Tahoe We Have a Problem (Snow Dances Needed) - Page 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by goranmilos 

How much snow is needed before Tahoe resorts go into full operation - 1 foot, two, three, four ... ?  It is getting closer to start thinking about pulling the plug on January trip to Tahoe and start looking elsewhere. So, it better start snowing.

We need a couple of feet. Even last year, 2 feet just before Thanksgiving had us skiing some very good terrain, snow and conditions right away. 

It depends on what you are talking about. You want 100% open at Squaw, it takes 10-15ft. If you want decent skiing at Squaw or Alpine, I would say 5 ft maybe a little less for other areas, but not much less. 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by goranmilos 

How much snow is needed before Tahoe resorts go into full operation - 1 foot, two, three, four ... ?  It is getting closer to start thinking about pulling the plug on January trip to Tahoe and start looking elsewhere. So, it better start snowing.

Heavenly has been skiing pretty good the last couple days. The fact that California still isn't connected to Nevada keeps that one trail off the top of sky chair cruisy and quiet when Nevada gets busy, which seems to be around 1030 or so. Gonna do Northstar tomorrow to before the vacation week blackout. I'll report back with a comparison.

Santa just pulled up out front for a few beers and a little chat. When he gets back to the Northpole. he'll give Ullr a piece of my mind

2 feet will go a long way, but 4 or 5 feet are what we really need for things to get respectable.  Do keep in mind that Tahoe can get several feet in a matter of days when it actually snows, so I wouldn't cancel your trip yet.  When in January?  If it's later in the month I wouldn't worry about it - it has to snow eventually.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by goranmilos 

How much snow is needed before Tahoe resorts go into full operation - 1 foot, two, three, four ... ?  It is getting closer to start thinking about pulling the plug on January trip to Tahoe and start looking elsewhere. So, it better start snowing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayT 

2 feet will go a long way, but 4 or 5 feet are what we really need for things to get respectable.  Do keep in mind that Tahoe can get several feet in a matter of days when it actually snows, so I wouldn't cancel your trip yet.  When in January?  If it's later in the month I wouldn't worry about it - it has to snow eventually.
 

 

Flying into Reno on the 6th, plan to ski Northstar on the 7th and 8th, before heading to our timeshare in Stateline.  Tahoeweatherdiscussion.com is starting to get a little optimistic - but time is short

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayT 

So mentioning Lookout at N* ... the photo from a distance makes you think, oh, one good storm and those trails will be open in no time.  Well, here's what Boca looked like from the top today. 

 

 

Martis and Washoe are open, however.  I won't even show you a photo of White Rabbit (backside of Lookout), which doesn't have a single patch of snow on it.  Too depressing.  Snow already!

This is getting to be depressing. I'm pulling out my mountian bike along with the motorcycle. Going to wash my car as well. Perhaps if I put up the hammock and start making tiki drinks.

Skied today. N* got a few more trails open and they are good groomer zoomers 

Well, the rumor is we could get some snow around the 8th, but I wouldn't bet on it the way things have been going.  If you want to ski on anything other than groomers, you may want to go elsewhere.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannabeskibum 

Flying into Reno on the 6th, plan to ski Northstar on the 7th and 8th, before heading to our timeshare in Stateline.  Tahoeweatherdiscussion.com is starting to get a little optimistic - but time is short

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayT 

Well, the rumor is we could get some snow around the 8th, but I wouldn't bet on it the way things have been going.  If you want to ski on anything other than groomers, you may want to go elsewhere.
 

 

Well, I like to ski tahoe because of the trees and the steeps, i.e. I am partial to Killebrew and Mott Canyons and the Nevada trees at Heavenly and want to experience the backside terrain at Northstar.   It doesn't look like 5 ft of snow are going to materialize before the week of the 8th or that week - maybe time to think of postponing the trip until March (my daughter's college break)

crystal got 9" this morning, baker got a 75 " base with the jet stream pointed directly at it

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannabeskibum 

Well, I like to ski tahoe because of the trees and the steeps, i.e. I am partial to Killebrew and Mott Canyons and the Nevada trees at Heavenly and want to experience the backside terrain at Northstar.   It doesn't look like 5 ft of snow are going to materialize before the week of the 8th or that week - maybe time to think of postponing the trip until March (my daughter's college break)

 

If you can postpone i would advise it. Clear skies and 49degrees here at lake level, 40+ at Rose this afternoon

Awww gee, we had a dump Thanksgiving and good skiing ever since.  Right now we have ice skating on frozen lakes in town, XC crust cruising at middle altitudes and a good piece of the mountain open, and I've been on my race skis without hitting a rock.  A bit of snow forecast for every day for the next five.

A bit worried about Wednesday---rain snow mix called for.  At least the blocking high is breaking down. 

I drove to my sister's in Berkeley for Xmas.  I have never seen Mt. Shasta so dry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannabeskibum 

Well, I like to ski tahoe because of the trees and the steeps, i.e. I am partial to Killebrew and Mott Canyons and the Nevada trees at Heavenly and want to experience the backside terrain at Northstar.   It doesn't look like 5 ft of snow are going to materialize before the week of the 8th or that week - maybe time to think of postponing the trip until March (my daughter's college break)

 

I cancelled my Jan 5-11 trip to Tahoe. Bummed, but considering the conditions, I would rather be home riding my bike. May plan on Aspen later in the month

if you're locked into your tahoe trip (or already here), there is fun to be had

http://www.powdork.com/2011/holiday-options-beyond-the-corduroy/

I'm supposed to be in Tahoe from Jan 8-13 with Skiergirl777.  I'm now tossing the idea around myself of not going.  Had Diamond Peak, Sugar Bowl, Northstar, Alpine, and Mt. Rose on the agenda.

On a sidenote, just got back from 49 Degrees North and Lookout Pass around Spokane area, and they were decent considering everywhere else.  However I think they got rained on yesterday and today.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FujativeOCR 

I'm supposed to be in Tahoe from Jan 8-13 with Skiergirl777.  I'm now tossing the idea around myself of not going.  Had Diamond Peak, Sugar Bowl, Northstar, Alpine, and Mt. Rose on the agenda.

 

On a sidenote, just got back from 49 Degrees North and Lookout Pass around Spokane area, and they were decent considering everywhere else.  However I think they got rained on yesterday and today.

I am now on the verge of postponing my Jan. 6 - 14 trip to Tahoe and hoping to see if I can change my accommodations to first week of March - upcoming forecast doesn't look promising for major  dumps of snow next week or the week after.  I am so bummed.  Who would have thought that at this time of the year Killington, VT (my home mountain) would have more acreage of terrain open than Heavenly?
 

It seems that the next 2 weeks are the beginning of "real winter" with 15-20 of January shaping out  to be what we are all waiting for.  I've had few previous seasons of nerve wrecking experience of "will it ever snow"  (dry January 2011 brings back bad memories) and with assurances can say when it dumps in Tahoe - nothing (and I mean nothing) beats it. And now those oh-so reliable GFS models are showing big storms coming. I am done with sweating over the lack of snow and I am ready to come to my annual pilgrimage to Lake Tahoe. Everybody booked after Jan. 12 - get your skis ready. Optimism already please !!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannabeskibum 

I am now on the verge of postponing my Jan. 6 - 14 trip to Tahoe and hoping to see if I can change my accommodations to first week of March - upcoming forecast doesn't look promising for major  dumps of snow next week or the week after.  I am so bummed.  Who would have thought that at this time of the year Killington, VT (my home mountain) would have more acreage of terrain open than Heavenly?
 

 

I cancelled my Jan 5-11 trip, bummed but so glad I'm not spending the money to start at brown mountains. I would rather pay the cancellation/change fees and have an actual skiing trip down the road.

Go to Alpine Meadows and borrow this for my genuine imitation Aboriginal Snowdance. Worked wonders in 2008, but its out of warranty!

Quote:

Originally Posted by wannabeskibum 

Well, I like to ski tahoe because of the trees and the steeps, i.e. I am partial to Killebrew and Mott Canyons and the Nevada trees at Heavenly and want to experience the backside terrain at Northstar.   It doesn't look like 5 ft of snow are going to materialize before the week of the 8th or that week - maybe time to think of postponing the trip until March (my daughter's college break)

 

There is no tree skiing going on right now.  Just lots of park features and groomers with man made snow.

Enough to have fun, but not the Tahoe Experience you're used to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dork of pow 

if you're locked into your tahoe trip (or already here), there is fun to be had

http://www.powdork.com/2011/holiday-options-beyond-the-corduroy/

I haven't been down to Kirkwood this year.  Nice to see that they've got some stuff happening!
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trekchick 

There is no tree skiing going on right now.  Just lots of park features and groomers with man made snow.

Enough to have fun, but not the Tahoe Experience you're used to.

 

I haven't been down to Kirkwood this year.  Nice to see that they've got some stuff happening!
 

 

So, my timeshare exchange is available the first week of March - tahoeweatherdiscussion blog says possibility of storms starting on the 10th of Jan.  How much snow would have to fall that week to provide the Tahoe Experience - 3 ft? 8 ft?. Sounds like I should pull the plug on Jan 6 - 14 and wait until March 4 so I can ski some of this (taken Jan. 10, 2011)

three feet gets most everything open at kirkwood (if it's our typical cement), though there will still be plenty to hit. mott and killebrew at heavenly generally take a little more because of the bouldery nature and they almost always seem to slide to the ground once early on.

if we don't have 8 feet my march we're screwed anyway.

Off topic, but here's what Andy said

http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000065076

If you cancel, you're not "resilient" or "passionate" LOL

sure, be flexible, ride a bike, climb a rock, take a hike, a swim in the lake....but you'd just stay in the Bay Area for any of those things. I've heard that it's surprising they are even still selling tickets at Squaw. It's not just bad, it's dangerous. And your skis, forget it.

If it weren't for those dam Blackout Dates on Tahoe Card Tickets....like beyond January 13th.