Happy New Years Tahoe
After a busy week with my parents, brother and his girlfriend in town for Christmas and having to say goodbye to a really amazing woman, it was time for some solitude and some snow. I woke up on January 1st bright and early and took out my expedition duffel and started to stuffit full of gear; running gear, ski gear, trad gear, ice climbing gear. I didn't know what I was going to be getting into, but I know whatever it was, I need it.
I got to Tahoe before 11am and went immediately to the cabin share. The lease started on January 1st and I was excited to check the place out. Walls, roof...check, now lets go skiing. I unpacked everything from the car minus the ski gear and aimed my car for Squaw Valley. The snow was thin but it really didn't matter all that much. I was out in the mountain and I was hurling myself down snowy slopes with two flat sticks attached to my feet. By 4pm the already icy slopes had thoroughly crusted over I my by that time my legs had already said "uncle". I returned to the cabin and settle myself in.
The next morning I woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and went for a run. It didn't matter that the thermometer said it was 26 degrees outside because damn it was was going for a run. It's amazing when you start running in the cold and the elevation when you're not used to it. Your eyes start to water and you literally feel like you can't breath. It only last for about the first ten minutes but it's incredibly uncomfortable until you warm up. I ran a good 5 miles before returning home to hot coffee and a warm shower; admittedly two things that I more often than not enjoy together. Kind of like peanut butter and banana, they just work. Beer and a hot shower as well which is sort of a tradition after a successful Yosemite trip.
I got to Tahoe before 11am and went immediately to the cabin share. The lease started on January 1st and I was excited to check the place out. Walls, roof...check, now lets go skiing. I unpacked everything from the car minus the ski gear and aimed my car for Squaw Valley. The snow was thin but it really didn't matter all that much. I was out in the mountain and I was hurling myself down snowy slopes with two flat sticks attached to my feet. By 4pm the already icy slopes had thoroughly crusted over I my by that time my legs had already said "uncle". I returned to the cabin and settle myself in.
The next morning I woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and went for a run. It didn't matter that the thermometer said it was 26 degrees outside because damn it was was going for a run. It's amazing when you start running in the cold and the elevation when you're not used to it. Your eyes start to water and you literally feel like you can't breath. It only last for about the first ten minutes but it's incredibly uncomfortable until you warm up. I ran a good 5 miles before returning home to hot coffee and a warm shower; admittedly two things that I more often than not enjoy together. Kind of like peanut butter and banana, they just work. Beer and a hot shower as well which is sort of a tradition after a successful Yosemite trip.
After my morning run and shower/coffee combo I once again hit the slopes. Thursday was quite at Squaw and with no lines I was worn out by 2pm. That night Jon and Rachel from BAMRU came over and we drank too much and watched back to back ski porn. The next day was a repeat of the last minus the porn but Rachel joined me at Squaw for a few hours in the afternoon and I welcomed the company on the slopes. I left her to work remotely from a cafe at Squaw Village, but we met out again that night for beers and were accompanied this time by a few other BAMRUvians, Chris, Eszter and Tom.
On Saturday I woke up early once again, I went for my cold morning run once again, but I didn't go skiing. Jeff and Diane were well on there way up and since the sun was shining and the snow was non-existent on southern aspects, we were going climbing. We met at Donner Summit and found some amazing rock right off the road. And it was good granite too. It had wide cracks to suit my fancy and hard-ass sport to keep Jeff and Diane happy. We warmed up on a 5.8 hand-crack before moving over to something wide. I took #2's and up but all I used for the entire pitch as a #4, #5 and a purple Big Bro. Now that's what I'm talking about!
On Saturday I woke up early once again, I went for my cold morning run once again, but I didn't go skiing. Jeff and Diane were well on there way up and since the sun was shining and the snow was non-existent on southern aspects, we were going climbing. We met at Donner Summit and found some amazing rock right off the road. And it was good granite too. It had wide cracks to suit my fancy and hard-ass sport to keep Jeff and Diane happy. We warmed up on a 5.8 hand-crack before moving over to something wide. I took #2's and up but all I used for the entire pitch as a #4, #5 and a purple Big Bro. Now that's what I'm talking about!
Jeff of course sent some amazing sport route that only made me aspire to be him one day. I followed it and was pumped out halfway up. I really need to stop bouldering. My endurance has gone to shit. We all made our way back to the cabin and joined by my buddy Ian, we enjoyed a lively game of drinking Jenga
On Sunday we went to a great greasy spoon for a big breakfast. In the parking lot we cracked a beer and collectively decided not to go climbing and instead we enjoyed a hot tub soak and a nice hike. In the end I got the solitude and mountain-time that I needed and started my drive back to the bay feeling refreshed, tired and completely refreshed.