Heading up into the mountains and snow country is always a bit of an adventure in winter. Even when winter isn't cooperating too much, the trek to the snow is still a good one.
In theory, by the time you read this, there will be a bit more snow added to the little that we have.
While all of us who relish heading out into the slippery white stuff, on whatever kind of gear we most like, are counting on the weather gods to let loose, soon we hope, there actually is enough of it on the ground to get out and slide about. True, it's a diminishing amount, so choosing where to go is important.
Downhill skiers will find most of the resorts recommending the “groomers” to their guests. The groomed slopes offer the best bet for a good day of skiing. Every night, in really cool snow cat grooming machines, the crews head up and down all the groomable slopes and make ready for the next day.
What you get on the groomed runs is enough cover to avoid running over rocks, sticks, and other obstacles. This is especially important for novice skiers. Anything in the way can cause enough panic for new skiers to lose control. That's always a risky thing.
More advance skiers will simply go around or jump over small bits and pieces in their way. It takes a bit of time on the skis to get to that level of proficiency though.
Heading through the trees at the resorts right now is just asking for damage, to your skis, you, or both. There's enough bushes and whatnot sticking through the snow to hook a ski tip and send the skier to a face down meeting with the snow. Worse, of course, is losing it and hitting a tree.
The other problem with low coverage in the trees is raking the bottom of your skis over a sharp rock. Tearing through the layers to the ptex base of a ski is generally a pretty bad thing. Those kinds of scrapes are difficult to repair.
Downhill skiers should contact their resort of choice, either by phone or on the Internet, to get real time reports on snow coverage. The resorts are continuing to run their snow making machines and the coverage on the groomed slopes is still pretty good.
Cross-country and back countryskiers will have a bit more of a search to find skiable areas for the skinny skis. Snowshoer's are in the same track. There really isn't anyone to call to find out if your favorite spot is suitable, unless you like the track skiing at an XC resort.
The XC resorts at Kirkwood, Royal Gorge, Northstar, Tahoe XC, do have websites to check. It's best to call them though, as conditions can change rapidly. The staff at the resorts can also match your skill level to the conditions as well as offer lessons of various types.
Back country skiers, though, simply have to go out and look. Hope Valley about two and a half weeks ago had good conditions.
A week later, on a trip with our XC skis, half of the snow was gone and there was running water in the multiple drainages there. It was still skiable, but there were plenty of rocks and other debris to steer clear of, along with finding spots to cross the running water. Snow bridges can't always be trusted.
For back country telemark and alpine touring skiers the conditions around Carson Pass are, according to Monte Hendricks and Rich Platt of the El Dorado Nordic Ski Patrol, pretty decent as of right now. The coverage is good with variable conditions. There are icy spots in the shade, with some powder and some crusty snow along the way. There are sticks and stems to avoid in places as well.
Loon Lake has decent coverage. With todays snow, it should improve a bit. Bushes and sticks are poking up through the snow but the XC skiing is decent through the campgrounds and on the Chipmunk Trail. Skiers should exercise caution and be aware of the natural obstacles though.
The Orion Trail at Loon Lake is newly and completely marked as of last weekend, thanks to the efforts of the El Dorado Nordic Ski Patrol.
Rich Platt reported that on Sunday they hauled an extension ladder through the snow to put the blue diamonds high up on the trees. They did this while on XC skis. The XC community owes them a few chocolate chip cookies and good coffee, at the least.
The mantra of winter recreation enthusiasts is this: any snow is good snow. Gear up, head out, and use it while it's here.
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