Time to make fresh tracks!
When a vast snowstorm appeared on the horizon, Alex and I began to track it using OnTheSnow and OpenSnow apps on our iPhones. Hoping for some fresh, light powder at Lake Tahoe ski resorts, we eagerly anticipated its arrival.
As expected, the storm deposited 30+ inches of fresh snow at Kirkwood, Heavenly, Northstar, and other nearby ski resorts during heavy periods of snowfall on Thursday, March 1, and Friday, March 2. Since the roads were snowed on Saturday, we decided to try snowboarding at Kirkwood on Sunday, March - expecting most of the streets to be clear by then.
Waking up at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, we quickly dressed and started our drive. Since I was unsure about road conditions, I drove the Audi Q5 with a set of chains in the trunk (just in case). The drive to Kirkwood proceeded smoothly until we hit the snowed-in/iced roads on the last stretch of Highway 88. I tried to drive carefully since I'd seen cars crash and flip over on this road. We arrived at Kirkwood around 8:00 a.m. and parked in the best parking spot.
We quickly dressed and walked to Monte Wolfe's Mountain Kitchen for breakfast. There was not much edible on the menu (this isn't Whistler), so Alex chose some oatmeal, and I selected a muffin. After a short breakfast, we headed to the Cornice Express chairlift for the day's first run. The snow looked beautiful, and we saw lots of fresh powder! Mamma mia!
We quickly boarded the Cornice Express chairlift and were whisked away to the top. On this cold, sunny day, the air was clear and out, and the view from the top was magnificent. We quickly strapped on our snowboards and headed down the "Zachary" black diamond trail, weaving in and out of the trees.
The fresh powder underneath the board felt fantastic despite the many moguls on the piste. I felt like surfing downhill, a giant wave of snow. It was an indescribable feeling of enjoyment. Surfing through many canyons (like miniature half-pipes), we attempted many freestyle tricks (180's & ollies). When we finally made it back to Cornice Express, Alex was exhausted. Riding on powder takes a lot of effort - since balancing oneself is much more complicated.
Alex felt a bit nauseous from all the effort but felt better after a bit of rest.
Here is a GoPro Hero4 Silver video I recorded with my selfie-stick:
We did another run from Cornice Express and then headed to "The Wall" to try double black diamond runs. On the way there, we were led to the "Wagon Wheel Bowl," where Alex got stuck behind a cliff - for which he needed to take off his board, walk down, and remount. The snow was intense here. We headed down a delightful run.
We boarded "The Wall" chairlift but decided to head to the backside - as it had just opened, and we were eager to try deep powder there. We snowboarded down "Eagle Bowl" from here to the Caples Crest chairlift. We continued to the bottom of Kirkwood's backside, to the Sunrise chairlift.
Sunrise was overrun by skiers - I have never seen such a crowded chairlift line - so Alex and I decided to return to our favorite Cornice Express chairlift. From the backside, we skied down to "Thunder Saddle," where Alex and I lost sight of each other. I went ahead and skied down part of the way down but had a fall, where my proper binding broke.
The snow was so deep here - I had to dig myself out multiple times!
I snowboarded down to the lodge (with the half-broken binding). It was not very comfortable. When I returned to the lodge, I tried to call Alex, but my AT&T iPhone was not working well at Kirkwood. Eventually, I texted him my location, and we reunited at the Monte Wolfe Mountain kitchen for lunch. We had a couple of burgers - Alex had an Epic burger, and I had a classic. We were so hungry!
Fortunately, my binding was easily repaired with one screw for $2. I was so happy (and relieved).
After lunch, we continued to snowboard at Cornice Express, though, by this time, we were exhausted.
What a fantastic powder day!
When a vast snowstorm appeared on the horizon, Alex and I began to track it using OnTheSnow and OpenSnow apps on our iPhones. Hoping for some fresh, light powder at Lake Tahoe ski resorts, we eagerly anticipated its arrival.
As expected, the storm deposited 30+ inches of fresh snow at Kirkwood, Heavenly, Northstar, and other nearby ski resorts during heavy periods of snowfall on Thursday, March 1, and Friday, March 2. Since the roads were snowed on Saturday, we decided to try snowboarding at Kirkwood on Sunday, March - expecting most of the streets to be clear by then.
Waking up at 4:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, we quickly dressed and started our drive. Since I was unsure about road conditions, I drove the Audi Q5 with a set of chains in the trunk (just in case). The drive to Kirkwood proceeded smoothly until we hit the snowed-in/iced roads on the last stretch of Highway 88. I tried to drive carefully since I'd seen cars crash and flip over on this road. We arrived at Kirkwood around 8:00 a.m. and parked in the best parking spot.
We quickly dressed and walked to Monte Wolfe's Mountain Kitchen for breakfast. There was not much edible on the menu (this isn't Whistler), so Alex chose some oatmeal, and I selected a muffin. After a short breakfast, we headed to the Cornice Express chairlift for the day's first run. The snow looked beautiful, and we saw lots of fresh powder! Mamma mia!
We quickly boarded the Cornice Express chairlift and were whisked away to the top. On this cold, sunny day, the air was clear and out, and the view from the top was magnificent. We quickly strapped on our snowboards and headed down the "Zachary" black diamond trail, weaving in and out of the trees.
The fresh powder underneath the board felt fantastic despite the many moguls on the piste. I felt like surfing downhill, a giant wave of snow. It was an indescribable feeling of enjoyment. Surfing through many canyons (like miniature half-pipes), we attempted many freestyle tricks (180's & ollies). When we finally made it back to Cornice Express, Alex was exhausted. Riding on powder takes a lot of effort - since balancing oneself is much more complicated.
Alex felt a bit nauseous from all the effort but felt better after a bit of rest.
Here is a GoPro Hero4 Silver video I recorded with my selfie-stick:
We did another run from Cornice Express and then headed to "The Wall" to try double black diamond runs. On the way there, we were led to the "Wagon Wheel Bowl," where Alex got stuck behind a cliff - for which he needed to take off his board, walk down, and remount. The snow was intense here. We headed down a delightful run.
We boarded "The Wall" chairlift but decided to head to the backside - as it had just opened, and we were eager to try deep powder there. We snowboarded down "Eagle Bowl" from here to the Caples Crest chairlift. We continued to the bottom of Kirkwood's backside, to the Sunrise chairlift.
Sunrise was overrun by skiers - I have never seen such a crowded chairlift line - so Alex and I decided to return to our favorite Cornice Express chairlift. From the backside, we skied down to "Thunder Saddle," where Alex and I lost sight of each other. I went ahead and skied down part of the way down but had a fall, where my proper binding broke.
The snow was so deep here - I had to dig myself out multiple times!
I snowboarded down to the lodge (with the half-broken binding). It was not very comfortable. When I returned to the lodge, I tried to call Alex, but my AT&T iPhone was not working well at Kirkwood. Eventually, I texted him my location, and we reunited at the Monte Wolfe Mountain kitchen for lunch. We had a couple of burgers - Alex had an Epic burger, and I had a classic. We were so hungry!
Fortunately, my binding was easily repaired with one screw for $2. I was so happy (and relieved).
After lunch, we continued to snowboard at Cornice Express, though, by this time, we were exhausted.
What a fantastic powder day!
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