The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report

If you are in Tahoe .........................

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
Email: andyw@sierra.net
Office website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
If you are in Tahoe, then you are not too happy. Friday was a lovely, but very crowded, day everywhere in Tahoe. Alpine supposedly had a record day for ticket sales. The little dusting of powder that we had made everyone smile. Today, however, the weather has turned warm again and it is raining cats and dogs. I am home at the 6900 foot elevation, and it is miserable outside. Alpine was open today, and people were on the slopes (perhaps more of them in the lodge) especially in the afternoon when the rain really started coming down. It was blowing a gale at the top of Summit, but it was supposedly running (my remote data site clocked winds into the 60’s with gusts into the 90’s at Ward Peak. We are hoping that the temperatures drop sometime late morning tomorrow. I would venture to say that it is raining below 8000 feet at this time. Stay dry wherever you are over this holiday weekend.
Enjoy your day.

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 04:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last night the temperature .............................

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
Email: andyw@sierra.net
Office website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
Last night the temperature finally dropped into the teens and a little more snow fell out of the sky. This morning we saw a nice blue sky and the sun for the first time in awhile. Of course, so did everyone else who is in Tahoe. Alpine opened Summit before nine this morning, a very nice surprise. Those of us in line squeezed together to get on the first chairs. We were blessed with a
pristine mountainside covered in a blanket of new snow that was a few inches deep. Yahoos were heard this morning, as skiers and boarders left curves in the new snow.
The upper mountain is filling in nicely as a result of the last few wet storms, but the lower portion of the hill is still in need of assistance. We skied Gentian Gully this morning for the first time this season. It was exciting to be making fresh tracks through the trees in the upper 2/3rds of the run, however the bushes are thick at the bottom. The entire mountain, with the exception of the Sherwood side, was open today.
It was a happy morning of skiing for me today. Alpine was packed with people by the time I left, with all the parking lots full, and cars backed up toward Tahoe City trying to get in to the area.
All the lifts, with the exception of Yellow, Lakeview, and Sherwood were running today.
Another warm storm is predicted for Saturday night.
Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 05:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This afternoon the weather service.............

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
This afternoon the weather service claims it is going to get colder and begin to snow down to lake level.
It is now 11:00 a.m. and rain is pouring out of the sky at my office that is located at 6180 feet. Rain fell all night last night at my house that is located at 6900 feet. At approximately 5:00 a.m. this morning the rain turned to snow (wet, but at least it was white). Wet snow dumped on the ground covering the rain ruts that had appeared over night until sometime after the ski area opened. I would guess that Alpine received 4 to possible 6 inches of wet snow at the upper elevations. I decided to take a few runs after sitting at my locker wondering if it was worth going out into the windy wet weather. Only a few skiers waited for Roundhouse to open at 9:00 a.m. (after a fifteen minute mechanical delay the lift open). The winds were not as strong as I anticipated, but the snow was wet. I did manage to make a few fresh turns on Blue, Red, and Yellow Trails before riding up Alpine Bowl Chair (Summit, Scott etc. were closed). Visibility was moderate to poor in Alpine Bowl, but the snow was better at the upper elevations. I found plenty of untracked snow, as only a handful of people were out on the hill. As you can imagine the snow was stiff, or wet, but not sticky in Alpine Bowl. I made a few additional turns in the lower Our Father area that is beginning to fill in and cover some of the tree tops. The weather seemed to change to rain, and the surface snow got slower and more sticky as the early morning moved along.
My gloves were soaking wet and I began to feel like a prune after a few runs, so I quit and headed for a drier warmer environment.
Perhaps tomorrow will bring us a nice powder day.
Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Christmas Day the winds were howling.......

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
Email: andyw@sierra.net
Office website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
Christmas Day the winds were howling keeping chairs from
circling the bull wheel on most lifts. Roundhouse was open, but
running slowly as the winds whipped chairs into uneven spacing.
The air was warm, and the snow soft, as if it were spring.
As evening approached, the skies clouded over, the air cooled
down, and white flakes began falling. The flakes fell quickly, wet,
and sticky, and they continued through the night building up into a
very nice pile by morning. Finally, we have received a new layer of
snow to cover up some of the streambeds and rock outcroppings that
were uncovered by the recent rains.
I guess that this morning the avalanche danger was extreme, at
least I hope it was more dangerous than normal, as the early powder
hounds waited at the lower terminals of Roundhouse and Summit until
nearly 10:00, or later, before they were allowed to sit on the lift.
An hour of waiting cooled our bodies and dampened our spirits, but
frustrations are lost once turns begin. The snow was dense, and did
not rise above our heads, but it was new. We turned here and there
straining our eyes to avoid hidden obstacles, as we descended
Roundhouse in various locations. A few runs on Scott followed those
on Roundhouse. We headed for Standard Run and Scott Meadows where we
found some untracked snow. I can tell you that turning on the
untracked snow was smoother, softer, and easier than turning on the
cut up skier tracked snow. This type of surface condition quickly
turns rather firm and bumpy as skiers pack it down in a rather random
manner. We watched those that dared to ski Scott Chute for the first
time this year. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, but the lower
half of the chute sure looked skimpy on the snow to me.
The weather service is calling for more snow through the week.
It is supposed to remain rather warm, but I think we will be getting
snow on the mountain. The snow we received certainly is good for
building a good base. Finally, a powder day and some fresh turns
instead of puddle jumping.
Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 08:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Today was a short sleeve ...............

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
Today is a short sleeve shirt day in the high country. The thermometer was in the mid fifties this afternoon.
It has been a real spring day following yesterday’s rain event. The creeks and rivers are bulging with rain water draining from the hillsides and melting snow. The snow pack has dropped by at least a foot in the past few days. Although the overnight temperatures did not appear to be below freezing, the mountain was frozen solid early in the day. We rode up Summit at 9:00, a mistake according to the ski patrol that met us at the top claiming the lift operator had allowed us to load prior to opening of the lift. The lucky few that arrived at the top got to slid down a frozen Alpine Bowl followed by a more firm groomed Red Trail. A couple of runs later on Roundhouse found most of the mountain still firm, but those slopes facing the sun beginning to soften. I fear the soft snow was decayed underneath and soon not ski like good spring corn. I noticed that the rain ruts that were present a couple of days ago have vanished leaving a much less bumpy slope. I skied a run or two off Scott on some reasonably nice soft snow in the sun on Standard Run. Ridge Run sounded very firm and the rest of the mountain was closed. Although I did not stay very late into the morning, my guess is that the warm sun created very soft conditions on much of the mountain later in the day. We are hoping for another storm Sunday night and into Monday or Tuesday with lower snow levels. Saturday is supposed to be a repeat of today with warm weather on tap.
People are walking along the bike trail and riding their bikes.
Any day on the slopes is better than a day in the office, according to some folks who skied in the rain yesterday. Today was certainly better than a day in the office.
The roads are dry and the sky clear for your trip to Tahoe this weekend.
Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 03:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Another depressing ski day at Alpine.

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
Another depressing ski day at Alpine. It is pouring rain and has been doing so all day as well as most of last night. The temperature at the base is currently 41 with a cool and very windy 36 at the summit. Alpine is open for those that want to get water logged and slosh through puddles, but I am staying dry today.
I ran across an interesting local website yesterday. www.tahoetruckeenews.com. This site has local news stories, as well as links to local webcams located at River Ranch, Tahoe City, and Truckee. You can check the road conditions on using these live com shots.
Have a hot chocolate, read a good book by the fire, send out more holiday cards, or go see a movie today.
Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I really did not want to write ..............

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
I really did not want to write a report from Tahoe today. It is not pretty outside at this hour (3:30). I must admit that I did not put skis on today, as the weather just looked too wet. It is currently 32 at the top of Ward Peak and 39 at the base. The sky has been gray most of the day, with on and off showers falling during all the daylight hours. I did see the sun a couple of times, and there were periods of dryness, but on the whole it has been a rainy day. The ski area may have received some wet snow at elevations over 7500 to 8000 feet, but it is dumping rain at 6100 feet.
A friend of mine did go up to the mountain at about 11:00 in the morning. He reported very sticky conditions with some okay skiing on the steeper runs.
Well, that is all from Alpine today.
Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 04:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It was just to wet Monday morning ........

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
It was just to wet Monday morning and rather gloomy for me to get excited about hitting the slopes. Perhaps it was the driving rain that fell overnight that dampened my spirts, however I spoke to a few people that were on skis Monday. They reported heavy wet snow that was not easiest for making memorable turns and periods where drizzle was in the air, however they claimed to have gotten soaking wet. I guess it was not as bad as I thought it might be yesterday. This morning the sun was out and life felt better, so we headed for the lifts. The first runs were dedicated to Alpine Bowl (the only groomed area off Summit). The groomed area was acceptable, but firm, while the rest of the mountain was in shambles as skier ruts cut up the mountainsides from the day before were frozen solid. The air was warm, in the 40's, and the wind was blowing. A sunny sky turned rather dark gray about 10:30 with winds increasing in intensity, however the snow turned to softer spring conditions making the mountain much more fun to ski. The groomed area softened as did Sunspot and other south and west facing slopes. We made a few runs on Scott turning on nice spring snow at the top of Standard Run. Much of the lower mountain is covered with rain ruts from Monday’s event making for a rather bumpy ride off piste. We had a good time after the snow began to softened this morning. It felt like a real spring morning. More wet weather is predicted for the next couple of days with snow levels remaining high. Alpine has scheduled Lakeview and Sherwood for Firday bringing all major lifts on line and opening most of the mountain. Coverage remains good even with the warm weather and rain events of the past couple of days.

Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 11:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We can forget the weatherman's ...............

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
We can forget the weatherman’s prediction this year. Their accuracy was not very good this time around.
Yesterday afternoon I checked the weather service website and was assured one to three inches of new snow would possibly arrive by Sunday morning. We did receive a little dusting of snow late Saturday evening, but I was unprepared and joyously happy when I awoke early Sunday morning. Looking out my window into the early morning darkness I spotted about a foot of new snow on my deck. Not only was there a foot of new snow, but it was wet and heavy (perfect for adding to our existing base).
Snow has continued to fall all day at the high elevations with wet snow and a mixture of rain at the lower elevation. Wet snow was falling at the base lodge at Alpine all morning. I imagine we received over a foot of wet snow at the base with up to 18 inches reported at the upper mountain. This new wet snow should cover up a lot of small tree tops and bushes allowing skiers to access more terrain in the coming days. Summit was closed today. Roundhouse opened late with Scott opening even later in the morning. I took some runs off Roundhouse making fresh tracks in the Sierra Cement, but enjoying every wet minute of it. It was that type of snow that stops you in your tracks if you allow your tips to dive below the service. If you can keep your tips up, then you will have a fun time skimming along the top of the new pack.
The current weather report is calling for another seven to fifteen inches of snow today and through tonight.
If all this new snow arrives, the mountain should be in very nice shape for the coming holidays.
This wet snow pack was sliding all over the mountain with slides looking very long. I would be very careful venturing out of the controlled areas for the next couple of days.
Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 01:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

We continue to esperience cool ...............

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
We continue to experience cool overnight temperatures and slightly warming days. The fog that has been laying around in the early mornings dissipated today blessing us with a clear blue palate overhead. Snow conditions have not changed much over the past few days. North facing slopes are firm, but you can get an edge into the pack. Peril Ridge, D8, and areas under Alpine Bowl Chair are in good condition. East facing slopes in Wolverine are also well covered and ski as if they were made of caulk. Sunspot is in the same condition as the sunny slopes of Wolverine. Scott Chair opened today with snowmaking occurring on Bobby’s Run and skiing happening on Ridge Run (well covered with a marble texture). All other runs off Scott remain closed.
A friend has been hiking up to the top of F Tree and skiing down the Sherwood side of the mountain. He reports good spring type snow at about 11:30 in the morning.
I overheard someone talking about the conditions at Squaw in the locker room. They skied at Squaw yesterday and appeared to have a good time. Conditions on the upper mountain sound similar to those at Alpine. These skiers said they made several runs on Palisades and enjoyed the snow and steep run.
Although it might not amount to much of anything, there is some talk on the weather channel about possible snow Saturday night and Sunday. Last night was the full moon. There are those people who believe the weather changes when the moon is full. Let us hope that they are right this time around. Maybe we will get a nice storm before the holiday’s begin.
Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Some high clouds moved through the area............

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
Some high clouds moved through the area this morning, but it has generally been a clear day in Alpine. The weekend saw a few more skiers hitting the slopes, a good size for those who own a ski area. Hot Wheels and Meadow were added to the lifts that are running on a daily basis at Alpine. Unfortunately, the sky is not unloading mounds of snow onto our hillsides. Manmade snow was being created on Ridge Run off the Scott Chair over the weekend.
At this point in time the skiing continues to be reasonable good at the upper elevations with grooming occurring in Alpine Bowl. Peril Ridge, the far side of Wolverine Bowl, Sunspot, D8, and Alpine Bowl remain in good condition with chalky snow and limited size moguls. The lower portion of the hill, especially where it has not been groomed, is pretty firm and slippery (at least in spots).
For those of you who venture into the backcountry, or just out of the ski area boundary, you might have use for the sierra avalanche center reports. The daily update of avalanche conditions in our area can be viewed at www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/today.html or you can call a prerecorded message at 530-587-3558.
I am still getting excellent reports from those of you who have tried the new breakfast and lunch spot below my office. The food is very good according to almost everyone who has ventured into the Pacific Crest. I thought I would include a copy of their menu for those of you who have not had a chance to visit the new establishment.
Breakfast - served from 7:00 am – 11:30 am
BAGELS
Assorted Flavors $1.50
Spreads & Extras
Plain Cream Cheese $ .75
Garlic & Herb, Smoked Salmon, $1.25
Cucumber-Dill, Hummus,
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Avocado $1.00
Tomato .50
BAKED GOODS
Scones, Muffins, Plain Croissant $2.00
Chocolate Croissant, Cinnamon Bun $2.50
Cookies $1.50
EGGS FOR BREAKFAST
Burrito Eggs, cheese, avocado, salsa & sour cream $5.25
Add Ham, Turkey or Bacon $1.50
Sandwich Choice of Bagel, Croissant or Ciabatta Roll
Egg & Cheese $4.25
Add Ham, Turkey or Bacon $1.50
FRUIT & OATS
Homemade Granola, Fruit & Yogurt Parfait $4.50
Just Fruit $3.25
Add Yogurt $1.25
Belgian Waffle with butter and real maple syrup $4.75
with Fruit $5.95
Reg.(12oz) Lrg.(16oz)
Coffee 1.25 1.50
Cafe au lait 1.75 2.00
Americano 1.85 2.35
Latte 2.50 3.00
Mocha 3.00 3.50
White Mocha 3.10 3.60
Caramel Latte 3.10 3.60
Chai Latte 3.00 3.50
Hot Tea 1.00 1.00
Hot Chocolate 1.75 2.25
*Iced versions available,
same price in 16oz & 20oz cups
Reg.(16oz) Lrg.(20oz)
Blended Latte 2.75 3.25
Blended Mocha 3.25 3.75
Blended
Chai Latte 3.25 3.75
Double Triple
Espresso 1.75 2.25
8oz 12oz
Cappuccino 2.25 2.75
Extra Shot .50
Flavored Syrup Shot .60
ESPRESSO & MORE
530.581.3037 • 150 Alpine Meadows Road, Tahoe City, CA 96145 530.581.3037 • 150 Alpine Meadows Road, Tahoe City, CA 96145
Lunch - served from 11:30 am – Close
SALADS & SOUP
House Salad $5.95
Mixed Greens, Honey Roasted Pistachios, Avocado, Dried Cranberries, Champagne Vinaigrette
Add Chicken $2.00
The Crest Caesar $6.50
Crisp Romaine, Avocado, Oven Dried Tomatoes, House Made Croutons & Garlicy Dressing
Add Chicken $2.00
Antipasto $7.50
Stuffed Cherry Pepper, Roasted Veggies, Hummus, Tapenade, Salami & Bread Sticks
Soup Of The Day Seasonal Fresh Ingredients Made Daily $4.50
Vegetarian Chili Coyote’s Secret Recipe $4.50
Cheese Bread Garlic, Jack, Cheddar, Tomato & Basil $3.95
CIABATTA PANINI
Italian Ham, Salami, Fontina, Tomato, Arugula, Dijon Aioli $7.00
Smoked Turkey $7.00
Fontina, Tomato, Caramelized Onion, Arugula, Basil Aioli
The Veggie $7.00
Fontina, Roasted Vegetables, Tomato, Arugula, Red Pepper Aioli
Mexican Mozzarella, Tomato, Green Chili, Cilantro, Chipotle Aioli $7.00
GRINDERS
Polish Sausage Diced Onions, Tomato & Mustard $6.00
Meatball Baked with Marinara & Provolone $7.00
MINI PIZZA’S
Homemade Marinara and Provolone $6.00
Hawaiian Honey Ham & Pineapple $7.25
Veggie Oven Roasted Veggies $7.25
Meatball Homemade $7.25
QUESADILLAS
Choose $6.50
Chimichurri Tri Tip, Grilled Chicken or Roasted Vegetable
Guacamole & Salsa on the side
CAFE SPECIALTIES
Chicken Salad Wrapped in warm Garlic Tortilla, cucumber, tomato & cheese $7.25
Tri Tip & Asian Slaw Wrapped in warm Garlic Tortilla w/cheese $7.75
Rigatoni, Broccoli & Chicken Lemon Garlic Cream Sauce $8.75
KIDS
Choice of Grilled Cheese, PB & J, $3.25
Cheese Quesadilla or Noodles

Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 03:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

A quick daily update from Tahoe.

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
A quick daily update from Tahoe. We received a trace of snow overnight, with a little more falling this morning, before the sky stopped crying frozen tears. The mountain was heavy with clouds or fog most of the day making visibility a challenge. Flat light ruled the morning and continued into the afternoon. The skiing was pretty good with fresh tracks available most of the morning. Today was more like spring skiing with a soft spring like surface lying just underneath the thin layer of new snow. We had fun for awhile this morning turning slowly around tree tops, branches sticking up out of the thin pack, and small bushes. We all had our good skis on and none of us complained about hitting rocks or other protruding obstacles .
The sun is supposed to come out tomorrow, but I guess that is not what we really need at this point in time.
Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 02:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There is not much to report from Tahoe today.

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
There is not much to report from Tahoe today. The sky is gray with current temperatures at 35 degrees.
The forecast is calling for wide spread snow later today and tonight with accumulations of a few inches at best.
The snow is holding up well with help from cool temperatures that have been covering the area all day and overnight.
Friends who have been skiing at Squaw report the upper mountain to be in good condition with most runs open, including the steeper sections of the mountain. Reports from Mt. Rose area good as well, although I understand the Chutes are not open.
The snow at Alpine was the consistency of chalk yesterday in the bowls with nice winter groomed snow on the lower slope. Snowmaking was in progress on Hot Wheels yesterday with the slope looking well covered as of this morning. There are very few people skiing at Alpine. The hill is uncrowded and perfect for those that want to ski without the fear of being run over by hordes of riders.
This afternoon I took a few runs on my board to see if I could still get down the hill with this set of equipment. It was spitting light snow, and looking rather threatening this afternoon, but the falling snow was not adding up to anything worth reporting to you.
Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 03:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A small group of friendly faces were...................

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
A small group of friendly faces were out skiing this morning. Very few people were on the hill to enjoy a sunny, clear, and cool day at Alpine. The overnight temperatures have been in the teens with the daytime temperatures inching toward forty degrees. The snow is holding up well, although it is firm in spots where skiers have shaved off the top layer of snow. Alpine was making snow again this morning on Hot Wheels. I found the coverage good in many areas, especially on the upper mountain. The firm layer that is covering the ground is hiding many obstacles and this situation should remain until temperatures increase or large crowds ware down the surface. Red Trail and most of Blue trail are well covered at this point in time. The worst area is the lower section of Blue where they have not made much snow as of this date. Hot Wheels appears well covered and is being groomed as is Red Trail.
I skied Sunspot, Wolverine, Alpine Bowl, The Sisters, Peril Ridge, D8, and the lower section of High Yellow today. The Sisters are still rather poorly covered with many small trees poking through the surface. Peril Ridge, D8, and High Yellow are well shaded and contained some of the best snow on the mountain. I spoke to a couple of people who skied over to Beaver Bowl and Estelle Bowls yesterday. They reported good conditions in the bowls with coverage requiring slow picking a route on the above Kangaroo. Watch out for ice, especially on the back side of the mountain. A snow boarder, who was walking along toward Estelle Bowl lost his footing and slid down the backside. This required helicopter rescue for the injured person.
It did feel good to be out in the sun on a windless cool day.
Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 02:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It is a cool day in Alpine, but...............

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
It is a cool day in Alpine, but the sun is out in full force shining from a clear blue sky. Alpine opened Summit this afternoon, and I can only imagine how good the first turns must have been at the opening. I was on the hill to make a few turns early in the morning thinking that Summit would be running. However, I left before they began loading. The snow on Roundhouse was very good with winter conditions gracing the top surface. The snow guns were blasting away on lower Red Trail all morning.
After a few runs on Roundhouse, I decided it was time to try the telemark skis. We headed over to Ward Valley and parked at the bottom of the new Sherwood Lift. An hour later we were standing at the top of the Sherwood Lift looking at an untracked run with a dark blue lake in the background. The snow was just about perfect as we tried to remember how to make a telemark turn. I made turns around the short tops of small trees and thin strands of bushes. There was about 2 inches of powder on top of a smooth surface on the upper 1/3 of the run. The surface was a little more varied toward the bottom with a few more dried plant strands poking through the surface. The bottom was not powder on the surface, but patches of ice and stiff wind blown pack.
It was good to put skins on the skis and get a little uphill exercise on an uncrowded slope. This was an in- bound backcountry tour.
Most of the skiing I have done so far has been on rather well covered slopes with rocks hiding under a firm base. I have actually been skiing on my regular boards. The rumor mill is filled with reports declaring Kirkwood and Mammoth to be in excellent shape with a very good four foot plus base.
Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 02:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Opening day at Alpine saw...............

The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report
Produced by Andy Wertheim
Tahoe/Truckee Realtor
email: andyw@sierra.net
Our real estate website: www.tahoeriverfrontrealty.com

Hello skiers,
Opening day at Alpine saw a handful of skiers and boarders hit the
slopes. Kangaroo opened in the morning with a groomed slope and a
few terrain features. I took a couple of runs around noon today and
found a granular surface (ground up ice) that was very skiable. A
short line of skiers and boarders waited to make the first turns of
the year.
Yesterday it rained dogs and cats all day below 7000 feet. In
fact, it rained most of the day up to 7500 feet or higher. The sky
cleared sometime during the night and temperatures dropped into the
20's. Thus, all the wet snow was instantly frozen solid. About 1 to
2 inches of snow ended up falling after the hard freeze. I am not
sure how much it snowed on the upper mountain yesterday, but it
looked pretty darn good this morning in the sunshine. The upper
mountain looks like it is in good early season condition.
At noon Alpine opened Roundhouse. I was lucky enough to be
there when everyone abandoned Kangaroo and loaded Roundhouse. The
snow guns were blasting away on Red Trail. I was really surprised to
find the top surface conditions very good with about 2 inches of
fresh powder covering the hardened surface underneath.
A lot of turns were made on Blue Trail (well covered 2/3 of the way
down), Red-Green, and upper Yellow Trail (lower yellow is blessed
with a covering of small tree tops and bushes). Red Trail should be
well covered when the guns are turned off. Skiers were making turns
on the side of the Face and between trees, logs, and other
obstacles. It was early season skiing today, and pretty good
considering the warm weather that passed through yesterday. The
slopes will not be great if a large crowd shows up on the weekend, as
it will end up being very crowded, especially on the lower slopes
that are filled with early season obstacles. Squaw is opening some
lifts on the upper mountain tomorrow. Skiing should be pretty good
up at that elevation.
The season begins. Enjoy your day. Andy

Posted by Andy Wertheim at 10:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)