Sierra Trip Reports

Dates: Saturday, November 10 – Sunday, November, 11, 2012

Location: Alpine Meadows, CA

Skiers: Alex, Brandon, Jon, Marcus, Mike & Nick

Photos: Alex, Jon & Nick (as noted)

Synopsis: During late last week, another early season storm fell across the Tahoe Basin with extremely cold temps (by Tahoe standards) and light, dry snow. A group of us headed up to Alpine Meadows for a couple of days of backcountry touring. I note “backcountry” as Alpine Meadows is currently closed until the resort opens in December, and therefore the terrain and snowpack is uncontrolled from an avalanche perspective at this point.

Ultimately, we had a great time skiing in good conditions without much incident over the course of both days. Alpine Meadows must have had upwards of 100 people backcountry ski touring, boarding and snowshoeing around the mountain on both days. I have heard of similar reports from Kirkwood and Sugarbowl.

However, as I write this Trip Report, I do so with some sadness and an introspection about the fragility of life in general. As I found after this past weekend, at some point on Saturday (likely after we had left for the day) a young skier suffered a traumatic accident while telemark skiing at Alpine Meadows. She was telemark skiing for the first time, likely enjoying a beautiful day with her friends in the exact same fashion we were elsewhere on the mountain. I since learned that she suffered a crash while skiing (and wearing a helmet) and struck a rock buried in the snow relatively hard. Ultimately, due to the strong efforts of her companions and the Alpine Meadows Ski Patrol (who were on site conducting training at the base), a valiant effort was made to transport her via helicopter to emergency care. Unfortunately, she suffered critical injuries in the fall and she has since passed on.

Since I first heard about this, a stark reality struck me:

Specifically, this horrible and unfortunate accident could seemingly have occurred to anyone of the hundreds of skiers at Alpine Meadows or any of the other closed resorts or surrounding backcountry that day. Early season snow conditions always carry the risk of thin snow coverage. While I did not know the victim, I inherently feel a kinship as I was doing the same thing, at the same time in the same general location. Each of my companions that day also has since discussed our reactions when hearing about the accident.

The stark reality is that skiing, like many other activities ranging from road biking to simply driving your car to work, is inherently dangerous. It does not matter when or where you are skiing (be it pre-season or during the season, or in-bounds or in the resort). In any case, skiing always carries some dangers. In some cases, those dangers are exacerbated because of the conditions at hand (be it weather, avalanche conditions or snow coverage). Due to some unforeseen forces, the victim was tragically lost in an accident that could very well have happened to anyone.

During the last run of the day, Mike had actually crashed head-first in a turn and hit a rock on the top of his helmet. Other than a sore neck, he had a smile on his face and skied away without incident and we had a great day on Sunday skiing more. While enjoying some beers that afternoon after skiing, he just noted that he was glad he was wearing a helmet. What was the line that separated that incident from the victim’s incident (as she was also wearing a helmet)? Or Mike’s crash from any other crash that others had that day (as I witnessed quite a bit due to the deepish, light powder)? Or any of the countless others (myself included) that just had a great time skiing without incident? In my opinion, there is no line – you just never know with accidents such as these. As Alex stated to me afterward, “what was the line that separated all three of those events…. and are you always going to comfortably know (and proactively manage) which side of the line you are on, or how closely you are (consciously or ignorantly) flirting with it?”

To me personally, it serves as a reminder of the fragility of life. This same fragility encourages me to spend my time with my beautiful fiancée Sarah, my family and my friends, all doing the things that bring us happiness day to day. I love being in the mountains with my friends, breathing the fresh air and being outside – summer or winter, skiing or hiking. Just being outside is amazing, and something Sarah and I hope to share with our children one day. Due to that fragility of life, whether it is the car crash you see on the news, the terminal disease you friend is diagnosed with with or the skiing accident you hear about after a great day skiing powder, you must offer your condolences and prayers to those directly affected, but move on with life and count your blessings.

With that, I would offer my thoughts and prayers to the victim’s family and friends and all those directly impacted by such a tragic loss, and otherwise continue with this Trip Report in the spirit of life and celebrating good times outside with friends.

SATURDAY

Saturday was generally a cold day for Tahoe standards, with intermittent snow throughout the day. Here, we are gearing up in the parking lot after performing some beacon checks. Photo: Jon

While around a foot of snow had fell in the past 24 hours, Mike had checked the weather sensors the night before and we were surprised by the lack of wind. One key item to always keep in mind is that while a ski resort feels “familiar”, it is complex, uncontrolled avalanche terrain pre-season. Fortunately, there is a pretty good way to skin to the summit without encountering significant avalanche terrain to be able to conduct some snow analysis.

Near the summit, we dug several pits on different test slopes. Photo: Jon

While we found some sensitive wind slabs, they were variable in location and ultimately concentrated near the specific ridgeline. While they were touchy in spots, there was not enough of a cohesive slab to offer too much worry about slide potential.

The amount of snow near the summit was pretty significant, but likely due to increased wind deposits. Photo: Jon

We took several runs through the open bowl and in the tree line next to the Alpine Bowl. The snow was light and extremely fun, with grins on everyone’s faces after each lap.

Mike enjoying a great run. Photos: Nick

Alex, throwing up a big powder cloud in Alpine Bowl. Photo: Jon

Around noon, the light started to come out for momentary spells as the snow would let up. Here I am enjoying another great run. Photo: Jon

Another sequence – I am sure I was hooting and hollering at this point. Photos: Jon

Jon showing great form on a steeper section next to Alpine Bowl. Photo: Nick

Nick getting deep near the base of Alpine Chair. Photo: Jon

The sun even popped out at one point on Saturday! Alex pulled out his big camera and got some great shots as usual. Alex stated that this was Kevin Quinn, the owner of Points North Heli Skiing in Alaska (who he met later in the day). Photo: Alex

Throwing up a powder tail in the great light – another awesome shot by Alex. Photo: Alex

Jon summing up the day we collectively had, unbeknownst to the accident that would occur later in the day.

SUNDAY

Although Jon, Marcus and Brandon had to go back to San Francisco Saturday evening, Alex, Mike and I headed back to Alpine on Sunday. It was a bluebird day and 8 degrees at my place when we woke up at 7AM! We knew the snow would have remained good, as it was not going to warm up until later in the afternoon and we only intended on skiing until noon.

Alex met up with Spencer in the parking lot, so we split into separate groups as Mike and I were more “enthusiastic to get going” on the skin track – my polite way of saying moving quicker than Alex and Spencer 🙂

However, in honor of Alex’s big-camera-toting-ways, I decided to lug along my DLSR for the day (the first time I have ever done so for skiing). While I could notice the extra weight, I have to say shooting skiing with it is MUCH easier than my point and shoot. I can envision continuing this tradition on shorter tours around Tahoe (but definitely not for big Eastside multi-day tours).

On the skin up, a shot of High Yellow Face. Photo: Nick

A panoramic from the backside of Wolverine looking West. If you click the picture, it will take you to a larger size image which you can enlarge and scroll. Photo: Nick

Mike on the summit of Beaver, checking out our first line. Photo: Nick

We first dropped into the first chute off Beaver – it had 3 other tracks in it from the day prior. There was great snow in the chute. Photo: Nick

Down lower. We stopped in the sun line at the saddle. Photo: Nick

We got to the bottom and noticed another chute that what appeared to be good coverage and remained untracked. Tough to explain from this vantage, but it was off to the right. Photo: Nick

Rather than heading over to Wolverine, we just broke a new skin track up the ridge line of trees between Beaver and Estelle. It was pretty sunny and getting gloppy on that aspect (more S-facing), but we did not encounter any stability issues.

Mike on the last push up to the top again. Photo: Nick

There are three obvious spins from the shooters vantage looking out. We skied in-between the first and second spine – untouched top to bottom. Photo: Nick

Mike dropping in up top, getting ready to get into the chute. The snow was great. Photo: Nick

My favorite run of the weekend. Photo: Nick

On the apron below. Photo: Nick

Looking up the line – our tracks are the middle. You can see our entrance above to the left of the spine/rock. Photo: Nick

Another vantage point. Photo: Nick

I would note that Alpine Meadows is now closed to uphill traffic on account of increased mountain operations in anticipation of the start of the season, with snowmobiles, snow making, CAT operations and likely avalanche control in full swing. I pass along this message so that everyone hopefully respects the mountain operations crew and the abides by closure.

In addition, the Sierra Avalanche Center is now operating for the 2012-2013 Season with daily avalanche reports. Be sure to check the report daily, make good decisions and have a safe and fun season!

Rest in peace to the victim at Alpine Meadows.