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#1
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The long road back
Went skiing today at Bear. Got up at 4:30, left the house at 5:30. Heard
that Hwy's 88, 50, I-80 and hwy 70 were all closed due to white out conditions. But I know a place where the roads almost always stay open and have virtually no avalanche hazard. Pulled into the parking lot at 8:30, parked right up by the lodge. Legendary powder and only a coupla hundred people, nice. Wicked blew all day long, about 8 inches on my jeep. Its gonna snow all night and all day tomorrow as well. Saturday will be good in the resorts, iffy in the bc (with about 8 feet of fresh up high out of this one!). I broke my ankle last Memorial day, lead fall in Yosemite, hit a ledge. Broken in 3 places, torn ligaments. Was on the healing mend when I resprained it about a month ago. Depression... I truly thought the winter was lost. Till I just couldn't ****ing TAKE IT ANYMORE! I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M GOING SKIING GODDAMNIT!!! Hehe, anyway, I got in 10 runs of great tree skiing, didn't hurt myself (I'm a fool for skiing with my ankle like this, to be honest) and had uncut powdah first to last. The hard stuff is still too bumpy (I can't do jumping jacks or even jog at this point). I had to ski fixed heel. That genuflect is the weakest part of my ankle. Having the shin support of an alpine boot made all the difference. Anyway my back country brothers and sisters, I'm not touring yet, but it feels within my grasp! I'm back! (picked a good day for it). Its gonna be some great new year skiing in Cali. Happy New Year DMT |
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#2
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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
In article , DingusMilktoast wrote: Went skiing today at Bear. Got up at 4:30, left the house at 5:30. Heard that Hwy's 88, 50, I-80 and hwy 70 were all closed due to white out conditions. But I know a place where the roads almost always stay open and have virtually no avalanche hazard. Pulled into the parking lot at 8:30, parked right up by the lodge. Legendary powder and only a coupla hundred people, nice. Wicked blew all day long, about 8 inches on my jeep. Its gonna snow all night and all day tomorrow as well. Saturday will be good in the resorts, iffy in the bc (with about 8 feet of fresh up high out of this one!). _ I was at Sierra at Tahoe along with everybody else who wanted to get in a day at Sugar Bowl, 50 opened up in time for me to get the 5th chair[1]. I'd have to say BC conditions would be either terrible slogging or extremely dangerous. Anything steep enough to actually ski in that much snow is a severe avalanche hazard. Sierra at Tahoe doesn't have much in the way of steeps, but the ones I found in the trees were fun if scary. You could definitely get a good two foot slab to break on short steep bits. With the wind blowing over the crest and the amount of snow on the hard ice underneath, this has all the makings of an avalanche death. _ This storm reminds me of the one last year were people got killed on Castle Peak in a spot that I would never have thought would be "dangerous". A cornice broke off up high and sent a large avalanche down into the trees. _ Anyway, take it easy DMT, rehabbing sucks. _ Booker C. Bense [1]- Pretty slack for me, but the locks froze on my ski box. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBQda3pGTWTAjn5N/lAQFCtQP9FWB3kZo6Y8d2fwhzWCNq7qYitwUIzMsh Q+VaTyGrWx52Z6Yo7OOe0vTEt3E2jCI7ISTVjc1NdXHYDXdsHX 591GGZRkJUAYTz d9OeMmxiEVsN2BW8fF/GaYsjcXkmHKFraJlAldwwkDfXumrhUuq0XrGfJChFy5Qu l42dQLPAuic= =dz3g -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
#3
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"Booker C. Bense" bbense+rec.skiing.backcountry.Jan.01.05@telemark. slac.stanford.edu wrote _ Anyway, take it easy DMT, rehabbing sucks. Right on Booker. I went again Saturday. The opened the Grizzly Bowl, which had not been skied since before the start of this storm. There was like 6 or more feet of fresh untrack snow. I must say, it was orgasmic! I got in 21 runs on the first day of the year. So much for taking it easy... it didn't swell up too bad Sunday. Cheers DMT |
#4
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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
In article , DingusMilktoast wrote: "Booker C. Bense" bbense+rec.skiing.backcountry.Jan.01.05@telemark .slac.stanford.edu wrote _ Anyway, take it easy DMT, rehabbing sucks. Right on Booker. I went again Saturday. The opened the Grizzly Bowl, which had not been skied since before the start of this storm. There was like 6 or more feet of fresh untrack snow. I must say, it was orgasmic! I got in 21 runs on the first day of the year. _ I've only been to Bear Valley a couple times. Is there terrain worth the drive if Grizzly Bowl isn't open? I remember some steep stuff under the main chair, but how fast does that ski out? _ Booker C. Bense -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBQdmYw2TWTAjn5N/lAQHUwAP7BM/PIhwDHnQ6GxvBlgiVGt9YI8bru1BK bJOe1QikRFhAKwoIf34DgZu8ZNFbfcvjCeiYDv00CgY6n4N4Qo Hegvnk//CneprW OS53u5PNRoyBMruLlEJH92ev9VIPg3M9yFZ/ohzHKw5FtEnR9W8O1KGFSi/q3lPf JreqeQxO2+A= =U4Qm -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
#5
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It is NOT worth the drive for someone living in Reno, whether the bowl is
open or not. But for a guy living in Sacramento, who only pays to ski powder, Bear is the best buy in NorCal. Road always open on storm days, no interstate or gambling traffic with which to contend, no Carson Spur to cross, crowds mostly non existent. On Saturday, Jan 1, supposedly one of the busiest ski days of the year, only every 5th chair seemed to have people and I was getting untracked snow first run to last. Compromises? Slow chairs that break frequently. I spent a half an hour freezing my ass of on Thurs trapped in the wind about 100 yards from the goddamn wheel house. Gizzly is not opened during big storms due mainly to visibility and cliffs. Parking sucks if you don't get there early and the resort is a tiny nothing when the bowl is closed. But I'd rather have 21 untracked runs on a small mountain that one untracked run on a big mountain accompanied by 8 hours of driving (which would have been the Tahoe price of entry this past weekend) and the hordes of powder hounds that lurk like pirates near any Tahoe resort. You locals up there are way to competitive for a hack like me to have a sporting chance! So... if you're in the area and it's snowing, give me a shout. I'll show you the ropes. But don't come down here just for Bear, you'll be disappointed. Cheers DMT "Booker C. Bense" bbense+rec.skiing.backcountry.Jan.03.05@telemark. slac.stanford.edu wrote in message ... -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- In article , DingusMilktoast wrote: "Booker C. Bense" bbense+rec.skiing.backcountry.Jan.01.05@telemark .slac.stanford.edu wrote _ Anyway, take it easy DMT, rehabbing sucks. Right on Booker. I went again Saturday. The opened the Grizzly Bowl, which had not been skied since before the start of this storm. There was like 6 or more feet of fresh untrack snow. I must say, it was orgasmic! I got in 21 runs on the first day of the year. _ I've only been to Bear Valley a couple times. Is there terrain worth the drive if Grizzly Bowl isn't open? I remember some steep stuff under the main chair, but how fast does that ski out? _ Booker C. Bense -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBQdmYw2TWTAjn5N/lAQHUwAP7BM/PIhwDHnQ6GxvBlgiVGt9YI8bru1BK bJOe1QikRFhAKwoIf34DgZu8ZNFbfcvjCeiYDv00CgY6n4N4Qo Hegvnk//CneprW OS53u5PNRoyBMruLlEJH92ev9VIPg3M9yFZ/ohzHKw5FtEnR9W8O1KGFSi/q3lPf JreqeQxO2+A= =U4Qm -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
#6
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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
In article , DingusMilktoast wrote: It is NOT worth the drive for someone living in Reno, whether the bowl is open or not. _ Um, I don't know why you think I live in Reno, I have a nasty commute to Stanford as it is, that would be a killer. But for a guy living in Sacramento, who only pays to ski powder, Bear is the best buy in NorCal. Road always open on storm days, no interstate or gambling traffic with which to contend, no Carson Spur to cross, crowds mostly non existent. On Saturday, Jan 1, supposedly one of the busiest ski days of the year, only every 5th chair seemed to have people and I was getting untracked snow first run to last. _ If it's storming and you know the secrets you can do that at most Tahoe resorts. However, on the first blue sky day after a storm, pretty much everything is tracked out by 10 am. Compromises? Slow chairs that break frequently. I spent a half an hour freezing my ass of on Thurs trapped in the wind about 100 yards from the goddamn wheel house. Gizzly is not opened during big storms due mainly to visibility and cliffs. Parking sucks if you don't get there early and the resort is a tiny nothing when the bowl is closed. _ Sounds like Homewood. The best skiing isn't open in storms and the lifts are ancient. But I'd rather have 21 untracked runs on a small mountain that one untracked run on a big mountain accompanied by 8 hours of driving (which would have been the Tahoe price of entry this past weekend) and the hordes of powder hounds that lurk like pirates near any Tahoe resort. _ Steepness matters... I find deep freshies and no steeps to be a kind of mental torture. You locals up there are way to competitive for a hack like me to have a sporting chance! _ I'm not a Tahoe local. I live near Berkeley and don't mind getting up at 3am to go skiing. A good day[1] for me is one in which I spend more time skiing than driving. From any rational perspective my one day skiing trips don't make any sense, it's often 7-8 hours driving for 5-6 hrs of skiing. But given the other constraints it's either that or don't ski... _ I used to go in on a ski house coop near Tahoe City for the season, but I stopped doing that a couple years ago since I didn't use it enough. _ Booker C. Bense [1]- I should rephrase that, in general if I ski more than I drive then it wasn't a Freshie[2] Day. [2]- Tahoe has more Freshie days than anyplace else I've skiied, I'm not sure Utahites would call it powder though. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBQdnX72TWTAjn5N/lAQFSWwP9EeF/44hnd0pSZAhb92pue0v4WQMGOqg/ DGISOu3fxlttFN41Xe3rUg+NO0UGQemH/nlJ19VvoewT0AnPAhB2CJ2WbO+eaV0O Y+J6JMkUKExnQ1kbWVgsNLiphGVAYlj23Yk8ADS+wLnPGQzJp2 tCTWoGtPpfCB64 13HKWJWPlhI= =/NPm -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
#7
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Booker C. Bense wrote:
[2]- Tahoe has more Freshie days than anyplace else I've skiied, I'm not sure Utahites would call it powder though. Last Thursday I had a day full of freshies in the San Gabriels. I'm damn sure the Utahites would not call it powder, but it was still super. We take what we can get and enjoy it! It's shaping up to be a good year for SoCal skiing. |
#8
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Next storm cycle maybe lets hook up at Bear then, schedules permitting of
course. Yeah, I've heard Homewood comparisons before (haven't skied Homewood for some reason). It ain't bad Booker, all in all. DMT "Booker C. Bense" bbense+rec.skiing.backcountry.Jan.03.05@telemark. slac.stanford.edu wrote in message ... -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- In article , DingusMilktoast wrote: It is NOT worth the drive for someone living in Reno, whether the bowl is open or not. _ Um, I don't know why you think I live in Reno, I have a nasty commute to Stanford as it is, that would be a killer. But for a guy living in Sacramento, who only pays to ski powder, Bear is the best buy in NorCal. Road always open on storm days, no interstate or gambling traffic with which to contend, no Carson Spur to cross, crowds mostly non existent. On Saturday, Jan 1, supposedly one of the busiest ski days of the year, only every 5th chair seemed to have people and I was getting untracked snow first run to last. _ If it's storming and you know the secrets you can do that at most Tahoe resorts. However, on the first blue sky day after a storm, pretty much everything is tracked out by 10 am. Compromises? Slow chairs that break frequently. I spent a half an hour freezing my ass of on Thurs trapped in the wind about 100 yards from the goddamn wheel house. Gizzly is not opened during big storms due mainly to visibility and cliffs. Parking sucks if you don't get there early and the resort is a tiny nothing when the bowl is closed. _ Sounds like Homewood. The best skiing isn't open in storms and the lifts are ancient. But I'd rather have 21 untracked runs on a small mountain that one untracked run on a big mountain accompanied by 8 hours of driving (which would have been the Tahoe price of entry this past weekend) and the hordes of powder hounds that lurk like pirates near any Tahoe resort. _ Steepness matters... I find deep freshies and no steeps to be a kind of mental torture. You locals up there are way to competitive for a hack like me to have a sporting chance! _ I'm not a Tahoe local. I live near Berkeley and don't mind getting up at 3am to go skiing. A good day[1] for me is one in which I spend more time skiing than driving. From any rational perspective my one day skiing trips don't make any sense, it's often 7-8 hours driving for 5-6 hrs of skiing. But given the other constraints it's either that or don't ski... _ I used to go in on a ski house coop near Tahoe City for the season, but I stopped doing that a couple years ago since I didn't use it enough. _ Booker C. Bense [1]- I should rephrase that, in general if I ski more than I drive then it wasn't a Freshie[2] Day. [2]- Tahoe has more Freshie days than anyplace else I've skiied, I'm not sure Utahites would call it powder though. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBQdnX72TWTAjn5N/lAQFSWwP9EeF/44hnd0pSZAhb92pue0v4WQMGOqg/ DGISOu3fxlttFN41Xe3rUg+NO0UGQemH/nlJ19VvoewT0AnPAhB2CJ2WbO+eaV0O Y+J6JMkUKExnQ1kbWVgsNLiphGVAYlj23Yk8ADS+wLnPGQzJp2 tCTWoGtPpfCB64 13HKWJWPlhI= =/NPm -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
#9
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"DingusMilktoast" wrote:
So... if you're in the area and it's snowing, give me a shout. I'll show you the ropes. But don't come down here just for Bear, you'll be disappointed. Vail? |
#10
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"pinnah" wrote in message ... "DingusMilktoast" wrote: So... if you're in the area and it's snowing, give me a shout. I'll show you the ropes. But don't come down here just for Bear, you'll be disappointed. Vail? There ya go, it's just like Vail. DMT |
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