The best is seeing people putting chains on the rear tires of Dodge Caravans, Toyota Camrys, etc.
Dang, thanks for the PSA.
I was always uncertain where to put the chains on my mini-vans. So I just keep them inside the mini-van.
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California/Nevada 2018-19 Tahoe Ski Resorts/Conditions/Meetups Thread....
Dang, thanks for the PSA.
I was always uncertain where to put the chains on my mini-vans. So I just keep them inside the mini-van.
Andy Mink
Everyone loves spring skiing but not in January
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In their defense, sometimes you need more traction. Many years ago I worked for the USFS marking timber in a burn area in Northern CA. Chained up all 4 on the Ramcharger every day to get through the snow and mud. We could do it in about two minutes with four of us.
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2018
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I was in line for third chair on Summit at Alpine at about 810 AM, and the prospect of powder dulled the crowd's critical-thinking abilities, as we waited for the lift to spin. These are the lies we told ourselves, swept up by first-tracks madness:
-- "The mountains weren't that crowded Friday or Saturday, so maybe it's not as big a year this year." (Nah, it was just that the freezing ice fog at the resorts on the crest kept people indoors, even before the Sunday deluge.)
-- "I think the weather on Sunday scared a lot of people away and they left to go home early." (Nah, everyone who is up here knows how to read a powder forecast.)
-- "If you leave Alpine by 2 or 2:30, you'll have no trouble getting back to Truckee. People want to get their whole ski day in." (I left at 100 PM on the nose and pulled into Morgan's for a crab roll at 305 PM).
-- "Just let it thin out in the afternoon and get on 80 after 6PM, it'll be fine." (Departed Truckee at 910 PM and still took an hour to Kingvale.)
I feel like these *may* have been reasonable rules in years past, but as in the Rams-Saints game, the rulebook has been thrown out...at least on holiday powder weekends.
Of course, every last bit was worth it -- Sherwood didn't have a real lift line until 1030 AM!!!
-- "The mountains weren't that crowded Friday or Saturday, so maybe it's not as big a year this year." (Nah, it was just that the freezing ice fog at the resorts on the crest kept people indoors, even before the Sunday deluge.)
-- "I think the weather on Sunday scared a lot of people away and they left to go home early." (Nah, everyone who is up here knows how to read a powder forecast.)
-- "If you leave Alpine by 2 or 2:30, you'll have no trouble getting back to Truckee. People want to get their whole ski day in." (I left at 100 PM on the nose and pulled into Morgan's for a crab roll at 305 PM).
-- "Just let it thin out in the afternoon and get on 80 after 6PM, it'll be fine." (Departed Truckee at 910 PM and still took an hour to Kingvale.)
I feel like these *may* have been reasonable rules in years past, but as in the Rams-Saints game, the rulebook has been thrown out...at least on holiday powder weekends.
Of course, every last bit was worth it -- Sherwood didn't have a real lift line until 1030 AM!!!
Usually after 6 is safe. But took me 2.5 hours to get from donner lake to Auburn. Google took me up Donner Pass Rd past Sugar Bowl. That was the "fast" way. Holiday weekend and amazing powder day = worst traffic I've been stuck in in years (I am usually good at avoiding.)
Was it worth it?
Another quick edit from yesterday-
What a day!
What a day!
Today was good at squaw. No linesSome powder if you knew where to find it.
Mostly packed. Some ice on heavily traveled runs.
Eg mt. Run. Best snow was on Solitude & upper Funnel. Worst snow on lower Funnel - skiers left. Ok on skiers right.
Das Beast aus Deutschland. It showed up at Squaw after 8 feet of snow in 2 weeks.
This pushes the envelope for portable snowblowers. Will clear any driveway or deck in less than 5 min. Who wants one ! !
3 1/2 ft of new snow- no problem!
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Btw I’ll kill anyone that says yesterday was
I know I missed it!
Andy Mink
Everyone loves spring skiing but not in January
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No, it was the best day this week though!Btw I’ll kill anyone that says yesterday was
Although yesterday will rate high over this season's best days, I'm pretty confident much better powder day(s) are likely this season at even deeper depths of extra dry cold fluff and it will occur mid-week with a lot less people.
As I noted expectations earlier, the packed powder now on Little Dipper at 8.6k to 9.5k is as good as it gets midwinter's so all this week will be glorious. Also note all obstacles are gone.
As I noted expectations earlier, the packed powder now on Little Dipper at 8.6k to 9.5k is as good as it gets midwinter's so all this week will be glorious. Also note all obstacles are gone.
Yea, nothing wrong with chains, he's not the one causing the spinouts or in the ditch. Not everyone wants machoistic type2 or type3 fun just so they can lord it over everyone else in the forums later.
What I do notice though, is that he's got the cheapest ladder chains, at least spring the extra $20 for the z-chains that you can put on without moving the car.
Hey All,
I’ve finally made it to Tahoe! My season starts with day one, tomorrow @squaw/alpine. If anyone wants to meet up for some after lunch runs, send me a message.
....I’ll be using the morning to re-learn to ski...
I’ve finally made it to Tahoe! My season starts with day one, tomorrow @squaw/alpine. If anyone wants to meet up for some after lunch runs, send me a message.
....I’ll be using the morning to re-learn to ski...
We were thinking about Mt Rose, but perhaps we can convince @Andy Mink and @Philpug to ski Squaw/AlpineHey All,
I’ve finally made it to Tahoe! My season starts with day one, tomorrow @squaw/alpine. If anyone wants to meet up for some after lunch runs, send me a message.
....I’ll be using the morning to re-learn to ski...
I’m here until Saturday, so hopefully we can meet sometime between now and then.
We're at Mt Rose today but are thinking of hitting Squaw or Alpine tomorrow.
Cool. Planning on meeting up with @luliski tomorrow as well. We can have a party!
Getting a late and leisurely start today. Think I’ll start off the season on some nice easy groomers at alpine
@Philpug @Andy Mink and I hit Mt Rose today. I had the guys schlep three pair of skis for me; Liberty VMT 76 w, K2 Mindbender 88 Ti Alliance, and Nordica Santa Ana 88 Proto.
My hope was to ski the VMT for a bit on fresh groomers then switch to the Mindbender and Santa Ana 88 to ski back to back, since they're in the same class.
First, The snow was unbelievably good, and I was having a blast skiing on the K2 Mindbender Alliance 88s and didn't t want to quit but the wind was picking up and I was incredibly hungry so we went in to see if the wind would calm down and get a bit of nourishment before switching to the Santa Ana 88. Alas, it was not meant to be, as the wind picked up and the lifts were shut down.
More fun to be had on these tomorrow.
My hope was to ski the VMT for a bit on fresh groomers then switch to the Mindbender and Santa Ana 88 to ski back to back, since they're in the same class.
First, The snow was unbelievably good, and I was having a blast skiing on the K2 Mindbender Alliance 88s and didn't t want to quit but the wind was picking up and I was incredibly hungry so we went in to see if the wind would calm down and get a bit of nourishment before switching to the Santa Ana 88. Alas, it was not meant to be, as the wind picked up and the lifts were shut down.
More fun to be had on these tomorrow.
Someone's gotta do it
Andy Mink
Everyone loves spring skiing but not in January
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Looks like serious hang time with 12" vertical. Wow, who knew that about Tricia?