Sierra Journal

The End of (in-bounds) Sierra Ski Season 2009

The Sierra ski season is coming to an end over the next few weeks. Unless, that is, you're among those who earn their turns and look beyond the lifts and ropes of resorts and into the untracked backcountry. Skiable terrain can always be found straight through June in the Eastern Sierra. 

From the AP:

Sierra Nevada ski resorts are beginning to shut down lifts for the season after what some operators are calling a "very challenging year" because of the economy's downhill run.

The Boreal, Soda Springs and Homewood resorts around Lake Tahoe closed on Sunday, a week before the nearby Alpine Meadows, Heavenly, Northstar-at-Tahoe and Diamond Peak ski areas plan to halt operations.

In a message on the resort's Web site, Alpine Meadows executives acknowledged the economy is prompting an earlier-than-usual shutdown of their slopes. Last year, the resort closed May 4.

Sherpa Brothers to Spend 24 Hours on Mt. Everest Summit

Scaling Mt. Everest 16 times and breaking a speed record just wasn't enough. Pemba Dorje and his two brothers now not only want to scale it again, they also want to stay on the summit for 24 hours before heading down. That's nutso, but good luck to ya!

From the AP:

Between the three of them, the Sherpa brothers have climbed Mount Everest 16 times. The eldest raced up the world's highest mountain in eight hours and 10 minutes, the record for the fastest-ever ascent.

Now, the trio want to scale Everest together, and they aim to break the record for time spent at the summit, known as "the death zone," by staying at the 29,035-foot (8,850-meter) peak for 24 hours. Most climbers linger there for only a few minutes, just long enough to take a photograph from the top of the world.

"It is going to be difficult but I know we can do it," said Pemba Dorje, 31, the oldest brother. "I feel safer on the mountain trail than on the city streets."

*Photo Credit: Binod Joshi, Associated Press

Desert and Sierra Wildflower Slideshow

Ah Spring! Here's a very cool story and sideshow from OC Register on spring wildflower blooms in Death Valley and the Sierra Nevada. I'm still lamenting the approaching end of ski season, but this certainly makes me yearn for spring and summer. Gorgeous!!

* Photo Credit: Bruce Chambers

Sierra Snowpack 81% of Normal

And here I thought we had a huge year. Must be the law of shifting baselines. With more bad years than good years lately, even a normal year is starting to feel like a great year, ya know?

Of course my thoughts are always with ski conditions, but there is a much more serious concern: water resources for all of us around California.

For more on CA water resources see here. 

From Mercury News:

There appears to be plenty of snow in the Sierra Nevada, but California water officials said Thursday it falls short of the amount needed to replenish the state's reservoirs.

Across the 400-mile-long mountain range, the snowpack is holding about 81 percent of its usual statewide water content, according to the fourth Sierra snow survey conducted by the state Department of Water Resources.

The department's snow chief, Frank Gehrke, says the snowpack needed to be between 120 percent and 130 percent of average by the beginning of April to replenish the state's key reservoirs.

The smaller snowpack follows two previously dry winters and is one reason farmers and cities throughout California — including in Silicon Valley — have been told they will get less water this year.

"It's not nearly enough to bolster the water supply picture statewide," said Gehrke.

Back from Colorado

Well I had a fantastic weekend in Colorado's Summit and Eagle counties. We skied Breckenridge, Vail and Keystone. The snow was awesome with lots of new snow on Friday and Saturday. Then we had a bluebird day on Sunday with cold temps that kept conditions soft and deep.

But I gotta say, no matter how many times I ski Colorado, nothing beats the Sierra Nevada after a big storm cycle. I'll take Squaw Valley pow over Vail pow any day pf the week - just because there's so much more of it. You can't beat Vail for sheer size and variety of terrain, though. Their wide-open bowls and glades are simply HUGE. You could ski Vail everyday for a season and not get bored I think. 

Here's a little video I put together of all my pals and I on the slopes and apres ski. On a side note, I've realized just how bad the video quality of YouTube is, so now I'm experimenting with Blip.tv. Wudyathink?

Click to play

Headed to Colorado for a Powder Harvest

I'm sitting in the airport bar waiting for my flight to CO to hang out with my Rocky Mountain brethren. They've been getting hammered with snow for the past week and the forecast is only calling for more. I'll be hanging out in Summit County with a bunch of old pals. I'm one of the only backcountry-types in the crew so I'll be spending most of my time in-bounds.

I might check out one of the cat-skiing operations, though. Would be a shame to let all that backcountry powder go to waste...

Sierra Road Repair Project on I 80 Begins Today

If you're a bay area mountain fanatic like yours-truly, then you spend an inordinate amount of time in your truck on your way to, or on your way back from, the mountains.

Well, be ready to experience some serious traffic headaches this summer. A massive I 80 road project got under way this morning that will at times close the highway through the Sierra.

You know those annoying ruts in the right lane from countless semi-trucks driving through crazy Sierra weather with chained tires? They're gonna get fixed! Pretty cool, and I know it's necessary, but man I am NOT looking forward to this.

Go to www.getacross80.com for live traffic updates, email alerts, detour maps, live traffic cams and such.

Or, for updates on the road, you can call 1-877-362-8080 for recorded info.

From GetAcross80.com:

The Sierra Nevada portions of I-80 have been diligently maintained by Caltrans for more than five decades. Because of the severe weather conditions that Sierra winters create along I-80, the roadways have become severely worn and are in need of repair.