Close to the end in Tahoe

Katie and I took the day off from skiing on Wednesday for a walk near Northstar in the Martis Creek area. Some snow on the trail but not much. Temperatures were in the high 50’s with blue skies. We ended up back at home in the late afternoon for some slow cooked chili and cornbread. We watched ‘A Hard Days Night’ after dinner which was basically ridiculous.

This am we met Larry and Margie at Alpine Meadows. Our first run was just after 9 and we went through the day finishing after 3. 25 runs in all on groomed and off piste runs. Firm in the am and soft and heavy in the afternoon. We chased good snow most of the day. Summit chair was closed for wind but Larry and I hiked over to the Wolverine side from Alpine Bowl chair for some terrific runs just off Wolverine and on Wolverine. Drinks at Bar of America followed skiing then dinner at Casa Baeza. Plans for tomorrow are skiing with the Banfield’s at Squaw. Big snow predicted for the weekend and beyond but we are out of time.

Larry from Summit
Summit chair idle.

Another week At Tahoe Donner, now a few days on our own.

We had a great weekend with all the visitors. Some skied over the weekend and most said it was the best day of the year though really new snow was only at most 4 inches. Crowds were not huge so that helped.

We all went for a hike on Saturday along the Truckee River though Crow ran for the hour the rest of us walked. The group, Jamie, Tim, Russell, Alex, Alex, Zac, Maria, Sarah, MK, Katie and I, then all went out for lunch
at Garwoods in Kings Beach. Great location on the lakeshore. Terrific cocktails and good food.

Truckee Legacy Trail
Garwoods deck

Back to the house for some rest, then played some games, telestrations, cribbage, and others. We had an excellent meal on Saturday night with chicken enchiladas salad and chips. I ‘taught‘ Zac how to play cribbage and he promptly beat me 2 games out of 3.

Sunday was The ski day for some. Katie, MK, and I stayed home. We studied some Spanish, graded some Spanish papers and went shopping in Truckee. The kids came home for a quick hot tub and food then off to home. Zac and Maria stayed and we had a terrific dinner out at Pianeta to celebrate Zac’s B-day. I heard later that night Zac ‘taught’ Maria cribbage with a board we gave him for his birthday and she promptly beat him!!

Monday we went with Zac and Maria to Alpine. Great day skiing both on the groomed runs and off trail. They ended up going back home that night after some hot tub time and a small dinner.

Ski bums

Today Katie and I went to Squaw somewhat late (sleeping in😀) but had a great day of skiing with great snow in places. The only odd thing was groups of high school or college kids all over the slopes. I have a feeling the schools were closed because of the coronavirus and the kids took advantage. Cheers!!

Another day at Squaw

Alex’s, Gary and MK came to the house late last night. This am off later than usual at 9 or so to Squaw, temp already 50 when we left the house. 16 runs today for Katie and I, the others did a few more plus a terrain park. MK of the broken elbow walked the Squaw Meadow and managed some school paper grading at the Rocker. At home, a quick hot tub then some beer,wine and marg’s.

Some cribbage

Cribbage contenders

Some rummy tile

The Rummy Crowd

And Gary is working on a shrimp dinner. Cheers!

Gar Bear

Alpine Meadows Skiing

Blue skies and blue Lake Tahoe in background

Katie and I had a great day skiing at Alpine. Parked close to the lifts and skied on to almost every lift. The early morning groomed runs were fantastic snow then we ventured off trail for most of the remainder of the day. Great turns in slightly heavy snow but fantastic. Did 20 runs then moved on to the Old Town Tavern in Truckee for a thirst quenching IPA. A little hot tub at home and I suspect leftovers tonight as we got to clear the fridge for the weekend crowd. Cheers!

Tahoe Donner

Arrived Friday to a somewhat familiar house though you could see the ground all around. You can see houses from the street. So different from last years February when 26 feet of snow came down. The Alex’s rode the train up and we met them at a craft brewery across the street from the train station. Gary Ryan and Sarah met up there as well. We celebrated later at the house with margaritas, a taco bar and eventually liars dice.

On the Truckee River

Saturday was in the high 50’s The kids went skiing/boarding at Alpine and the Mrs. and I managed an 8 mile hike along the Truckee River in a T-shirt. Lunch was at the new Tap Haus in Tahoe City where a little brew fest was happening in the parking lot. Chicken Cacciatore for diner after some margaritas in the hot tub and some Irish coffee after that. A minor cribbage battle erupted and later ‘salad bowl’ and eventually liars dice to end the evening. Apparently no lift lines at Alpine but the snow was heavy.

Best Friends

Today we all got up and out by around 8 and off to Squaw with a new foot of snow on the ground and more coming from the sky. We never caught up with the kids but had fun on Shirley and Solitude until the crowds got too thick and the lift lines too long for our taste. It took an hour and fifteen minutes to get to Squaw as everyone wanted to see this thing called fresh powder. Tonight Katie and I are out to dinner at Pianeta with the Rahn’s from my work and the kids are braving the highway back to the city for work tomorrow. Cheers!

Thursday in Mammoth

Katie and I have found our routine. We have breakfast downstairs at 8:30, coffee, granola for me with yogurt she has an English muffin with peanut butter. Our boots and skis are up on the mountain in a locker so we take the gondola up to pick them up.. on the slopes by 9:30 and we typically do 25-28 runs a day, 28,000 vertical feet thanks to ‘Ski Tracks’ app. With no new snow in weeks and warm temps we have been sticking to groomed runs for the most part but we have fun going to the bottom. It hasn’t been crowded at all with blue skies everyday. Usually lunch is water and an energy bar but today we had a treat of grilled cheese sandwiches on the back side of the mountain. We managed a few runs after lunch then stopped mid-mountain for a free wine tasting from Daou wineries, a cab and a red blend not bad! On down the mountain, changed at the Alpenhof Lodge and now at Shelter Distillery in the village for their happy hour ‘hazy IPA’. Have a date night tonight at Campo Restaurant then probably June Mountain tomorrow as it is the beginning of President’s weekend and we are expecting crowds at Mammoth tomorrow.

Minarets in the background

South Lake Tahoe

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday up at South shore with fa,ily. Tim gave Jamie a stay in an Airbnb for the weekend and invited family and friends to join. Friday everyone arrived including Tim, Jamie, Russell, the dogs, Brian and Katie, Alex and Crow, and Mary Banfield. Ordered pizza using DoorDash and enjoyed some red wine and conversation. Later some liars dice with nobody’s wanting to sit next to Katie. In the morning, Katie and Tim made breakfast, Daniel arrived from North shore, and after a while gathering peeps we went off for a 2 1/2 mile hike near where we stayed with Maggie several years ago. Out for lunch at Cold Water Brewery and Grill. The Alex’s went to Squaw for the am but met us for lunch. Food was delicious and the Freel Good IPA was great. Back at the house digesting with plans for slow cooked pulled pork for dinner much later.