tseeb
Well-known member
On previous day when Northstar claimed 4 inches new, Squaw claimed 3. On Friday, Northstar reported 0 new (or re-reported the same 4 inches they had already reported), while Squaw reported 1 new. Again, our hopes were that we would be able to ski without getting rained on as it was predicted to start around 2. We later learned the top had mostly not been skied as Headwall, Siberia and Granite Chief were closed previous day ‘due to storm’ so there was some untracked.
We were on the Funitel about 9:30. I saw skiers coming down in what looked like fresh snow on the Nose of Headwall so that is what we went up first. My snowboarding friend does not appreciate Headwall. He had probably his worst fall earlier this season on the long, often icy unloading ramp. This time he got too low on the turn towards the Face and Nose so we went down Sun Bowl. I found 1-2” of new snow, with some avoidable icy spots and was able to go very deep to the catch line. He kept moving left, where he found mostly icy snow and was still very slow on the long left traverse out of the bowl. Further down, towards Cornice II bowl, I found more untouched, but barely 1” deep new snow. Next run we went to the Nose where I enjoyed the 1” or so of fresh while he struggled with the steepness and firm snow. So we moved to Siberia which is less steep and had some untouched snow. We did that a couple of times before taking Gold Coast up and skiing over to Shirley Lake which we went down twice. I quickly got bored on too easy blue runs so we moved to Granite Chief which we took two or three times. The snow was very good in spots and if it was not, you could always move to the steep groomer. My last run I went off the cornice below the backside of Emigrant and found a couple of inches of mostly untouched below the cornice and into the steep trees skiers left of the Attic
We took a couple of more runs on Siberia together before heading down the left side of the valley where snow was very soft on the groomed, but I was able to find some untracked above it, which reminded me of Home Run at Northstar the previous day. My friend went back to his house near Truckee while I snacked at my car, grabbed my goggles, better gloves and jacket as the day was not warming up. I also got a beer to drink during Funitel ride to meet with other friends. While skiing to Siberia, I realized I was only wearing a cap as I had left my helmet in my car. I put cap in a pocket and goggles over my jacket hood as it was starting to snow. With other friends, I took one ride up Siberia and top to bottom run at Squaw as one had to leave to go to work. I went back to the car and got my helmet and had more snacks. As I was walking back to where I had left my skis near KT, I realized I did not have my keys. Since I was afraid I had left them in the door, I returned to car where I was locked out. Luckily Squaw security was able to get me backing within 30 minutes as I had canceled AAA and my car was not that easy the only time they helped me with lockout.
I skied Saddle of KT to Headwall which I then skied four times. First, I took Sun Bowl which was still skiable, but starting to firm up. Usually it is a morning-only spring corn run. Next I took the Nose, where snow was still good. I finished my day with two runs down easy-black Ridge Run into Horse Trail. I was enjoying the inch that had already fallen, when surprised to be lightly hit from behind by a high-speed skier, wearing a distinctive blue helmet had ran into my right-side (mostly hit my pole) and didn’t stop. I caught up with him at the chair, where I got on the chair behind him and yelled at him. Either he was wearing headphones or didn’t care that he had hit me, and he may have been surprised that I was right behind him, because he mostly ignored me. I thought he might stop at the top and apologize, but he continued on so I yelled at him again while he sped to the Face. I skied mostly the same Ridge Run and came out ahead of him on the Mountain Run and yelled at him a couple of more times, but he never stopped or said sorry and went up Headwall again. After 3 pm, I continued to the bottom and changed and went to Mamasakes for the $5 hand roll and beer special. That’s the price with a can of Bud - it’s $6.50 with a good draft pint. After a stop to talk to my bootfitter, who I had seen on Granite Chief, I drove non-stop Squaw to San Jose in just over three and a half hours. My watch counted 19 runs and the closest I’ve come to 25K vertical at Squaw this season in 25 days there with 24,800. On Saturday Northstar again reported 4” new and Squaw only reported 2. I came home since my son is home for the weekend from college and I have tickets to hopefully watch the Sharks end their playoff series at home against LA.
We were on the Funitel about 9:30. I saw skiers coming down in what looked like fresh snow on the Nose of Headwall so that is what we went up first. My snowboarding friend does not appreciate Headwall. He had probably his worst fall earlier this season on the long, often icy unloading ramp. This time he got too low on the turn towards the Face and Nose so we went down Sun Bowl. I found 1-2” of new snow, with some avoidable icy spots and was able to go very deep to the catch line. He kept moving left, where he found mostly icy snow and was still very slow on the long left traverse out of the bowl. Further down, towards Cornice II bowl, I found more untouched, but barely 1” deep new snow. Next run we went to the Nose where I enjoyed the 1” or so of fresh while he struggled with the steepness and firm snow. So we moved to Siberia which is less steep and had some untouched snow. We did that a couple of times before taking Gold Coast up and skiing over to Shirley Lake which we went down twice. I quickly got bored on too easy blue runs so we moved to Granite Chief which we took two or three times. The snow was very good in spots and if it was not, you could always move to the steep groomer. My last run I went off the cornice below the backside of Emigrant and found a couple of inches of mostly untouched below the cornice and into the steep trees skiers left of the Attic
We took a couple of more runs on Siberia together before heading down the left side of the valley where snow was very soft on the groomed, but I was able to find some untracked above it, which reminded me of Home Run at Northstar the previous day. My friend went back to his house near Truckee while I snacked at my car, grabbed my goggles, better gloves and jacket as the day was not warming up. I also got a beer to drink during Funitel ride to meet with other friends. While skiing to Siberia, I realized I was only wearing a cap as I had left my helmet in my car. I put cap in a pocket and goggles over my jacket hood as it was starting to snow. With other friends, I took one ride up Siberia and top to bottom run at Squaw as one had to leave to go to work. I went back to the car and got my helmet and had more snacks. As I was walking back to where I had left my skis near KT, I realized I did not have my keys. Since I was afraid I had left them in the door, I returned to car where I was locked out. Luckily Squaw security was able to get me backing within 30 minutes as I had canceled AAA and my car was not that easy the only time they helped me with lockout.
I skied Saddle of KT to Headwall which I then skied four times. First, I took Sun Bowl which was still skiable, but starting to firm up. Usually it is a morning-only spring corn run. Next I took the Nose, where snow was still good. I finished my day with two runs down easy-black Ridge Run into Horse Trail. I was enjoying the inch that had already fallen, when surprised to be lightly hit from behind by a high-speed skier, wearing a distinctive blue helmet had ran into my right-side (mostly hit my pole) and didn’t stop. I caught up with him at the chair, where I got on the chair behind him and yelled at him. Either he was wearing headphones or didn’t care that he had hit me, and he may have been surprised that I was right behind him, because he mostly ignored me. I thought he might stop at the top and apologize, but he continued on so I yelled at him again while he sped to the Face. I skied mostly the same Ridge Run and came out ahead of him on the Mountain Run and yelled at him a couple of more times, but he never stopped or said sorry and went up Headwall again. After 3 pm, I continued to the bottom and changed and went to Mamasakes for the $5 hand roll and beer special. That’s the price with a can of Bud - it’s $6.50 with a good draft pint. After a stop to talk to my bootfitter, who I had seen on Granite Chief, I drove non-stop Squaw to San Jose in just over three and a half hours. My watch counted 19 runs and the closest I’ve come to 25K vertical at Squaw this season in 25 days there with 24,800. On Saturday Northstar again reported 4” new and Squaw only reported 2. I came home since my son is home for the weekend from college and I have tickets to hopefully watch the Sharks end their playoff series at home against LA.
