The cold northeast wind arrived right on forecast this morning, bringing super chilly air and strong winds. As much as I love skiing, having grown up in California, I am more accustomed to sunny days and corn snow. A good rule of thumb for today was to dress as warm as you think you need, then add another layer or two. I only did the first part. Tomorrow is supposed to be a bit windier and a bit colder. I’ve remembered to plug in my electric gloves, and will lay out an extra layer or two for the morning.
The crisp temperatures lead to crisp, grippy corduroy that was really zoomy. Summit was on windhold, just as we predicted, so much of the morning was spent at Roundhouse. It was my goal to cover every groomed route back to the base. I covered Rock Garden, Lower Rock Garden, Charity, Red Ridge, Dance Floor, Yellow, Ladies Slalom, Weasel One and Weasel, Werners, Boomerang, Schusserang, and Kangaroo Ridge. It occurs to me now that I did miss Loop Road.
That’s when we decided to take the longest ride. Alpine Bowl Chair was opened today to sub in for Summit Chair, and it was likely running at the highest alert level, which is really slow. But board the chair we did, settling in for the long ride. Fortunately the wind was at our backs for the entire trip. The temperature was 14° and the winds were blowing about 70mph. This equates with a windchill of around -14°. While my puffiest parka was up to the challenge, it does lack a hood and I neglected to wear a buff. Somewhere around the highest point, over Howard’s Hollow, I began to wonder if it was possible to develop frostbite of your brain stem. Eventually we arrived and took the shortest route to Terry’s Return. Turning was optional, as the wind kept speeds to the point where a beginner could go down the run.
We were fortunate that the chair never stopped on our ABC lap, as it did for several minutes the next time we saw it.
Sometimes my inquisitive nature gets the best of me, so we headed over to Sherwood next. It was scraped pretty clean at 11am on the Sherwood groomer, with absolutely no sign of softening off piste. That same inquisitive nature will draw me back to the hill tomorrow.
A Piece Of Alpine Meadows History
Bob Lynn, one of my daily ski partners, has a long history at Alpine Meadows. He started as the co-director of lift operations in 1980, and continued over the next 25 years there, later transferring to ski school. While sorting through his garage recently, he turned up an early pair of Rossignol Haute Route skis. These skis were released in the late 1970’s as Rossignol’s first powder ski, which you can tell by their huge width. What makes these ones unique is that they are engraved with an Alpine Meadows logo and “Alpine Meadows Lift Operations”. I can remember what a big deal it was back then to get your skis engraved. Mine would have been the Rossignol S4, purchased at Copeland’s Sports in SLO right around the same time.
Bob decided to handoff the old Haute Route skis back to the current lift operations staff. While several of the staff expressed an interest in taking them out skiing, 40 year old bindings are hardly reliable. His hope is that they will be proudly hung on a wall to preserve some history. This actually brought up the idea of putting together an Alpine Meadows history showcase, maybe in the breezeway outside of Estelle Sports. I’m all for that idea, and I am willing to bet that the Alpine Meadows community would be willing to provide some items.
The history idea is great… I only hesitate as I’m not sure if the corporate owners have any concept of history.They might agree to the treasure until the next trip to the dump…. if you get my drift….
Maybe you should have said, Rossignol’s first “attempt” at a powder ski. They are possibly a tiny fraction wider than than the skinny straight skis of that era, along with a sidecut measured in miles rather than meters, and a very average length of 205cm. They do have a big turned up tip to “float” higher in the powder. They are named after the Haute Route (high route) hut to hut skiing between Zermatt and Chamonix. It’s amazing that none of us had an issue with all those skinny skis from that era in the deepest of powder as there were no other options.
Those skis are really something! Thanks for sharing, Bob!
I have a pair too, but no memory of how I acquired them and if I ever used them. I always thought due to their name that they were an alpine tour ski. The complete Haute Route ends, when skied west to east, the usual preferred way, not at Zermatt but Sass Fee. I skied it solo, save for all the other parties, in 1970. It was a tough winter in the Alps including three major avalanches — St. Gervais, Bal d’Isere and Reckinen — that killed around one hundred people.
Ooooooh. Nice job on the hat Bob!
Love the idea – you and your posse are awesome – the soul of AM!
The skis from the 70’s seem to have been really working to make a ski that was “different”. Hence, The Ski, Rossi Equipes Hexcel Sundance, etc. Softer was better….to some. I dug up an old Alpine Meadows patch I had on a parka back in the 60’s, but couldn’t see how I can upload it to show you.
BTW, conditions are no better on the south shore. They ran cable and attached chairs to the Queen, I mean Grandview, chair at Sierra. One can only hope
The skis are awesome Bob. They seem about the right length for you as you are pretty tall. Just imagine me on a pair of 205 wood Northland Skis way back when with Bear Trap cable bindings. We really had to know what we were doing skiing on those long straight skis with no rocker etc..
Here is a tip for skiing on a cold day in early February: Remember to zip up your Pit Zips, especially when riding Alpine Bowl Chair when your might have been able to walk up the hill faster then it was traveling uphill today.
I think the history display is great…we have to work out how to keep AM alive! Suspect there may be some cool historic stuff around Achieve Tahoe…our daughter started there in the late 80’s, and they had been going for a while then…I bet there is some old Milty gear around!
Back around 1980 a great powder ski was the Olin Mark lll S. Skiing powder on the 215’s was a total blast in the really deep powder of the early 80’s. Figure 8’s all day in the bowls. No problems skiing those long, skinny rails. They were so soft that they would be worthless with the recent hardpack conditions. Broke my 3rd pair of them on Xmas Day ’82 in the deep on Donald Duck at Sugar Bowl.
“I began to wonder if it was possible to develop frostbite of your brain stem.” Funniest line on the web today.
Yep 😁
Perhaps we can have a thread to post pics of our various AM logo gear & wear. Patches, pins, hats, headbands (I have 2 or 3). I believe Alpine Andy has some really old lift tickets.