Peavine!

J&F retired, COVID has us all outside and finally ready to get together again, and it hasn't snowed in donkey's years. Even if it did, the crush of punters makes it impossible to get to the snow. So, after a long hiatus, we're seriously overdue for a return to Stupid Ski Touring!

I've been eye-balling Peavine this season because it actually held a fair bit of snow for a while in December, and afterward has sported the biggest leeward wind-deposits I've ever seen up there. I thought I should ski it when it was white, but didn't get around to it. 

Now, weeks later, if you are coming down from Truckee to Reno you don't see a speck of snow up there. But thanks to the massive December dump and accompanying gale-force winds, there are still thin cornice strips running down the hidden shady side of the ridges. I badgered Jeff for weeks to go up there with me, but--sensibly--he was having none of it.

Today, Kim and I decided to go check it out after, inexplicably, neither of us cancelled. Fully expecting an essentially miserable day, we were delighted to find easy parking, no crowds, sun, warm temps, wildflowers, a pleasant hike, and surprisingly entertaining skiing...but no Superb Owl.

Who? Faerthen & Kim

Gear recommendation: a lounge chair

More photos here.

As you can see, the dog walkers we met were understandably confused. But everything was going well until we left the road and things got steeeeep!

Wildflowers are starting, like this tiny Astragalus.

Over 1K of vertical and more than a mile of distance, with surprisingly fun snow...plus it was hard to get lost.

After skiing, we ordered take-out and sat on the roof-top terrace to admire our line. You can see that there was just one dirt break on the whole skinny route and no tree climbing, suggesting that the day might not actually qualify as a Stupid Ski Tour.