Posted on

Palisades

On a sleeper Thursday morning,  for the first time since 2019, the Palisades opened!!

First palisade
Folks dropping first palisade!

A couple weeks back I recall a stranger on the chair wondering if the Palisades could open “without Darren Rahlves leading the charge”.  Haha!  OF COURSE our patrol can open the Palisades!

Not too many folks on the mountain but Team Unoff was representing!   I’ve dropped Middle Palisade and West Palisade before, but First Palisade was new for me.

First Palisade
Looking down First Palisade!

And just like that, the next storm moved in Thursday afternoon, visibility went in the toilet and the magical morning was over.   I don’t know what the state of things will be post-cement, but I’d bet this wasn’t a one-and-done situation.  The Palisades will hopefully be open again this amazing season…

Posted on

Mondays

Managed to arrive just as Dis opened.  What do you know, we can get snow without insane wind transport.. who knew?!  Every line in Dis was lovely, gates opened early, lapped freshies in South Dis while too many people waited in line at Lincoln… wow!

Ran into a highly branded Mr. OpenSnow on skis at Hard Drinkin’ Lincoln just as it opened.   Guessing it was CEO Joel Gratz, as our local homey BA is a boarder.   😉

Also managed to run into most of the Unofficial Ski Team during the rest of the epic afternoon.. Finn definitely launched it big in Steielhang!  I got freshies down  Carl’s Nose & Coinslot (formerly cliff) rollover, hell yeah!  ’58s with Will & A, Fourth Sister with Christa & Mean Dean.  F**** yeah!

Rare pic from second sister cave 1.45ish as it started to dump again

Picture of Second Sister at Sugar Bowl, California
View from Second Sister Cave!
Posted on

In like a Leopard

Winds were howling when I made it up to Sugar for the first time post-blizzard.

Mt. Disney
Look at that snow transport!

On Wednesday,  an attempt was made to operate Dis, but the wind didn’t cooperate.  Consolation prize instead was Jerome.  With barely anyone at the mountain, there were lots of fresh tracks to be had.

Thursday morning had some of the longest lines of the season on Disney.  Snow conditions were mostly wind-affected and questionable.  Lots of folks left eventually.  Heard someone doubting whether Lincoln would open.  Ha!  You must be thinking of some other mountain, my friend.  Of COURSE Lincoln opened in the afternoon, and all the gates as well (except Lincoln East Face?).  Somehow, a night and day difference from Disney’s conditions, much better snow!

Roller Pass
Freshies in Roller!

Aand… more feet on the way this weekend!  Because 539″ isn’t enough, haha.