Tahoe received a nice taste of sweet n’ low yesterday with a perfect rightside up storm. Backcountry enthusiasts should be sensitive to a rain crust layer that formed on December 10. This layer has the potential to create deep slab instabilities that the Sierra Avalanche Center is reporting as a concern. Let’s sit back and see what happens as the big one rolls in this weekend.
Category: News (Page 22 of 30)
Lake Tahoe, CA – Skiers and snowboarders worth their salt have certainly descended an expert-rated run, naked, while simultaneously talking on a cell phone with their mom; however, this act has rarely been captured on film as well as it has in the new movie, G.N.A.R.
See for yourself by attending the World Premier of G.N.A.R. at the Alpine Meadows Ski Resort base lodge Friday, December 17 at 9pm. Doors open at 8pm, and the entry fee is a suggested donation.
What started as a game featuring 20 riders vying for a winner-take-all purse of $25,000 has transferred into a film that’ll likely be dubbed “instant classic.” Edited by filmmaker Scott Gaffney, the movie stars a bevy of local skiers and snowboarders including Ralph Backstrom, Chuck Mumford, George Hjelte, Greg Lindsey, Spencer Cordovano, Mattias Sullivan, Kevin O’Meara, Alex Cox, and Dr. Robb Gaffney; and features archived footage of the inventor of the game and inspiration for the movie, Shane McConkey. On-camera interviews with the Gaffney brothers, Mrs. Sherry McConkey, and renowned photographer, Grant Kaye, set the bar for what is sure to become the ski and snowboard industry’s all-time funniest movie.
G.N.A.R. the movie was inspired by G.N.A.R. the game. Included as the final chapter of the book, Squallywood (penned by ski legend Robb Gaffney), G.N.A.R. was written by the late great Shane McConkey as a way to simultaneously celebrate and make a parody of skiing and snowboarding’s most treasured holy grails: hilarious antics, shellacked bravado, embarrassing your friends and yourself for a laugh, good-natured competition, and of course, naked skiing.
Also consistent with the game, G.N.A.R. documents some of the west coast’s most coveted steep lines and deep powder stashes guaranteed to resonate through the audience.
Important movie premier details:
G.N.A.R. is intended for mature audiences, due to nudity (albeit good natured), the “s” word (used 79 times excluding opening credits), and a few acts which have resulted and will continue to result in arrest (please do not scale the wooly mammoth statue at a certain central California resort). Those who have aversion to snowlerblading or monoboarding should also not attend. Movie-goers can look forward to delicious beverages presented at the Alpine Meadows lodge, with names honoring various attributes of G.N.A.R., the game.
For additional information about the movie premier, G.N.A.R., please call the Alpine Meadows events department at 530.581.8332 or visit SkiAlpine.com.
Ranked as a top winter resort by SKI Magazine, Alpine Meadows Ski Resort blends an authentic mountain experience with cutting-edge technology to enhance the guest experience. Focusing on online savings programs, Alpine Meadows offers guests everyday ticket savings with adult prices starting at $50 for winter 2010/2011. Alpine is situated in the picturesque Tahoe National Forest and offers skiers and snowboarders 2,400 acres of terrain. With 14 lifts, more than 100 trails, and majestic views of Lake Tahoe, Alpine Meadows is accessed via Interstate 80, 45 miles west of Reno, NV and 200 miles east of San Francisco, CA. Alpine Meadows’ parent company is San Francisco, California based JMA Ventures, LLC. JMA is a full service real estate investment firm, serving as managing member of over $500 million in existing projects. Visit SkiAlpine.com or call 530-583-4232 for more information about Alpine Meadows.
By Rob McCormick
I spent Thanksgiving week in Florida soaking up eighty degree temps while salivating over Tahoe weather reports as storm after storm pounded the Sierra Nevada. I heard rumors of “chest deep to rocks”, patrol sleds stuck on Mountain Run, a six foot crown in Chute 75, Kirkwood and Alpine pushing the 100 inch mark and cars so buried you could not identify them. By the middle of the week it became obvious something special was happening. Many resorts reported some of the highest November snowfall totals on record. By Thanksgiving Day the Tahoe Region stood at roughly 25% of its average annual snowfall.
The abundance of early season snow implied the backcountry might be worth a taste test to see if things were getting underway ahead of schedule. Upon my return Friday night I made plans with my touring buddies, packed my gear and prepared to head to our favorite stash on Saturday with the possibility of an encore visit on Sunday.
We began skinning from elevation 6,100 at around 10:30 Saturday morning. An hour and a half later, and 1,800 vertical feet higher, it was snowing heavily with winds gusting from the southwest. The Sierra Avalanche Center (www.sierraavalanchecenter.org) had reported north and northeast aspects most likely for slide conditions. We dug a pit that showed an unstable layer at about 8 to 10 inches. Based on conditions (heavy snow with rapid loading) we opted to ski mostly lower angle north facing terrain. It was fantastic powder! Surface sloughs were common on anything over thirty degrees. We experienced one skier triggered slab avalanche with about a 6 to 8 inch crown. It ran a short distance onto more gradual terrain. It was definitely a day to play it safe so we stuck to the trees and stayed away from tempting yet dicey steeper terrain and open faces. It was an awesome first backcountry day of the year. So good in fact that we decided to return the following day.
Sunday brought colder temps, sunshine and a far more stable snowpack. We were able to ski steeper lines with minimal movement. The snow was wispy, dry and delightful. After a couple juicy laps we headed into Truckee for burritos and beers at Bills. Our early season teaser was a smashing success. We found that not only is the backcountry ready to go…it’s about as good as it gets. So go get some!
Jeff Wright does some eye level snow scanning (photo by Grant Kaye)
The author samples November pow (photo by Grant Kaye)
The State of the Backcountry November 27 and 28, 2010
Images like this have become commonplace over the last few days (photo by James Conley)
Day after day of new snow has pounded Northern California resulting in the highest pre Thanksgiving snow totals in over a decade. Choking deep, bottomless powder has been reported at local ski areas and in the backcountry. Ski touring is virtually impossible with no bottom whatsoever to register on. Once the snowpack has a few days to settle we should experience mid season base depths and ski season should be in full swing.
Over a foot of new snow fell in Truckee and Squaw Valley last night with close to two feet along the Pacific Crest. Partly sunny skies this morning were apparently a sucker hole as we are expected to receive another two to three feet by tomorrow morning. As of 9:45 am it was snowing steadily in Squaw.
Loft Bar
Opera House
Truckee Residence
Fall is the perfect season to get out and explore backcountry jeep trails in the Truckee/Tahoe Region. Occasional rain keeps trails free of dust and cooler weather is great for engines that tend to run hot. Jeeping is a great way to visit dense forests, huge open valleys, mountain streams and remote fire towers. The large storm expected for this weekend should mean the end of four wheeling season and the official start to ski season.
Chris Davenport samples fresh powder in Colorado Tuesday morning. It looks like we will be sampling fresh powder in California this weekend. Reports look very promising for substantial snowfall Friday through Monday.
The SnowBomb Ski and Board Festival had another explosive weekend, this time in South Bay. Sunday afternoon featured a performance by the all female Led Zeppelin cover band Zepparella. Here are some photos from the weekend.
Jamie Lavalle shows off the new lineup from Volkl
High Fives Foundation supports athletes who have suffered life altering injuries
Tahoe photographer Kiwi hides out in his traveling gallery
Pacific Crest Snowcats representing large
Zepparella rocks the house
Squaw Valley picked up another 5 inches of snow above 8,000 feet yesterday in addition to the foot of wet snow that fell over the weekend. Conditions seem to be heading in the right direction for the anticipated opening day of November 20. Quality boot deep snow was reported in Oly Bowl this afternoon. Mostly clear weather is expected for the next week. (photos by Wendy Nevins)
Thousands of snow enthusiasts turned out for the SnowBomb Ski and Board Festival held at Fort Mason in San Francisco last weekend. The event had something for everyone including equipment manufacturers, ski resort and hotel operators, and product and trip giveaways. Saturday featured a wine tasting and Sunday a beer tasting. Both days included skateboard and BMX vert ramp demos that were especially exciting because of low support beams that had to be carefully navigated during large airs.
Tahoe based companies had a strong presence at the show. Pacific Crest Heli-Guides founder Dave Rintala brings Tahoe it’s first ever heli ski operation starting this season. They will fly out of the Truckee airport and serve terrain from just west of Desolation Wilderness to the Sierra Buttes. Pacific Crest Cat Skiing serves as a reliable backup for down days with nearly 2,000 acres of terrain in Cold Stream Canyon near Truckee. Doug Stoup of Ice Axe Expeditions spoke to potential clients about his Antarctic ski and trekking expeditions. He leaves for his next adventure this Friday. Heli ski guide Jason Mack represented Points North Heli Adventures founded by Truckee resident Kevin Quinn. Jonny Moseley posed for photos, chatted up guests and played WII skiing in the Squaw Valley booth. Squaw Valley is currently revamping the Olympic House and other base facilities in time for this coming season. Across the aisle from Squaw Valley Ski Corp were Squaw lodging properties including The PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn, The Resort at Squaw Creek and The Squaw Valley Lodge.
Karyn Stanley, Jason Mack and Doug Stoup
SnowBomb at Fort Mason was a great place for riders to get pumped for the upcoming season. Taking a break from the show was a pleasure as stepping outside provided fantastic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. The SnowBomb energy continues November 13 and 14 at the Santa Clara Convention Center.
Alcatraz as seen from Fort Mason
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