This piece was written for the late winter edition of Ascent Backcountry Snow Journal. You can find the issue in quality gear shops across the American West. Dark, snowy and slow. I inch my way down California Hwy 89 towards my house on Tahoe’s West Shore. “I wonder how buried the A-Frame is?” is all that… Continue reading State of the Tahoe Backcountry| Ascent Backcountry Snow Journal
The numbers are staggering. 20-25+ feet of snow fell on the Sierra Nevada Mountains during the month of January. It was a record month for snowfall, smashing the old January record by several feet. In fact, January was the snowiest month on record for the Sierra surpassing the old record of 201″ back in March of 1992.… Continue reading State of the Tahoe Backcountry 2017: Januburied in the Sierra
Happy New Year and Holy Storms! Since the last State of the Backcountry report conditions have changed dramatically across the American West. Specifically for Tahoe and the Eastern Sierra, the New Year has brought a wave of storm activity that some are claiming has the potential to be “historic” (See Photo 2). In my opinion, what’s… Continue reading State of the Backcountry 2017: Tahoe Storm Edition
It’s the first day of winter and snow has been steadily falling across the American West for weeks. In the Sierra, the northern portion of the range just weathered its wettest fall in 30 years. You’d think that would translate to all-time conditions in the Tahoe area, but the multiple atmospheric river events came in… Continue reading State of the Backcountry 2016-2017: Tahoe and the Eastern Sierra
It’s exciting when that first ski magazine gets delivered each year. It’s always too early, but it signifies an important change that’s about to come to all of our lives. I was thrilled to open the first Backcountry Magazine of the season this year to see three photos of myself skiing in Lake Tahoe, shot… Continue reading Photos and Words Featured in the First Backcountry Magazine of the 2015-2016 Ski Season
It might feel like Déjà vu, but the choice is yours. When you’re working with close to nothing you have to get creative, be positive and find a way to stay fired up. I’m not going to try and sugar coat that after a strong December we’re once again feeling the loss of winter in… Continue reading State of the Backcountry 2015: V| Sponsored by Alpenglow Sports
Since the first “State of the Backcountry” reports started back in the 2009-2010’ ski season, the general tone has stayed consistent. This isn’t a place to complain about what’s not out there, but rather a place to celebrate what is out there. In my mind, that’s the true spirit of backcountry skiing-making it work with… Continue reading State of the Tahoe Backcountry 2014: IX | Sponsored by Alpenglow Sports
Do you enjoy long walks in the mountains? If so, you’re in luck because if you want to slide on anything resembling snow in the Sierra, you’re going to have to work for it. As crazy as it may sound to some, there are panels of recrystallized powder strewn about the Sierra Crest. From the… Continue reading State of the Tahoe Backcountry 2014: IV | Sponsored by Alpenglow Sports
