An Interesting Weekend
It was an interesting and rewarding weekend for many skiers
The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com
Hello skiers,
It was an interesting and rewarding weekend for many skiers. Saturday turned out to be a very snowy and extremely windy day. Most lifts were closed all day leaving Roundhouse and Yellow Chairs along with a couple of other beginner and intermediate chairs open for the holiday crowd that arrived on Saturday morning. Although the ski area was not packed to the brim, the lines were rather long, as you might imagine. Bob, Janet, and Kelly lost count of the runs they completed on Roundhouse. However, they reported the skiing got better as the afternoon got longer. New snow was building up at an alarming rate. Their only regret of the day was a mistaken trip up Hot Wheels (a long enough ride on a normal day) when the lift stopped for an extended time.
Sunday was the exceptional day. The sun broke through, the winds died down, and the snow stopped falling.
A new layer of snow measured well over a foot deep and the temperatures were nice and cool. A perfect powder morning. The new snow was a real treat for those of us who have been waiting for a good powder day.
Everyone was out on Sunday, but the lines were tolerable, as the entire mountain was open and skiers spread out nicely for most of the day. We avoided the Summit Chair at the opening caught some nice snow on Yellow arrived just in time to load Scott Chair. It was one of the first runs down Scott Chute of the season for me. A good, mostly clean field of powder (a little wind affected) all the way back to the chair. Our next thought was to head for the new fast Sherwood Chair and catch a few fresh tracks in the sun. We were not the first to arrive, but we did have a number of good clean shots under the chair and on the South Face. Sherwood Cliffs added a nice deep, soft, and light trip back from Sherwood. A couple of good tours over the High T added to our happy day of skiing.
I think everyone expected today to be sunny and cold, but it turned out to be overcast and in the thirties with a few light snow showers. The snow was still good, although many of the runs had grown moguls overnight. Moguls grown quickly in soft snow. I may have been tired, or just not energized enough this morning, but I had trouble finding a rhythm in the bumps. They are seemed to be going the wrong direction. The poor light did not help. A low cloud hung over the summit area early in the morning. The groomed areas were the most pleasant for me. Martin and I found Scott and Lakeview a little more to our liking, as the visibility was better on that side of the mountain. It was time for my first run down to Snowcrest from the top of Lakeview. Andrew talked me into making the trip through Field of Dreams, and Alex was kind enough to pick us up at the bottom, so off we went through the trees. As usual, most of the run was quiet, completely untracked, and perfect light powder. We met Martin H. and his wife Rhonda, who also ventured out into the un-patrolled area taking advantage of the sweet conditions. It took a little convincing, but Martin and Rhonda talked me into a second tour of the peaceful backcountry. The second tour was a lovely repeat of the first.
The ski area was not crowded today, as many people appeared to have gone home. We are expecting another storm Tuesday night.
Enjoy your day. Andy
