Away from the Crowd.
Sticking to the groomed runs offered some very nice skiing today, but after a while I tend to want to wander off and move away from the average skier who spends time on the groomed runs. This is especially true when the off-piste is not all that inviting. Lately the off-piste has been icy, at least part of the day, rough from the previous wind events, or just not skied out enough, leaving firm snow that needs to be smoothed out by accepting more skiers.
After making a number of trips down the normal groomed trails off Summit Chair, we traveled over to Sherwood. The main groomed runs were just beginning to soften, but I did not think the off-piste was ready to tackle (Sherwood Face, South Face, Chute Zero, etc.). We arrived on the Sherwood side just before 11. I am sure there was good spring skiing not long after I returned to the front side of the mountain. Lower Yellow Face and Lower Yellow Gully lifted my spirits as there slopes offered moguls with winter snow and not much ice. Next, I was drawn to Lower Beaver. I thought of trying Upper Beaver and beyond, but I just did not think the snow had turned to spring in these areas. At least not at the time I was heading to Lower Beaver. The trip across Wolverine and below Idiot’s Delight was rather unpleasant. The traverse was like driving on a road that was filled with large and deep pot holes. If you head that way, take it slow. The snow and smaller moguls in Lower Beaver were enjoyable. They were made of firm winter snow. There was no problem setting an edge. Skiing out of Beaver Bowl above Kangaroo was a little more tricky as it was more firm and included some ice.
I needed more, so I headed for Gentian Gully. The entrance is a little tricky, but the run is in good condition. It is filled with winter-like moguls that are not too large.
High Traverse was open today. I thought about heading that way, but I left before it may have softened enough to turn the surface into spring snow, or at least soft snow and not ice.
I was heading into the locker room when I looked up and watched gondola cabins moving along on there cable. All of a sudden an old song came into my head that made me laugh as I watched them passing each other above the main lodge. If you would like to listen to the song, click on the link below. This song is played by Malvina Reynolds. She also wrote the song. Pete Seeger also played.
Snow might be on the way, although it may be wet and/or a rain.
Enjoy your day,
Andy
You have elevated this column to new and lofty heights with Little Boxes. Being 5th generation Californian, it brought back so many memories growing up in the Santa Cruz mtns. Skied AM their 1st season. Thanks for the shared memories
High T was mixed at ~12:30pm. CB was nice where the rocks had warmed the snow, but other sections were frozen mank. I felt like I was 30-60 minutes early.
Perfect song from a past era, but still relevant today.
What a joy to hear for the first time the original and meet the writer of this flash from my very distant past. Having never watched Weeds, the only performances of this song I have ever heard were by my late mother, who sang portions as we drove on the freeway in the late 60s past the rows of small houses on the slopes of Daly City. A little research revealed that she was a native San Franciscan, and those rows of tiny boxes were indeed the inspiration for the song. Fun! 😊
^ This! From my childhood too, via my parents who sang this when driving through Daly City. My great-grandparents lived in a pink one, their son right next door in a green one, and they all were just the same. Nothing has changed either, as I visited the neighborhood about a year ago. Sweet memories. Thanks for posting, Andy, I have a new ear worm for B2B rides.
Interesting Bloomberg article on the cheap Indy pass useable at many smaller ski areas. I have one,
Strong in PNW, ID & western Canada. Unfortunately not much good around Tahoe.
What they don’t say is it is only good for 2 days at each ski areas. So it’s best for people who travel a lot. I used it last year at a number of areas. Used at Loveland CO this year.
Love that Malvinas Reynolds’s song “Little Boxes- all made out of ticky tacky and all look the same” applies to houses in Las Vegas and parts of LA.