Winter Heatwave Arrives

Will Fanny Bridge be completed and open in January? The reconstruction of Fanny Bridge in Tahoe City has taken much longer than expected. The first digital signs placed alongside Hwy 89 and in Tahoe City indicated the bridge would reopen in November. The November date changed to December. The December date changed to January. I drove by the construction site this afternoon. The final cleanup and removal of construction debris and equipment is about done. If it does not open tonight, it will not open until February. I guess I am reaching for something to write about other than skiing that has not been changing all that much from day to day.

IKON confusion. I heard that Ikon pass holders are being offered a $60 food credit that can be used at any IKON-owned food service provider on the mountain (I am not sure if the credit can be used at all of them or if a restaurant in the village is included, but it is worthwhile signing up for this credit). I attempted to determine how to register for this program, but I failed. Supposedly, you log in to the IKON app and look for Mountain Credit or some such thing. I was not able to find it, but it is there somewhere. If you register for the program between January 26th and February 25th, you will receive a $60 credit to your account. You will be able to claim your credit over a three-day period beginning March 6th. The $20 per day credit can be used for food purchases. However, I believe you have to use your pass over a three-day period between January 26th and February 25th to claim the credit. I am not sure it is worth the effort, but $60 is $60.

Skiing today was pretty darn good. Let’s begin with the warmth that descended upon us today. The morning temperatures were in the high thirties, but they soon moved into the mid-forties. It looks like the temperatures at the top of the mountain hit 48 or 49 degrees in the afternoon, while temperatures at the base moved up to 52 degrees. I was definitely overdressed today, even though I started with one layer less than I was wearing yesterday.

Grooming was well done overnight and offered us a very nice corduroy surface for the morning Summit runs. The usual culprits allowed us, and a few too many others, to make fast, sweeping turns while on a surface that held the skis’ edge. After trying most of the groomed runs, including Alpine Bowl, Wolverine, Werner’s, Charity, and Dance Floor, we headed over to Sherwood. The main Sherwood Run skied well, but there are more and more brown spots just beneath the surface. The snow consistency felt like the spring corn condition one would expect in April or May. I did not ski the Sherwood Face, Chute Zero, or South Face, but I heard they were in good spring condition. We did find nicely groomed winter snow on Reily’s Run and pleasantly soft spring snow on Bobby’s Trail, especially on the skier’s right. I wandered off in the small moguls on Red Ridge and Rolls and Knolls, where I found firm winter snow but not hard, icy bumps.

Just before noon, I walked up and down the breezeway steps, leaving a layer of clothing in my locker. I was determined to ski off-piste for the rest of the day. Walking the High Traverse to the Upper Saddle was not difficult and, as usual, offered panoramic views. I removed my skis and walked a few steps over rocks in order to find better coverage so I could ski down Sun Bowl. Access from the Upper Saddle toward Sun Bowl and Big Bend Bowl is sketchy and may require removal of skis with short walks over dirt and rocks. The minor effort was worth it. The Sun Bowl was corn heaven for me. Soft, smooth skiing from top to bottom. Of course, there were a couple of firm areas that do not get much sun, but most of the run was a joyful experience. I thought the successful trip down the Sun Bowl would be enough to send me back to the locker room, but as I departed the top of the Sherwood Lift, an inch appeared somewhere in the back of my brain. I wondered what Gentian Gully offered me. The upper section should be winter snow, with the lower section more firm, even icy, but I needed to try it. It turns out my guess was correct. The upper section was soft and beautiful with small moguls, while the lowest section included a few firm turns but most likely soft spring snow.

A word of caution for those of you headed out for the weekend and beyond. Sticks and treetops are sticking out of the snow in many areas. Please take care, as there are many hiding on the groomed runs. These often do not bend and tend to cause knee injuries. Look before you leap.

Enjoy your day,

Andy