May 2011 archive

TR: End of May Powder

It was the end of May, Memorial Day weekend, and yet another blast of snow had coated the neighborhood. A solid six inches fell early Saturday evening. Up on Donner Pass that translated to at least 8 inches of light, and if we hit it early enough, dry snow. There wasn’t any reason to do …

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Winter reigns through May

It’s still winter here in Truckee. A fresh two inches dropped on the front lawn yesterday afternoon and there’s certainly more up on the mountainsides. My biker buddies are bummed. I’m not worried about winter not leaving the building. I’m worried that Ol’ Man Winter won’t feel welcome when we want him to come back …

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TR: Tahoe showers bring May powder!

Winter is in its last throes here in the Tahoe area, but it keeps on throwing down fresh coats of powder. It simply will not yield to summer without a fight. Non-skiing locals want to serve old man winter with an eviction notice. Yesterday was indicative. Brendan Madigan from Alpenglow Sports in Tahoe City, a …

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Semi-Lite lessons from the Sierra High Route

It’s been just over a week now since skiing the Sierra High Route. Unlike my previous attempt two years ago, this time we skied all the way across. Two years ago I started out with ASI’s Geoff Clarke, Nick Washburn, and Nori Hamaguchi. We made it to the beginning of Deadman Canyon before hitting the …

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Review: Marmot Minimalist

Marmot’s Minimalist jacket fits perfectly in the “What’s Not To Like Category”. After all, what’s not to like about a good-looking, well-built waterproof/breathable shell for an easy on the wallet $200? Especially one made of Gore-tex®? Certainly not Marmot’s lightest shell, the versatile Minimalist, at 17.2 ounces for an men’s XL (my weight … weighed …

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TR: Sierra High Route

Back from a week in the Sierra Nevada and completion of a trip I’ve put off for too long, the Sierra High route. This is a classic crossing of the Sierra first pioneered in the 1930s by men like Otto Steiner, then made popular in the ’70s when Dave Beck defined an efficient line between …

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The Giant’s Steps Couloir – Mt. Williamson

Standing 14,375 feet tall, Mount Williamson appears to be the highest peak and is the biggest massif visible from California State Highway 395. (Mount Whitney which sits a few miles south of Williamson is the highest peak in the lower forty-eight, but it is among the second tier of peaks farther from the road, and …

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