The Unofficial Alpine Meadows Ski Report

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,
The group I skied with today all agreed that today did not qualify as an epic day with the exception of one out of area run. The snow that fell last night, another 8 inches or so, was so light (again) that I had trouble feeling it as it sprayed against my legs. The moisture content was reported as only 4%, basically no water at all. This would have been epic, had it not been for the moguls or icy patches and remaining rubble hiding just under the surface.
My first run, and I was on the third Summit Chair, was down D7. The light was a little flat making me a somewhat apprehensive as I sped down the slope. There were just enough small moguls that bounced me around (the flat light making it difficult to tell when one was coming up) to make this an excellent day, but not epic. The 6 inches of light snow covering the smooth early groomed runs, however was really fun. I wandered over to Low Beaver and found a more enjoyable surface. Again, I was a little apprehensive as pillows of light snow were popping up through out the bowl. I thought they might be firm bumps or icy globs, but most were just pillows of light snow. The second and third runs through this bowl (I was just about alone in this area-cool for such a crowded day, and it was super full this morning) were better. The snow underneath me was softer all the way down to the terrain park. Deep pockets of fluff flew up to my chest as I turned down the hill. The snow was very fast because my skis were sliding on the firm base under all this lovely light powder. You had to ski the new powder as if it were not there.
I felt the firm and icy rubble under my feet in the Sunspot area, but we did have a few nice turns in the trees moving down Standard Run and across Scott Meadows to the Lakeview Chair.
Now for the epic run. We decided to try the backcountry run from Lakeview Chair to Snowcrest Road (known to some as the Field of Dreams and others as Home Run or Subdivision Bowl. Anyway, this requires a short hike and traverse to a quiet spot in the trees from which a skier can usually turn in powder for days after a storm. Lucky for us on this day, we were not the first skiers to head of to one of my favorite runs. A few other people headed for this area (all going farther out then I) leaving me a nice packed trail. I can only tell you that the trip downhill was in very light powder that I estimated to be at least two feet deep. We were the only skiers on these slopes, and I did not see a track anywhere in the vicinity. We had this peaceful, deep, blanket of perfect snow lying in front of us the entire way down the slope. If you like powder deep enough to fly over your head as you scream down a pristine, then you would have been in heaven this morning in the Field of Dreams. Snow flew up to my face plastering my goggles and continued over my head as I let a few Yahoo’s escape from my mouth each new turn.
Enjoy your day. Andy