Heavenly Tues 1/11 - Today was the first day where crowds went away after initial line to get up Gunbarrel and short lines on Ski and Dipper from about 10-11. It was also my wife's first day of the season as she didn't want to gear up for the less than 2 hrs. I did at Kirkwood on the way up on Mon. We met friend I used to work with who has moved to So. Tahoe in line at Gunbarrel not much after 8:30, well before 9 AM opening, and skied a few laps on Sky chair, mostly Ridge Run although I got my wife to go down steeper, but very well-groomed Ridge Bowl.
My wife and friend took intermediate route to NV while I skied very good Milky Way Bowl, then left side of the Y in Mott Canyon. I met up with them for a run on Comet, then we all returned to CA via excellent 49er and Tamarack chair. After riding Sky to the top, we skied Ridge (with Bowl option for me) then Mombo and rode Groove. They downloaded Gunbarrel chair while I skied Advanced Roundabout and Pistol to get to where I parked to put on sunscreen, drop a layer and swap skis.
My wife had friend drop her at cabin while I returned to the top of Heavenly and skied Inner Outer Limits and Pipeline, my first time into Killibrew Canyon this winter. I usually ski ropeline on Outer Limits but snow was good on Inner and it made it easier to not miss now unsigned Pipeline.
Looking down Pipeline where I don't think sun hits this time of year. Snowless nearly flat Carson Valley about a mile below.
Exit was very thin, but patrollers who came down Pipeline after me shoveled more snow onto corner. Light got flat in PM due to cloud cover and temp dropped, but I kept at it until almost 3, skiing under the top two Tram towers my last run to avoid some of the bumps on Face/East Bowl. Will be back for more on Wed.