I just had to get in a few more turns on the old snow at Squaw before this season’s first storm rolled in. It’s not every year that you can ski twelve months straight here in Tahoe, but it could be done this year. Granted, that patch is not more than a few hundred feet long but it’s thick (maybe 15 ft deep in spots) and I have no doubt that it will easily last until it is buried by the incoming 2011-12 snowfall. That’s right, we’ve got mini glaciers in the Sierra this year, even right here in Squaw Valley!Â
I was feeling a bit foggy after Oktoberfest at Squaw and I wanted to shake out some cobwebs. Normally this time of year the only suitable hangover cure would be the “big blue pill”, Lake Tahoe that is, but this year is an exception. We’ve still got snow! Skiing was a must.
The sky was doing some incredible things. It was mostly overcast when I started hiking, but there were still a few ribbons of blue that let me think the storm wasn’t quite here yet.
When I first got up to the patch/glacier, things were starting to look a little ominous with the incoming weather.
But after a welcome visit from an eagle the clouds broke again and I was able to ski the patch in sunlight.
The snow was looking pretty cool. Amazing patterns from the sun cupping. Really large and well defined.Â
The ridges looked almost smokey.
The snow was actually very firm. Maybe it’s early season instead of late season, I’m not really sure. But the “snow” is fairly set up right now.
 Nonetheless, I enjoyed the first few turns enough to hike up for another run.
If we get much out of this incoming storm I bet it will stick to these patches up there. Who knows, you might be able to make a few powder turns without worrying about whaling on rock. I guess we’ll find out in a few days.
