Backcountry Skiing - January 2016

[ski3pin]

I posted a new story to our blog. This is what we've been up to the last weekends -

Backcountry Skiing - January 2016

We hope you enjoy coming along.

 

[nocoast12v]

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Nice Ski.For many years mid 80s to late 90s we enjoyed our "3 pins" in the Ebbetts pass area.
When we had great snow.
Your trip brings back a lot of good times.
Thanks
Frank

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Earn those turns! Nice!

 

[longhorn1]

Looks like a fun trip. You all have been getting the snow. I've seen enough for the year and fortunately this latest storm hit Minnesota and Wisconsin. jd

 

[highz]

Nice! I agree it does feel good to get out on the skis. Thank you El Niño!

 

[Foy]

Nice! A mildly painful reminder that we'll not have a Utah downhill ski trip this year, but nice nonetheless. And you managed to include some California geology references and pictures, too. A two-fer!

Foy

 

[Cayuse]

Looks like fun! Hope the snowpack stays stable for you.

 

[takesiteasy]

Nice report. We don't have mountains here but we do have snow to ski on.

Looks like a fun trip. You all have been getting the snow. I've seen enough for the year and fortunately this latest storm hit Minnesota and Wisconsin. jd

Fortunately for whom, haha? We are waiting until tomorrow to dig out of about a foot of new snow here that is still coming down.

 

[ski3pin]

Thank you all for your kind comments, both the Lady and I appreciate them very much. Today I received information on the numerous snow surveys for February 1st in our area of the Sierra Nevada. The average is 130% of normal. That is great news. But from my personal perspective this has been a pretty "normal" year in regards to number of storms and storm intensity. Thus far I've not seen evidence of an effect of a Godzilla El Nino, at least not in our neck of the woods. I'm not complaining either way. Let's hope at least we stay with an above average snowpack the rest of the season.

 

[4llamas]

Beautiful, thank you. Isn't it just wonderful to have snow again. Been enjoying it myself here in the Oregon Cascades.

 

[Lighthawk]

Yup. I've been getting out regularly on XC gear and tele (mostly resort).
It's really great to see a snowpack build up.
There's been great powder, but the Friday storm was quite warm with 4-6" of rain to 7,000'
Then, followed by a foot of cold powder in the last two days. A roller coaster!

Congrats on building the Orion Trail! Is it near Loon Lk? We certainly notice Brown Mtn when we visit there in the summer.

 

[N'kwala]

Sheer magic Skis. Thanks, only it makes me almost intolerably homesick.

 

[steelhead]

Thanks Ski for another beautiful and informative trip report.

After multiple minimal snow years, it is an interesting reminder to see how much snow falls in a 'normal' Tahoe winter. A similar story here in Oregon. Let's hope the snow keeps falling throughout the Western mountains.

Happy skiing!

 

[fuzzymarindave]

Nice trip report. It brings back memories of similar adventures. Keep it up..

Remember: "free your heel - free your mind"

 

[ski3pin]

Thanks again for the very kind comments. We were out again today. It was warm. We did a bunch of needed trailwork and enjoyed mashed potato snow that was wonderfully turnable in the backcountry. The mountains were very quiet today. Seemed surprising with the blue sky. East wind was roaring over the hgih ridges.

 

[Lighthawk]

We were out today as well. The temps were quite warm, with strong east wind blowing. SR used snowshoes, while I cut a few turns on lightweight metal edged skis. Callie had a blast.

 

[ski3pin]

Lighthawk, it was a nice day out on the snow yesterday indeed! This last month it has been a pleasant surprise to run into so any old friends out on skis. Yesterday was no exception.

Lighthawk, I found that a friend of mine has information about the Orion Trail posted on his website -

Orion Trail

 

[Lighthawk]

Lighthawk, I found that a friend of mine has information about the Orion Trail posted on his website -

Orion Trail

Great reference, Ski. I bookmarked it. Marcus Libkind has compiled an impressive list of tours there!