Going to Tahoe, Pointers?

[Skinny Bam]

Plan on going sometime between late Feb. and early March and just watch the weather. I went for a week on presidents day a couple years ago and got sooo lucky with the conditions. Literally snowed at least 30" almost every night after we got there....powder was so ridiculous the parks at both Heavenly and Sierra weren't open. Not that I cared too much as I def got some of the best tree runs in ever at both places.

[surfinsnow]

Originally Posted by Skinny Bam

Plan on going sometime between late Feb. and early March and just watch the weather. I went for a week on presidents day a couple years ago and got sooo lucky with the conditions. Literally snowed at least 30" almost every night after we got there....powder was so ridiculous the parks at both Heavenly and Sierra weren't open. Not that I cared too much as I def got some of the best tree runs in ever at both places.

I think I was there that year, the last two weeks of Feb two years ago, starting President's Day week. It snowed for four days...never seen anything like it! I literally didn't know how to ride it. We stayed in Tahoe City, so Homewood was the easiest place to get to, and mid-week was sweet. Super quiet. But, man! That snow was fcuking crazy! So deep, I didn't know what to do with it! I've never ridden where you didn't even have to turn...just lean way back and go for it. Homewood glades were insane with that deep pow! Probably won't make it back this year...had foot surgery for a torn tendon last season. Still recovering. Very sad!

[Skinny Bam]

Originally Posted by surfinsnow

I think I was there that year, the last two weeks of Feb two years ago, starting President's Day week. It snowed for four days...never seen anything like it! I literally didn't know how to ride it. We stayed in Tahoe City, so Homewood was the easiest place to get to, and mid-week was sweet. Super quiet. But, man! That snow was fcuking crazy! So deep, I didn't know what to do with it! I've never ridden where you didn't even have to turn...just lean way back and go for it. Homewood glades were insane with that deep pow! Probably won't make it back this year...had foot surgery for a torn tendon last season. Still recovering. Very sad!

Yeppp thats when it was. Shit was crazy. My buddy who I was riding with had never rode in real powder so he had a tough time following me through the trees but he started to catch on pretty quick. Not gonna lie I was a little bummed the parks were closed even though there was so much fresh...coming from AZ I dont get a lot of 35+ foot jumps. Pretty funny to see faces of the staff when I asked when they were opening the park when it was some of the best pow days of the year

Luckily my last day we hit Diamond Peak which although very small did have 2 nice size jumps and park that was open. Looking forward to making a trip again this year since i got the Epic.

[jdang307]

Sierra is a nice, kind of out of the way place. It's not the shitshow Northstar is, with crowds.

That said Northstar was fun. Not challenging terrain but I don't always need that.

If you can make it to Squaw and Alpine those two are great

[surfinsnow]

Originally Posted by Skinny Bam

Yeppp thats when it was. Shit was crazy. My buddy who I was riding with had never rode in real powder so he had a tough time following me through the trees but he started to catch on pretty quick. Not gonna lie I was a little bummed the parks were closed even though there was so much fresh...coming from AZ I dont get a lot of 35+ foot jumps. Pretty funny to see faces of the staff when I asked when they were opening the park when it was some of the best pow days of the year

Luckily my last day we hit Diamond Peak which although very small did have 2 nice size jumps and park that was open. Looking forward to making a trip again this year since i got the Epic.

Diamond Peak is cute! We went only because I was doing a business call on the Marketing Dept, and they comped me after our meeting. Still only stayed for a couple of hours. It is BEAUTIFUL, but gets boring really fast. Still, we had deep pow, and I went down one of their little blacks and triggered a mini-avalanche! At Diamond Peak, of all places! Slide halfway down the mountain upside down and head first. Glad it was there, and not Kirkwood!

[killclimbz]

Originally Posted by surfinsnow

Diamond Peak is cute! We went only because I was doing a business call on the Marketing Dept, and they comped me after our meeting. Still only stayed for a couple of hours. It is BEAUTIFUL, but gets boring really fast. Still, we had deep pow, and I went down one of their little blacks and triggered a mini-avalanche! At Diamond Peak, of all places! Slide halfway down the mountain upside down and head first. Glad it was there, and not Kirkwood!

Ha! You forgot the first rule about avalanches. "If it's steep enough to ride, it's steep enough to slide". Though experiencing one in bounds is pretty rare it does happen. I got slid on the Quail Face at Homewood in 92.

[surfinsnow]

Originally Posted by jdang307

Sierra is a nice, kind of out of the way place. It's not the shitshow Northstar is, with crowds.

That said Northstar was fun. Not challenging terrain but I don't always need that.

If you can make it to Squaw and Alpine those two are great

I think Homewood, Alpine and Squaw tix are all interchangeable now. Homewood owns Alpine. That's why I like staying in North Lake (that, and the fact that a family friend owns the house and rents it to us for practically nothing). North Lake is the perfect location! It's a long way to Kirkwood, though, especially if the pass through E bay is closed. The days we go to K'wood we usually stay at the Lakeside Inn in SLT. Cheap digs, very snowboarder friendly, all-night Casino and Mexican food joint, cheap lift tix at the concierge desk, and it puts you 45 minutes closer to Kirkwood. I love the Lakeside! Great little dive!

[KIRKRIDER]

Depends!

2 seasons ago Kirkwood opened the 20th November with 5 feet of fresh, last season we had none until March....hoping for a November opening again!

Originally Posted by sk8_choco21

So I'm going to Sierra-at-Tahoe this November, the week after thanksgiving. I have only ever been to Bear and Mt. High so I figure I'm in for a nice surprise, but is this a good time to go?

I believe we are going to do two trips there, one early season, and one after Christmas because we can't go during holiday season because the passes we are using are the ones that are included in the Mt. High season pass.

So i guess my question is, is the that going to be still a good time to go or should I find other non-holiday dates to go?

Also what are a few good non-boarding things to hit up for a 19 year old kid?

Any suggestions are helpful thanks guys!

[surfinsnow]

Originally Posted by killclimbz

Ha! You forgot the first rule about avalanches. "If it's steep enough to ride, it's steep enough to slide". Though experiencing one in bounds is pretty rare it does happen. I got slid on the Quail Face at Homewood in 92.

Yeah...but it was only Diamond Peak! I was pretty amazed to feel the whole mountain slide out from underneath me! It was a nice day, sunny and in the 40's, so I was just wearing a hoodie. Was pretty wet and snow-filled by the time the slide stopped!

Quail Face is fun! That's the pic on my avatar, at the 55.

[killclimbz]

Scary how powerful moving snow is ain't it?

Didn't even recognize your avatar was from that spot. Very nice.