By Alex Clark
(File this under absolutely nothing to do with real estate, but everything to do with fun.)
It appears we have quite a few readers that enjoy the the fact that San Francisco is so close to the great skiing destinations of Lake Tahoe, and you’re all likely checking the “snow reports” for your favorite mountains. I thought I’d share some first hand insight with you.
Being that I am originally from Reno, NV, learned to ski when I was two, and grew up skiing/racing all throughout my youth until snowboarding came around, toured the Alps for a whole winter, and generally track the weather like most of you track Real Estate (not saying it’s a bad thing), I know a thing or two about snow and skiing. I also know the resorts up there like the back of my hand.
Truth be told….although the snow and skiing in Tahoe is now good, it is not epic. Tahoe needs more snow! The last storms that hit, all 5-12 feet of it, somehow didn’t seem to land squarely on a lot of the runs. As a friend who went to Kirkwood said, “I was surprised how many rocks I hit in the chutes.” Kirkwood received 12 feet of snow, and they’re still hitting rocks?!
The areas around 6200-6800 feet (all areas except Mt. Rose and Kirkwood) need snow. The beginning of those storms were warm, and snow levels were high. That warm, wet, sloppy snow fell and froze underneath and now acts like a slide. What new snow falls just slides right down the mountain and doesn’t stick (at least in the steeps). Lots of rocks and bushes are still showing. What is more disappointing is that all the previous storms had extremely high winds, which blew a lot of the snow in the higher elevations away. Areas that you’d think would be covered were completely bare (Headwall at Squaw and the back bowls at Alpine accessible from High Traverse).
Avalanche danger yesterday, and likely today was extremely high. Slides were happening everywhere and one person was reported caught in a slide and not found (likely never there) at Alpine Meadows. I caused a few little slides myself and it was not a good feeling.
So if you’re sitting in your office thinking you’re missing the best conditions in 50 years, you’re not. Don’t get me wrong, there is good stuff to be found, you just have to do a bit of searching, because we tracked it all up!! LOL! :-)
All in all, conditions are really good, but not as good as the hype you’re likely hearing.
Go and enjoy. The weather this weekend is supposed to be nice.