We are down to the final four days of the Alpine Meadows season and it’s not looking ideal right now. But I will do my best to put a positive spin on this transition from amazing spring skiing back to a very cold and potentially snowy weekend. The chill actually started today, with a stiff south wind keeping temperatures about 5 degrees cooler than yesterday. The snow was still plenty soft, but it made me wish I had opted for something warmer than a vintage Alpine Meadows hoodie this morning.
I won’t go into great detail about everything I skied today, as it would pretty much sound like the rest of my reports over the last week. Most of my time has been spent enjoying those lines that just barely go anymore at Sherwood and Scott. A quick review of my stats says I’ve done 22 laps in the Promised Land over the past week.
I’ve probably been neglecting Summit and Roundhouse over the last weeks. Looking at the forecast for much colder weather and snow Friday through Sunday means I’ll be at Summit and Roundhouse a lot more through closing weekend. But before that happens, we have one more reasonably warm day tomorrow to get those last spring turns at Sherwood and Scott.
Here’s The Forecast For The Snow That Won’t Go Away
I have tried to will this storm away but I also did the bad thing. We put out the lawn furniture last week. Doh! At less than 48 hours out, the forecast models are pretty accurate. If anything, they have added more cold and more snow to the system. Here’s the simple point forecast for Alpine Meadows through Sunday:
You’re killing me Smalls! A high of 30 degrees for Saturday! My body is not ready to return to those sort of temperatures. I certainly will need to return to a winter wardrobe. Closing day is not looking that much better. This is not the sort of weather I would schedule for a season closer parking lot BBQ, or enjoying $6 beers and brats on the Sun Deck while Pipe Down plays. Then there is the skiing part, where the previously sunny part of the mountain will return to the icy grips of winter.
I said I would do my best to put a positive spin on this system, so here we go. Good news number one: We should not see much, if any, rain from this system. As of today, snow levels start around 6000 feet on Friday and lower to 4000 feet by Saturday. Although most of the snow should fall on Saturday, the low is slow to move out on Sunday. That should keep the cloud cover and snow showers going that prevent the new snow from turning into sticky glop. Good news number two: The forecast snow totals are slowly bumping up. Earlier this looked like a dust on crust event, with only 1-3 inches of snowfall. But the later runs of the GEFS are showing the low strengthening and sticking around longer. The sounding for roughly Alpine Meadows now shows the potential for 7 inches of snowfall.
Seven inches of snowfall would be significant. It would not be enough to cover the large moguls that have grown in some areas of the mountain. But it is enough to smooth out the sun cups and smaller ruts in areas less traveled. If it’s going to snow, I guess a little more is better than less, since I won’t necessarily be awaiting the next corn cycle.
It looks like we do return to a spring pattern next week for those that are at the “employee ski days” next week at Alpine Meadows, or to those going to ski the Northern Annex. I see today that BA has released his last weather update for the season today, and this is likely my last weather specific update.
Looking For Something To Do Saturday After Alpine Meadows?
Our friends at the Tahoe Sports Hub on West River Street in Truckee will be holding their Customer Appreciation Sale on Saturday, April 26th from 3-6PM. It’s a great time to find the best deals of the season, especially with the possible impact of tariffs on ski gear. In addition to some great sales, there’s also free beer and free food from the Cornerstone Kitchen. Then there’s the popular raffle benefitting the Sierra Avalanche Center, who needs our support more than ever.
If you have never been to the Customer Appreciation Sale at the Sports Hub, you need to know it is very popular. Expect it to be crowded. The waits are worth it. Normally I would suggest riding a bike to the sale, but with the expected snow, that may not be ideal. Consider public transport or parking farther away and walking.
See you out there…or at the Tahoe Sports Hub Saturday.
I NEED to go to Estelle tomorrow!
So grateful to have been out enjoying these last few days and am looking forward to menacing the slopes of Alpine Meadows for one more really good one though after this corn season if my knees could speak they would likely say otherwise.
Found the funniest looking rock formation today at the bottom of Bernie. Still giggling about it. Will probably aim to take a couple of friends out to see it tomorrow.
I commented the other day that I heard some major lifts on the SV side will close come the end of the month, that’s what one well-connected and highly trusted source told me. Another informed me yesterday that yes Headwall and Siberia will close, but KT will continue to run into May and will be the only lift operating until 4 while the rest will soon begin closing at 2. 🤷♂️.
7″ of snow can cover sun cups but it can also cover small rocks and dirt just enough that you can’t see them. On a brighter note, the new snow should improve the ski area that is staying open.
Also for those bored on saturday, many organizations will be present in the Palisades Village celebrating Earth Day 11am-5pm
People should come by to see the awesome work that is being done to protect our area’s delicate ecosystem, as well as seeing a couple videos from the Wild and Scenic Film Festival. A little birdie tells me that there might even be some free swag being given out by some groups, and the now world famous Trashion show put on by students in the area is always a fun thing to see!
These folks care a lot about the Sierra, Lake Tahoe, and our planet as a whole, and they will be there rain, wind, snow, or thunder, sharing their passions. These groups have been beaten down in the past couple of months and seeing public support for what they are doing, might make braving the cold wind and snow worth it!
Sigh. All of this weather and snow so “late” in the season? Perhaps the “late” meter is offset by a couple of weeks at AM. Wouldn’t May 11th (Mother’s Day) be closer to the real closing day (in a slightly more perfect world)?
Nice plug for the Tahoe Sports Hub. I’ll mis the free beer this weekend as I’m away.
I did the SB demo at the other side 3 weeks ago. On way home after that I stopped a the Tahoe Sports Hub and bought the skis I liked best. 2025 Nordica Enforcers. Talked them into a good end of season deal. It’s unusual for me to buy anything spur of the moment !