Sagehen Ski Weekend #10

Packing onto the 'cat.

The destination: Never-Never-Land!

We figured out that this year is the 10th anniversary of Sagehen Ski Weekend!

Everything went pretty well, with only minor tantrums from the limp, I mean Imp, snowcat. Mike must be growing ashamed of his fussy child's behavior in public.

Nearing the top.

Originally conceived by Greg Greenwood (science advisor to Mary Nichols, "the most influential environmental regulator in history") as an opportunity to spend quality time with NGO, business, science and agency wonks, SSW has gradually self-selected into...NGO, business, science and agency wonks who can actually ski! Fortunately, these people are also our friends, even the ones we met for the first time this weekend!

This year, the weather gods were cruel to Tahoe. It's been weeks since our last snow, and the skiing conditions are dismal. But as usual, Carpenter Peak and environs delivered up the best skiing available in the region, yielding sweet pockets of shallow soft fluff on protected, very shady slopes.

So, after gleefully tracking up some of that on Saturday, we decided that Sunday was high time to sally forth and finally tag that long, south-facing couloir across Independence Lake that we've been eyeballing and talking tough about for around a decade: Never-Never-Land.

Not knowing whether the day would prove brutal or possibly even fruitless (read: Stupid), the group split in two with the sensible half that can actually call themselves skiers going off for more of the sure thing: protected, shady snow.

The rest of us forged ahead, dropping a truly miserable shot of breakable crust to reach the frozen lake shore. But as often happens, the ski over and up to the top of the couloir turned out to be not as horrendously steep and painful as it looks. We did have to boot the last headwall bit, but the snow was just soft enough to get a sufficient toe into it. And we were rewarded with perfect corn skiing on the way down!

Reward for staying late and cleaning up!

Monday dawned cloudy again, killing the corn crop and the general level of enthusiasm, so those of us left standing skied in the shady trees again, then retired to the station for afternoon hot cheese.

Thanks for a great weekend, everyone!

Who?: Jeff, Faerthen, Beth, Dr. Jim, Mike, Kim, Sue, Jim, Vance, Jay, Jodie, Steve, Dave, Susie, Mark, Jennifur, Rob, Debi, Joe, ...

FF's Photos.