Jan 16 2009
Skiing in Tahoe
Went with Haiyan’s family and friends to Lake Tahoe between 12/23-28 and skiied there for three days. I have to say these were the best skiing days ever.
Skiing is a sport that has heavy overhead and sunk-cost: before ever hitting the snow, one has to collect all the gears: helmet, goggle, gloves, pants, jackets, hats, poles, skis, boots, cell phone, and/or walkie-talkie, … what else I am missing here? Then driving hours on the road, then change, walking on boots with skis on shoulder for quarter a mile to buy tickets that cost hundreds of dollars. A good set of skis with boots and binding could easily go above a grand.
Learning skiing is also pretty tricky: the learning area (the green runs) are mostly in the lower part of the mountain where snow is either too thin or too slashy–either one could be a show stopper for a beginner.
So why do I ski?
A friend (Robinette? o bro where art thou) told me once, almost apologetically, “I know it is something I should do, but I never picked it up”. It certainly is a symbol of coolness. At least that is what drove me into it, against every thing I hold dear. The ice-rink-like runs in MD/PA/WV almost killed me many times over. I only started somewhat seriously when Song brought me to WA in 98, the year NW had record snow.
After Tahoe, however, I am a true skiier–skiing for skiing’s sake. Thanks a lot to YP and LS: their reputation as skilled and diehard skiiers preceded our acquaintance. They brought me to the back side of the Northstar, and I never looked back.
We spend the first day in Squaw, which was already very good. After two day’s of white-out snowing, the third day was heaven. Every wintery color was in its purest state under a bright sun shining through the thin air over Sierra Nevada. The contrast of colors is so strong that it physically hurts naked eyes. When a breeze blows by, the snow flakes fly off the trees and sparkle like billions of tiny crystals permeating the space around me.
Coming off the lift, standing at the top of the freshly groomed runs, I felt the calling. That sealed it for me.
Too bad that I didn’t explore Squaw more and didn’t go to Kirkwood as YP and LS recommended. But I gave it all on the last day.