We’re one week into October and those urges to go skiing get stronger every day. Last week it was the leaves turning shades of yellow and orange. Then a hint of a cold front has been dangling in front of us for a week. Yesterday, Squalpine mentioned that we are now 50 days away from their anticipated opening day. And then, the mail arrived. The new passes are here, and courtesy of Alterra, there’s some of the usual tchotchke.
There’s a part of me that wonders why we need a new pass every year. I’ll never use those Ikon stickers, and each year I cover the Ikon logo with an Alpine Meadows sticker on my pass. But this years haul does include some cutesy temporary tattoos and a magnetic frame for a ski snapshot, which is actually kind of cool. I’m definitely more than ready to use this new pass!
That storm we talked about last week is still in the forecast, just quite a bit weaker. There’s been some model runs that called for flooding rains and mudslides in burn areas, and others that sent the whole thing north or east. But as of today, the cold front still sags into northern California over the weekend. It’s the subtropical moisture from that Pacific hurricane that is missing, as it completely stalls and goes nowhere over the next 4 days.
I would expect somewhere from .25 inches to 1 inch of rain in the North Tahoe area over the weekend. That will be enough to tamp down some dust and smoke, and create some brown pow. It won’t be enough to call an end to the fire season yet. Without the warmth of the subtropical moisture, there has been a small amount of snowfall added into the forecast. As of today, the snow level could fall to 8000 feet by Saturday night. Theoretically we will wake up to a ring of snowy ridges on Sunday morning. It won’t stay around for long as warm temperatures return for next week.
Wednesday update: Things are looking worse for the chance of any precipitation. This storm is falling apart faster than your old Salomon Pocket Rockets with that styrofoam core. The wait will continue.
Powder Magazine on hiatus
On a sad note, Powder magazine will be ceasing publication in November. Its not just the paper magazine that will be closing, the digital version on the web will also cease publishing. Powder magazine provided a whole lot of ski porn before the age of the internet and ski movies on VHS and DVD. It also was my trusted source as a ski buying guide when I lived in Arcata, far from a decent ski shop.
Powder magazine was acquired by the American Media a few years ago, along with 13 other sport magazines. It didn’t take long before AMI closed Transworld Snowboarding. Since then closures have also been announced by Ride BMX, Transworld Skateboarding, Surfer and Bike. If you have a subscription to Powder, AMI will happily substitute a subscription for their Mens’ Journal magazine. There’s a magazine I have never opened!
The announcement uses the term “hiatus”, suggesting that there is a possibility that Powder could come back some day. I wouldn’t hold your breath. Make sure you actively support the publications that you want to survive!
I just put in my subscription for the newly revived Mountain Gazette. The magazine began publication in the 1960’s and received early notoriety for publishing Edward Abbey. Over the years, there were several iterations. At one point it even became the Skiers Gazette. Most recently, the rights were obtained by pro skier, turned writer, Mike Rogge. Subscriptions are not cheap, but there is no doubt it will be a quality publication. Find more details about the Mountain Gazette here.
