Lake Tahoe Ski News, Gear Reviews & Destinations

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.

After our recent storm and all the ones that hit in January, the snow levels in the mountains are high (a friends’ 7-year-old skied Squaw’s Main chute yesterday) and I’m off to the tropics! I leave for Hawaii tomorrow for some diving, snorkeling, surfing and general beach loungery. Sadly, I won’t be skiing or writing during the week I’m there. But you can ski on Hawaii. Mauna Kea on the Big Island is almost 14,000 feet and covered with snow. You can drive to the top and the 360-degree view from the summit is spectacular. I’ll try to grab some photos of it while I’m there. Aloha!

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.

Skiers are trying to qualify for the 2008 Subaru Squaw Valley USA Open Freeskiing Finals today in Enchanted Forest. The finals will be held tomorrow in the C2 area.

Yesterday I went to Squaw to check out the 48Straight events. While the competition was exciting, the slopes were wall to wall with people. Today, I’m getting away from the crowds and heading out on an overnight trip to the Benson Hut. The Sierra Club hut sits on Anderson Ridge above Truckee, between Squaw and Sugar Bowl. Our group of eight will head out from the top of Sugar Bowl’s Lincoln Chair this morning. The skin to the hut along the ridge takes around two hours. Then it’ll be time to drop our stuff, settle in and make some ski laps. Tomorrow morning we’ll have time for some more laps, before skiing down into Coldstream Canyon. On our way out, we’ll pass the Lost Trail Lodge and then return to Truckee. The weather is supposed to be warm (highs in the low 50’s and relatively calm and clear) so hopefully we’ll get some corn. I’ll post a trip report when I return.

This weekend the 48Straight and Keep King of the Mountain Tour come to Squaw Valley, bringing skiercross, bordercross and superpipe competitions. At night, big-time performers like the Roots and the Crystal Method will play in the village. Here’s a photo of the course, which starts at the top of Siberia, from this morning. Check out the concert schedule and buy tickets.

Two skiers were located and rescued by helicopter this morning after spending two nights in a snow cave outside of Alpine Meadows Ski Area. Read the full story from the Sierra Sun >>

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