

Grant Kaye slays pow on December 20.

Grant Kaye slays pow on December 20.


By Rob McCormick

Skiing-blog.com has been observing radio silence since the pathetic end to last ski season. After a string of horrible winters I vowed not to post again until there was something worth talking about. That time is now. In conjunction with the release of Star Wars Episode 7, The Force Awakens, the Tahoe ski season has also awakened. A succession of modest but effective storms have gradually improved ski conditions to the point of being downright proper. Conditions over the weekend were cold powder. We are now experiencing a warm wet storm that looks to drop nearly 3 feet of snow at higher elevations. Squaw Valley is a mix of slushy glop at elevation 6,200 today while Alpine Meadows is nuking snow with gale force winds at elevation 6,800. Nothing is open but the bar at Alpine. A colder storm is expected on Thursday and Friday followed by a drier pattern for the holiday week. Wake up! It’s time to ski!

The snowpack is growing between Highway 89 and the Pacific Crest.

The snowpack is growing between Highway 89 and the Pacific Crest.


Geoff Forcier wakes up.

Geoff Forcier wakes up.


Nuking in Alpine Meadows on December 21.

Nuking in Alpine Meadows on December 21.


Apres skiing Mellow Fellow style. Truckee, CA.

Apres skiing Mellow Fellow style. Truckee, CA.

Tahoe ski season limps to a finish

Squaw Valley has experienced warm, balmy weather all season long.

Squaw Valley has experienced warm, balmy weather all season long. This photo taken at the end of March looks more like the middle of June.

Last ski season was so bad one would have thought it nearly impossible to get any worse. 2015 managed to do just that. Many Tahoe resorts closed very early and some barely opened at all (Homewood and Donner Ski Ranch). California is in the midst of a severe, multi-year drought. Governor Jerry Brown has instated mandatory water restrictions on both agricultural and civilian consumption. The Sierra snowpack is an astonishing 6% of normal. Historical scientific trends are not reassuring. Paleo-climate data indicates we have suffered two, 100 to 200 year droughts in the last 1,200 years.

A Tale of Two Winters: Photographs below of Squaw Valley on March 30, 2014 and March 30, 2015. 2014 was a very poor ski season but improved drastically toward the end of March. 2015 has proven much worse with snowpack withering away for weeks by the end of March.

KT 22 on March 30, 2014.

KT 22 on March 30, 2014.

KT 22 on March 30, 2015

KT 22 on March 30, 2015

No snow at the Sugar Bowl gondola terminal elevation 7,000 feet on March 20.  Sugar Bowl typically receives the most snow in Tahoe.

No snow whatsoever at the Sugar Bowl gondola terminal elevation 7,000 feet on March 20. Sugar Bowl typically receives the most snow in Tahoe but closed for the season on March 22.

Alpine Meadows on March 29. The resort closes on Easter Sunday, April 5.

Alpine Meadows on March 29. The resort closes on Easter Sunday, April 5.

Mt. Lassen delivers late season goods

The northeast face of Mt. Lassen as seen from the Devastated Area parking lot.

The northeast face of Mt. Lassen as seen from the Devastated Area parking lot.

As the Tahoe ski season sputters to a finish, backcountry skiers looking for more turns should check out Mt. Lassen. The peak offers bountiful climbing and skiing options which allow you to ski wherever the snow is good. The road through the park is not open yet but it probably won’t be long. It’s currently about a 20 minute walk to snowline from the Devastated Area parking lot on the north side.

Chris Stewart approaches 9,000 feet on Mt. Lassen's north flank.

Chris Stewart approaches 9,500 feet on Mt. Lassen’s north ridge.

The northeast gully at sunrise.

The northeast gully at sunrise.

Camping is not technically allowed at the Devastated Area so a travel trailer is a nice option.

Camping is not technically allowed at the Devastated Area so a travel trailer is a nice option.

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