tseeb
Well-known member
We did not load lift until 10:45 after leaving cabin after 9 even though I saw 6K rpm on uphill at 8K+ elevation passing lane going up Carson Pass in my 326K+ mile SUV. We were one of three vehicles parked at end of lot near Timber Creek where snowcats cross road. We spent a long time getting vehicle as shaded as possible so our dog would be OK while we skied. We headed for snowcat crossing, but instead of longish uphill hike to chair 7, we walked along road to where shuttle was waiting. We caught ride to chair 5/6 base where it’s a much shorter hike to lift and loaded chair 5. Snow on NE-facing intermediate Mokelumne was already getting slow. We took chair 11/The Reut to get to chair 2 to go to Backside. Lucia did not appreciate the ungroomed traverse and in retrospect, we probably should have taken beginner chair 1 to get to chair 2.
Snow on Backside/Sunrise/chair 4 was excellent so we skied it three times. Our first run we went left at the top and skied Happiness Is. The top is S-facing and at 9500’ was not sticky. We spotted Greg going over us near bottom of chair and he waited for us at the top. We skied Elevator Shaft a long blue run that had a steep entry, then is moderately long and steep run that had excellent snow. I thought we’d next try run in between the first two to avoid steep entry, but Lucia wanted Elevator Shaft again and Greg and I had to move fast to keep up with her. She left Backside via chair 3, Kirkwood’s only remaining 1973-vintage double, while Greg and I returned via Thunder Saddle. The Jr. Extreme Comp start is group of people above rock in center of first photo which shows some of Backside. Start is near top left of 2nd photo that shows more of closed-to-public Cirque.
Thunder Saddle was roped off for Jr. Extreme Comp. We should have pushed farther right into Moon Bowl or Corner Chute as ropes came over to One Man Chute which was still firm except for left edge that had gotten some sun. We then did one lap of chair 2 with Lucia who was slow to get to Kirkwood base due to flatness and snow getting sticky. We went up The Reut and skied black Wagon Trail finding excellent groomed, barely skied edge along top of Short Spoke. Then we skied to and went up Cornice chair. At the top, Greg, who is a very strong skater, pulled Lucia across flat to get to Sentinel while I did some pushing as I had earlier across flats where she is slow. Skiing still excellent Sentinel after 1 PM, Lucia got a little out of control, but slowed down without a crash. We all went to my SUV for lunch and to let the dog out. Greg and Lucia at top of Sentinel.
After lunch break, Greg and I did the longish uphill hike to chair 7 with Lucia and Leche, our 13 year-old White German Shepherd following. Leche ran with me when I skated to lift, then spent the next hour thinking every skier she saw may have been me. From top of chair, Greg and I skied to and went up the Wall where I suffered what may have been my worst crash (ever is a long time). I thought I’d spotted a good entrance off the Wall, but skied off a different spot and while my skis held on the firm, very steep entrance traverse, I had too much speed and hit uneven snow when I cranked a turn and lost it going over multiple traverse marks. One ski ended up stuck tail-first about 30 feet above me and I have a couple of sore ribs along with soreness on inside of left elbow. People on chair appreciated that I got up and waved to them and not only did a younger skier bring me my ski, but he helped me get it on as it was on downhill side and I wasn't ready to do a one-ski turn. Photos of where I crashed added via edit. First is overview. I planned to come down right rocks in center. 2nd photo, yellow line was planned and red is what I think I did.
Greg did not follow me, retreating along ropeline to main Wall entrance. I made a few tentative turns down some smooth-looking ungroomed snow on skiers left-side of the Wall then we moved to area between All The Way and Notch chutes that we planned to ski. We found steep area between chutes was still firm, especially where shaded by trees, and decided to drop off into Notch chute. I continued down it skiing cleanly the confined line through crux while Greg found sun and skied the cliff area he’d crashed on last week before we both skied it in soft snow. We returned to Cornice, skied Sentinel and Greg skied to his SUV and headed home to Half Moon Bay after more than 10 days at Kirkwood. We both hope to be back late next before Kirkwood closes on Easter although I’ll have to go elsewhere on 4/19 since I’m blacked out and should try to be home for Easter. Photos of lady skiing Big Jim's. Her son was going to follow on a snowboard.
I returned to the Wall and took some photos of where I crashed from chair, then skied main entrance and came down Headwater and Buckboard, which both had good snow after 330. I went up Cornice and suffered a few bumps on Olympic before getting into my favorite steep chute.
I finished about 350 with just under 19K by skiing steep face next to Kirkwood’s Holes in the Rock and skiing OK where shaded snow on Timber Creek. I avoided the dirty snow going to snowcat crossing by skiing to where ambulance is always parked. In So. Tahoe we caught last day of Groc Out wine sale and I also bought three $4.99 6-packs including this one. I also bought two 3.5 oz. 72% cacao Organic dark chocolate bars labeled Whole Foods Tanzania Schoolhouse Project for $1.49 each.
Snow on Backside/Sunrise/chair 4 was excellent so we skied it three times. Our first run we went left at the top and skied Happiness Is. The top is S-facing and at 9500’ was not sticky. We spotted Greg going over us near bottom of chair and he waited for us at the top. We skied Elevator Shaft a long blue run that had a steep entry, then is moderately long and steep run that had excellent snow. I thought we’d next try run in between the first two to avoid steep entry, but Lucia wanted Elevator Shaft again and Greg and I had to move fast to keep up with her. She left Backside via chair 3, Kirkwood’s only remaining 1973-vintage double, while Greg and I returned via Thunder Saddle. The Jr. Extreme Comp start is group of people above rock in center of first photo which shows some of Backside. Start is near top left of 2nd photo that shows more of closed-to-public Cirque.
Thunder Saddle was roped off for Jr. Extreme Comp. We should have pushed farther right into Moon Bowl or Corner Chute as ropes came over to One Man Chute which was still firm except for left edge that had gotten some sun. We then did one lap of chair 2 with Lucia who was slow to get to Kirkwood base due to flatness and snow getting sticky. We went up The Reut and skied black Wagon Trail finding excellent groomed, barely skied edge along top of Short Spoke. Then we skied to and went up Cornice chair. At the top, Greg, who is a very strong skater, pulled Lucia across flat to get to Sentinel while I did some pushing as I had earlier across flats where she is slow. Skiing still excellent Sentinel after 1 PM, Lucia got a little out of control, but slowed down without a crash. We all went to my SUV for lunch and to let the dog out. Greg and Lucia at top of Sentinel.
After lunch break, Greg and I did the longish uphill hike to chair 7 with Lucia and Leche, our 13 year-old White German Shepherd following. Leche ran with me when I skated to lift, then spent the next hour thinking every skier she saw may have been me. From top of chair, Greg and I skied to and went up the Wall where I suffered what may have been my worst crash (ever is a long time). I thought I’d spotted a good entrance off the Wall, but skied off a different spot and while my skis held on the firm, very steep entrance traverse, I had too much speed and hit uneven snow when I cranked a turn and lost it going over multiple traverse marks. One ski ended up stuck tail-first about 30 feet above me and I have a couple of sore ribs along with soreness on inside of left elbow. People on chair appreciated that I got up and waved to them and not only did a younger skier bring me my ski, but he helped me get it on as it was on downhill side and I wasn't ready to do a one-ski turn. Photos of where I crashed added via edit. First is overview. I planned to come down right rocks in center. 2nd photo, yellow line was planned and red is what I think I did.
Greg did not follow me, retreating along ropeline to main Wall entrance. I made a few tentative turns down some smooth-looking ungroomed snow on skiers left-side of the Wall then we moved to area between All The Way and Notch chutes that we planned to ski. We found steep area between chutes was still firm, especially where shaded by trees, and decided to drop off into Notch chute. I continued down it skiing cleanly the confined line through crux while Greg found sun and skied the cliff area he’d crashed on last week before we both skied it in soft snow. We returned to Cornice, skied Sentinel and Greg skied to his SUV and headed home to Half Moon Bay after more than 10 days at Kirkwood. We both hope to be back late next before Kirkwood closes on Easter although I’ll have to go elsewhere on 4/19 since I’m blacked out and should try to be home for Easter. Photos of lady skiing Big Jim's. Her son was going to follow on a snowboard.
I returned to the Wall and took some photos of where I crashed from chair, then skied main entrance and came down Headwater and Buckboard, which both had good snow after 330. I went up Cornice and suffered a few bumps on Olympic before getting into my favorite steep chute.
I finished about 350 with just under 19K by skiing steep face next to Kirkwood’s Holes in the Rock and skiing OK where shaded snow on Timber Creek. I avoided the dirty snow going to snowcat crossing by skiing to where ambulance is always parked. In So. Tahoe we caught last day of Groc Out wine sale and I also bought three $4.99 6-packs including this one. I also bought two 3.5 oz. 72% cacao Organic dark chocolate bars labeled Whole Foods Tanzania Schoolhouse Project for $1.49 each.
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