Thank You

Hello Skiers,

For many Tahoe residents and visitors it has been a difficult few days. Our record breaking December storms have caused road closures, avalanches crossing major arteries, trees blocking roads, long power outages and just a heck of a lot of snow. Roads have been closed or just impassable as keeping them clear during large and lengthy storms is often more than crews can handle.

The same is true for ski areas. Avalanche work to make the mountain safe is a lengthy and dangerous process. I know how long it took me to just dig out the steps to my front door over the last few days. Digging out multiple lifts, lodges, parking areas and roads is a huge job that is made more complicated when employees cannot get to work. Thus, A BIG THANK YOU! to all of the hard working employees at Alpine Meadows and Palisades Tahoe for getting the mountain open today. It was a real surprise to be loading Roundhouse and/or Treeline Cirque at 9am. I thought opening would be delayed. Not too long after Scott Chair opened which brought animal screams from the first group of skiers and riders to race down Scott Chute.

The turns I made off the Roundhouse Chair first thing this morning were wonderful, but the snow was not as deep nor light as I expected. We sank in about 8 or 10 inches allowing us to leave a trail of squiggles behind us. The top layer of many aspects off Roundhouse had a thin wind crust that would not allow snow to blow up into my face. However, on the few runs I took off Scott Chair I did find some much lighter less wind affected snow. In the trees was the best for me. Soft easy turns always puts a smile on my face.

We did see Summit Chair turning. Perhaps it will open tomorrow. One more day of snow is on the way and then skies should clear for awhile. It will be nice to see the mountain bathed in sunlight for a few days.

Okay! The most embarrassing thing to happen to me in a very long time manifested itself this morning. I am confessing this blunder to get it off my chest and to apologize to Paul who was the victim of my mistake. In my rush to get in line at Roundhouse early this morning I grabbed my skis from the rack in locker room 3 where everyone places skis until they are ready to exit to the hill. I walked to the lift stepped into the skis and took one or two runs down Roundhouse. While moving in line toward the lift on the third time someone pointed at me and ask what type of skis I skied on. I responded with the name of the skis I own. He persisted until I realized I was not on my skis, but on his Atomic boards. I had grabbed his skis which looked like mine (both are black) and about the same size. My boot must be the same size because I stepped into the bindings with out a problem. Of course, I was embarrassed will apologize until the cows come home. It was amazing that he found me. All this on a powder morning. No excuses for this behavior (well maybe age).

Enjoy your day,

Andy