2010 Ski Season: Day 22-Kirkwood

Location: Kirkwood
Date: 4/10/2010
Conditions: Groomers, crunchy, windy



So I've matched my previous season total of 22 days which is also the most I've had in any season. I'm pretty happy about that. Carl contacted me on Facebook to see if I wanted to hit Kirkwood and the answer was an obvious yes. We headed out at 5AM and made it to Kirkwood by 8:30 or so. Carl rides a board and has gotten in 10 or so days this season. I know Kirkwood pretty well so I took him around starting off on some blues to warm up.

We headed to the backside and were disappointed to learn that Chair 4 was closed for wind. Oh well, at least we made it to the backside on potentially the last day it was open for the season.

That afternoon we met up with Walter (PPK) from the Bay Area Ski Bus. He was up with a bunch of rippers who had a cabin near 89&50. One guy in particular, Eric, was an amazing skier. I had to ask him to slow it down by 50% so I could see WTF he was up to. We did a bunch of laps on 6 before Carl and I reconnected and hits some blues to wind down the day.

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2010 Ski Season: Day 16-Kirkwood

Date: 3/7/2010
Location: Kirkwood
Conditions: Bluebird morning, snow showers afternoon.

I love Kirkwood. Of all the resorts at Tahoe, given my choice, I would ski Kirkwood any day. The terrain, the people, the mountain, the attitude, all of it seems to fit with me.

Thanks to our bat-outta-hell bus driver, we arrived at Kirkwood at 7:55 AM, over an hour before the lifts were scheduled to start. That earned us first chair on Solitude. First chair is the best way to start out the day, try it, you'll like it.

The morning was absolutely perfect weather, bluebird skies and nice temps all around the mountain. Kirkowwd hosted day 1 of the Freeskiing World Tour in the "permanently closed" Cirque between the frontside and backside of the mountain. We got close, but not too close to the action. As we hit the Caples Crest link, we spied a dude ski BASE jumping and doing flips as he hurled down the cliff-infested face. Other skiers competed by jumping 40 footers and riding away clean.

As I've said before,Kirkwood's backside is a mini-resort unto itself. We rode all four of those lifts covering the Fawn Ridge, Wave, Happiness Is, and Vista areas. I hucked the Cornice atop the Wave about 4 feet or so and landed it. To round out the backside tour, we hit my favorite, Thunder Saddle and traversed out past the World Tour as the flurries started coming down and new snow filled in our tracks.



I took a few park runs and managed to stay upright in the Timber Creek area. We hit Cornice Express and went over to Sentinel Bowl for some steep and deep to round out the early afternoon. I wanted one more shot at the backside, so we did that too.

Bell to bell skiing, blue skies, fresh powder, park, steeps, and a pro competition all in one day? Yup. Kirkwood.

Stats

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2010 Ski Season: Day 12-Kirkwood

Location: Kirkwood
Date: 1/12/2010
Conditions: Packed snow, groomers, some powder




View Track 9 in a larger map

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2010 Ski Season: Day 10-Kirkwood

Location: Kirkwood
Date: 1/31/2010
Conditions: Packed Powder

A bluebird powder day at Kirkwood can make your entire ski season. Today was one of those days. We caught 3rd chair (thanks two snowboarders who cut at the last second) and hit some cord before lapping chair 11 for some fast groomers to warm up.

Before too long, we took the traverse to the backside and found awesome snow and no lines. Kirkwood's backside is a mini-resort to itself with 4 lifts, including Vista which just recently opened for the season. After a shot at launching off the cornice and a punch save,wWe opted for the other surface lift, Covered Wagon, which opens up a large section of the Wave and Fawn Ridge.



Fawn Ridge held the best snow of the day. Plenty of powder lasted in the trees from the several feet that fell at the 'Wood over the past 10 days or so. With a low to moderate avalanche danger, and plenty of company, we ventured into side-country territory.


View Track 7 in a larger map

After a quick break, we went to Cornice Express, the entire other side of the 2300 acre resort. Again, there was some great snow in the gullies off Sentinel Bowl, thought the slope itself was fairly firm.

We made one more pass at the backside to hit the Wave again and then started the long journey back to Timber Creek to meet up with the Bay Area Ski Bus for our return trip home.

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2010 Ski Season: Day 2-Kirkwood

Location: Kirkwood
Date: 12/20/2009
Conditions: Packed Powder



Kirkwood is my favorite Tahoe resort. I love skiing there and I've had some of my greatest runs in the Thunder Saddle. We were in luck on Sunday as Kirkwood's lift 2, Caples Crest had just opened two days prior. Conditions were generally very good. We missed the powder the past weekend but most of the mountain was open and snow cover was decent. The backside was a bit "bony" in spots especially at the top of 4.

We had our best runs of the day on Canestoga. Another experience that stood out was our somewhat delayed start to the Sentinel Bowl. Lots of people were coming to the top of Sentinel and complaining about the conditions and steepness of the terrain. That never inspires much confidence in other skiers who overhear blurted assertions like: "Oh my god, its the freaking Ice Capades over here."

We wrapped up about 3:30 - 4:00 and headed back to the Bay Area Ski Bus for some Ace beers and snacks. On the way out of Kirkwood, our host Anthony asked a "gimme" question: "What's the name of the peak and the elevation of the highest point at Kirkwood." Thimble Peak, 9876' scored me a free "Experts Only" sticker for my helmet, which I bought, fittingly, at Kirkwood several years earlier.

One of my favorite parts of the trips on the ski bus is stopping for dinner on the way back. Loomis leaves a lot to be desired as far as options go. We dashed in for some takeout chinese and munched on it watching the tail end of the latest Star Trek movie which was actually really good.

Next trip up we're tentatively scheduled to hit Northstar and Alpine for the New Year. Word is that the ski bus has a 12 passenger van to shuttle skiers to and from a new cabin. We were the last two to signup for the overnight trip leaving New Years Day and returning Sunday. Some logistical difficulties may prevent this trip from coming together so we're crossing our fingers for a New Years powpow miracle.

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2009 Ski Season: Day 19

Location: Kirkwood
Date: 3-29-2009
Conditions: Firm, groomed, icy in spots

Sunday we took yet another trip to Kirkwood for some spring skiing. We arrived early on the Bay Area Ski Bus and boarded the Timber Creek express lift before its official 9 AM start. The front side of the mountain was groomed and still a bit firm from the overnight freeze. We applied a follow the sun approach which dictated that we head to Kirkwood's backside early in the morning. The runs below Iron Horse were great.

We hit Sunise lift as well. I thought the conditions there were fine, other skiers apparently disagreed as I overheard a ton of complaints about the "ice." We headed back to the front side for a lunch run, but not before I hiked to Outlook Vista and took a run down the face. It was pretty crusty up there and I had the entire area all to myself. Still, I'm glad to have checked off the new lift. I can once again say I've skied all the lifts at Kirkwood.

That afternoon, we headed to Cornice Express were the real fun began. The lift line had an "Experts Only" warning which should we should have taken as a sign. We traversed along the ridge past Jim's, Fireball, and Chamonix. As we did, I peered over the ledge and convinced myself that it was indeed steep. As we came to Sentinel Bowl, tt was like the Ice Capades had come to town. One could hear skis scraping the ice, skiers exclaiming how difficult the run was, and the sounds of skiers sliding down the mountain on their backsides. At one point, I saw a kid drop a pole and then slide sixty feet on his back. His dad was first thinking about grabbing the pole but finally decided it was a better idea to ski down below him then stop to arrest the kid's fall. We managed to stay (mostly) upright and made it down in record time.

That afternoon, we hit up the terrain park for some fun box training and a few cracks at the half pipe. It was a nice way to wind down the day and prepare for the ride home.

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2009 Ski Season: Day 16

Location: Kirkwood
Conditions: Groomed, bluebird

We arrived at Kirkwood at 7:35 AM. That is the earliest I have ever been to the mountain on Bay Area Ski Bus. We were meeting two friends from Oakland; what's up Samantha and Guhan?!? They were a bit behind us so I had delusions of hitting sentinel bowl prior to hooking up with them. All hopes were dashed when the stoned-out Kirkwood lifties arrived.

Demetri: Waiting patiently in line before the lift lines are even set up at 8:15 AM.
SOKL: Dude, it's going to be another hour at least before this lift opens
D: Want me to help drill some holes or run some lines
L: Uhhhhhhh
D: Ok, no prob, I'll wait
L: Chair 5 is opening at 8:30, duuuuuude
D: Oh?
L: Yea, but only for the comp, what do I know

After waiting patiently for nearly 45 minutes we took the first chair along with our Ski Bus host David. As I shred the sweet corduroy all the way down the bunny slopes I imagined the poor people stuck on the lift watching as I slayed the mountain. After a few SMS messages, we hooked up with Samantha and Guhan and took another few laps in the Timber Creek area. I hit up the terrain park and made my best attempt to not look like an idiot on the half pipe and small features.

Warmed up, we headed to chair 5 to get started for the day. After a quick break, our border buddies were ready to tackle the line down past the water tank a few times before heading in for lunch.

I lead the pack out towards chair 10 for some early afternoon Buckboard basics. Jodi loves Buckboard and I was unable to coax her into the drain which runs parallel. I had a few nice drops into the gully off of 5 before we moved over to chair 1 for some beginner laps.

As we headed up chair 2, Caples crest, the mountain revealed its backside slopes. There were cliffs, and awesome lines as skiers and riders took the newly opened and running Outlook Vista to the ridge separating the two halves of the mountain.

We took it easy and came down to chair 3 for a return to the mid-mountain. By this point, it was time to start heading all the way across the mountain for our bus departure at 4:30 sharp.

I ran into Brandon from Flowskipix and said hello. As I raced down the route to the frontside, I lost Jodi and Samantha for a while and caught up with Guhan. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves on a perfect bluebird day.

A few chairs and traverses later and we were back in Timber Creek where warm buses and cold beer waited for us. I loaded my pockets with free beer and had the chance to bust out my 686 snow tool belt for the second time this season. A quick stop in Jackson lead to more beer and a sandwich allowing me to sleep off my day on the slopes with friends. Day 16 will go down as one of the most fun of the season!

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2009 Ski Season: Day 13

Gut Check
Originally uploaded by dmourati

Location: Kirkwood
Conditions: Variable, windbuff, skier tracked, powder, heavy powder, chowder

Today was an awesome day at Kirkwood. I know yesterday will go down in the history books as one of the great all time days at Kirkwood. I was able to make one day after the real pow-fest and i was not sure how things would turn out.

The morning started out on Cornice and a quick hit into the Sentinel Bowl. I didn't quite have my legs ready and it was hard work slogging through all that chopped up snow but still fun.

I made my way to the backside and discovered that 15 was running. It was my first crack at the new surface lift off 4 and it opened up some incredible terrain. Fawn Ridge was definitely the place to ski today. I figured the pow-hounds wouldn't bother going to all the trouble of getting up there yesterday when the front side of the mountain had so much to offer. There was a ton of snow, especially down in the trees below the ridge. Big props to the Cat crew for grinding out some cord in needed places!

I also took the opportunity today to check out Thunder Saddle, see pic. Again, there was a ton of snow and not too much traffic. A quick run out led me back down to 2 for laps to the backside. Great way to spend the morning.

I hit a few more runs off Cornice as well as the Wall in the afternoon. I will say that there was powder to be had, in one way or another, on each of my 20+ runs for the day. It was certainly fun exploring Kirkwood on a slow day and getting great snow to boot.

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2009 Ski Season: Day 10

Location: Kirkwood
Conditions: Powder
Date: 2/7/2009




First two runs of the day were pure powder pleasure. Lots of fresh on the front side to be had. Avy control in full effect from 9 AM till about 10.

At 10, after hearing a lull of the big 75mm Howitzer, we headed to the backside. Big mistake. The top of sunrise was a whirlwind. Snow pelted our faces. We couldn't tell if it was new snow or stuff getting blown around. Visibility was near zero.

We bailed on the backside and headed over to Cornice. More trouble at the top there, but not as bad.

Lots of fresh in the trees even late in the day. By 3, the sun started to peak out.

Pretty darn good day out there.

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Iron Horse

Iron Horse
Originally uploaded by dmourati

And You Don't Stop

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2009 Ski Season: Day 7

Kirkwood

Conditions, groomed, random powder stash, icy in weird spots, rocky.

Conditions were variable to say the least. Parts of the mountain were perfect corduroy, others a rocky, gravelly mess. I managed to find some decent power, though, just off the trail in the greens and blues, it was pretty good.

Run of the day: shotgun

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2009 Ski Season: Day 6

Kirkwood
Weather: Bluebird
Conditions: soft and groomed

Today was a fantastic day at Kirkwood. We went up on the Bay Area Ski Bus and got there early, by 8:15 AM. Jodi went off to get her rentals sorted out while I waited (and waited, and waited) for the lift tickets to arrive. I love Kirkwood, but customer service has never been there strong suit. An employee there today confided the the company is hurting financially and that they have had trouble making their payroll in the past months.

Anyway, back to the skiing. We started out at Timber Creek lodge. This is a newer facility skiers left on the mountain. There are two beginners chairs there, 7 and 9. We zig-zagged across the mountain taking two chairs on each of 7 and 5 to get warmed up. We then hit 11 and 1 to get to 2, 3, and 4. A few laps on the backside were great. We then headed back to Timber Creek for our 1 PM lesson with Jim. Jim was a fantastic instructor and has us both changing our skiing right away.

Tip of the day: drop your downhill hand!

Have fun out there and Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year From Kirkwood

Happy New Year From Kirkwood
Originally uploaded by dmourati

Happy New Year from Kirkwood.

See more photos tagged with kirkwood.

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