Forecast was clear that Tahoe was going to be blasted and the roads were going to be shut down for a while. I missed the last that happened but was able to go this time, so I hurried to get to Kirkwood before weather got too bad. That storm was unusual as I drove almost all the way with not even any rain and it's only in the last 30mn that I got some rain and then snow. I didn't complain and was happy to get over before it got bad:
Drive across the spur, was interesting:
Days 1-2: Shut down
The next 2 days were shut down, wind was so high (100 to 200mph, snow falling completely sideways) that kirkwood was not able to run any lifts and do any snow safety. This was kind of expected. During that time, the road in both directions was also closed, which was also expected. I went out on day 2 to get some pictures when there was a small chance things could open, but did not as the wind did not die down:
The kids tried to dig out the front door:
day2
they failed, this is what it looked on day 3 :)
The snow was relentless, it never stopped:
KW tried, but didn't succeed in opening anything on day2
I parked my car in underground parking so it wouldn't get snowed in :)
parking your car outside didn't seem like a great idea :)
this was the parking lot I got in, you could barely walk out without hitting your head
Day 3: Cartmanland Fluffy 4H Pow Day
Day 3, finally chair 6 opened at 11:00, the roads were closed so no one could get in, the snow was absolutely fantastic even if weather was super cold and miserable:
weather was blizzardly
nice board :)
I was able to snowboard all the way from the lift to across the street and inside the parking lot ;)
I also noticed that it was cold enough my car lost 8% charge
Despite the bad weather, these were some of the best runs I've ever had at kirkwood, especially as no one was able to drive in since the roads were closed:
Chamoix was trivial to get down, so much snow:
Day 4: Finally better weather, Wall opened
Day 4, finally the weather got better and it was possible to open more terrain. Sadly by then the wind had packed all that fantastic snow that was flying in my face the previous day. It's not like it sucked, but the epic powder day was already over:
the wall finally opened!
everyone flocked there :)
the path down from the top was all gone and burried
chair 2 needed a bit of TLC :)
I started the day with a fast run down 6, snow was firm powder but still smooth:
A different, down angle run:
The wall, eagle bowl to chair 1:
Day 5: Late bluebird, Backside finally opened
Day 5 finally had nicer weather, and the back side opened:
the wall seldom looks like this :)
people camped at chair2 2H early to get to the backside :)
I used the time to hike to Glove Rock mostly for fun, the snow was not that great anymore by then:
nice views though
riding the ridge was super windy, I then rode part of palisades
snow was pretty packed by then though
The ride was pretty rough, I got blown off the icy ridge a few times:
Then went back to the Wall and eagle bowl to get to chair2
rode down this, pretty rough on my butt :)
chair2 line had gotten a bit longer :)
it looked pretty, but backside snow is usually pretty packed
haha, good one :)
I went to find better snow
the cornice off the wave had been blown off by the wind, it was now a gentle slope. Had never seen that.
Fawn ridge was beautiful, as always
The first run was pretty firm:
This was my last, and best fawn ridge run, snow was much better there as usual. Good thing I had poles to get out of it, especially with the snowboarders that were blocking the path out:
After multiple fawn ridge runs, it was time to drive back, just as Carson Spur had finally re-opened:
