Patchskiing 2018

[Stev]

Instead of posting a separate TR for every patchskiing day, I'm going to put them in one thread. I hope that others will add to this. I also hope to provide views, creamed corn and soft-serve snow images, along with some dog stoke.
I'll post a few highlights from each day.
To see more just click on the link for http://patchskiing.com

A slow start to winter in the Tahoe area led to an early start to patchskiing in 2018.

Monitor Pass, February 3, 2018

With weather that felt more like late May than early February, Makisha, Penny and I headed up the surprisingly open Monitor Pass road for a dusk patrol.

A self-timer photo of Makisha and Stev.

Penny and Makisha join me in a double-dog selfie.

We had fun and I started my 172nd consecutive month skiing in style.

 

[Stev]

Winter actually kicked in in March in the Tahoe area.

Mt. Sputnik, March 2, 2018

Since there was enough snowfall to cover the slopes on Mt. Sputnik, a dawn patrol mission was in order.

Penny, Stev, and Makisha on Driveway Run.

Stev and Penny skiing Sagebrush Glade.

We all had a fun way to start the day as well as begin the 173rd consecutive month skiing.

 

[Stev]

Monitor Pass, April 20, 2018

Finding out that the road over Monitor Pass had recently opened meant that a ski trip was in order. Michele and I headed up after work with Makisha and Penny for a dusk patrol mission.

Penny joins Stev.

Stev skis down to the Tacomama.

We saw plenty of other skiing options that would make return trips worthwhile.

 

[Stev]

Monitor Pass, April 21, 2018

Since we saw so many areas with skiing potential the previous evening, we decided to explore some more of Monitor Pass.

Stev slarving down the North Face of Skyrockets In Flight Knob.

Makisha watches Penny and Stev.

There are still plenty of other good lines to ski up near Monitor Pass.

 

[Stev]

Monitor Pass, April 28, 2018

Since the skiing was so good a week earlier, I returned to Monitor Pass with Makisha and Penny.

Penny is ready to start skiing.

Makisha joins us.

Makisha follows while Penny adjusts her path.

 

[Stev]

Monitor Pass, May 1, 2018

On the first day of May, actually evening since it was a dusk patrol, Makisha and Penny joined me to start my 175th consecutive month skiing.

Makisha and Penny are excited about Stev doing some more skiing.

We had fun at one of our (closest to) "home" mountains.

 

[Stev]

Sonora Pass, May 4, 2018

A dusk patrol ski mission was in order after hearing that Sonora Pass had recently opened. I was joined by Makisha and Penny.

Makisha, Penny, and Stev start downhill.

Penny is ready to go skiing again.

Makisha contemplates biting ski tips.

Even though it was the evening, the snow was soft and smooth.

 

[Stev]

Ebbetts Pass, May 5, 2018

Since Ebbetts Pass just opened we headed up for some more fun on the snow.

Stev, Penny and Makisha with Folger Peak in the background.

Stev and Penny skiing down Swedish Short-snout Dragon Chute.

Ebbetts Peak as seen from Kinney Reservoir.

I skied from looker's right of the peak down to the shore of Kinney Reservoir.

 

[Stev]

Monitor Pass, May 9, 2018

In order to get it while it lasts, we headed up to Monitor Pass for another dusk patrol mission.

1st run self-timer, Makisha, Stev, and Penny.

After taking three shorter runs off of the top, we took one more relatively longer run from the top down the north ridge until the snow ran out.

Penny, tracks, and Lhasa Pows on my pack after a 4th run.

 

[luliski]

Great thread!

 

[sbooker]

Just for entertainment value which areas do you expect to hit between now and November? It would be a shame to break your run this (northern hemisphere) summer.

 

[Stev]

Just for entertainment value which areas do you expect to hit between now and November? It would be a shame to break your run this (northern hemisphere) summer.

There are plenty of places to chose from as access opens up. Here is a list of a few:
The Nipple, CA (I just found out that they just extended the open part of Blue Lakes Road making access a possibility.)
Emma Lake, CA
Saddlebag Lake, CA (I hope that they are able to open and run the boat taxi this summer, they weren't able to open last summer with one reason being too much snow.)
Sweetwater Mountains, CA and NV
Lost Lakes, CA
Roundtop/Sisters, CA
Mt. Rose Highway Summit Area, NV
Highland Lakes/Folger Peak/Hiram Peak, CA
Dunderberg Peak, CA
Forestdale Patches, CA
Beartooth, WY
Lamoille Canyon, NV
as well as anyplace else the looks to be holding snow.

I also have a growing to-do list that includes Mt. Lassen and Scotland. I am also open to suggestions as I have skied patches that friends have seen on hikes.

 

[Philpug]

You made the front page carousel.

 

[Paul Lutes]

Wait .... we have a carousel???
Are there brass rings?

 

[Alba Adventures]

People are patch skiing still out East - though its not like that. A great thread for sure.

 

[Stev]

Blue Lakes Road Ridges, May 19, 2018

A recon patchskiing mission was in order with Blue Lakes Road just being opened up to the 4th Gate (7 miles in.) Penny joined me and was happy to explore as well as model.

Penny in the foreground with Jeff Davis Peak in the background.

While this wasn't too far away, it was a little too gnar to solo ski.

Penny in the foreground with The Nipple in the background.

Penny and Stev (1st run self-timer photo)

Penny following Stev (4th run self-timer photo)

We enjoyed a successful recon mission. Almost all aspects of The Nipple looked skiable and Jeff Davis Peak has been added to my to-do list.

 

[scott43]

Drove by My St Louis yesterday . Still have snow there!

 

[Stev]

The Nipple, B-Cup Chute, May 20, 2018

On the recon patchskiing mission I did the previous day, I noticed that the snow around The Nipple looked good. B-Cup Chute looked like it still went with a narrow gap at the exit. This meant I needed to get it while it lasted.

First I took a run on the backside of B-Cup.

A self-timer photo of my first run on the backside of B-Cup.

The Nipple can be seen in the background.

A self-timer photo of my second run on the top of B-Cup Chute.

I look forward to return trips to ski many other aspects of The Nipple.

 

[Stev]

Monitor Pass, May 26, 2018

During our drive home Friday evening, from a distance of about 15 miles or so, we saw a band of snow holding up on the north ridge of Leviathan Peak. We headed up Saturday morning prior to storms forecast for the afternoon. We were met by heavy clouds, but no rain.

A self-timer photo of Stev on his first run.

A self-timer photo of Stev on his second run.

Stev on his third run.

Afterwards I was greeted by Penny and Makisha.

While the quantity of snow is dwindling, the quality was great, smooth, corn snow.

 

[DaveM]

Instead of posting a separate TR for every patchskiing day, I'm going to put them in one thread. I hope that others will add to this. I also hope to provide views, creamed corn and soft-serve snow images, along with some dog stoke.
I'll post a few highlights from each day.
To see more just click on the link for http://patchskiing.com

A slow start to winter in the Tahoe area led to an early start to patchskiing in 2018.

Monitor Pass, February 3, 2018

With weather that felt more like late May than early February, Makisha, Penny and I headed up the surprisingly open Monitor Pass road for a dusk patrol.

A self-timer photo of Makisha and Stev.

Penny and Makisha join me in a double-dog selfie.

Instead of posting a separate TR for every patchskiing day, I'm going to put them in one thread. I hope that others will add to this. I also hope to provide views, creamed corn and soft-serve snow images, along with some dog stoke.
I'll post a few highlights from each day.
To see more just click on the link for http://patchskiing.com

A slow start to winter in the Tahoe area led to an early start to patchskiing in 2018.

Monitor Pass, February 3, 2018

With weather that felt more like late May than early February, Makisha, Penny and I headed up the surprisingly open Monitor Pass road for a dusk patrol.

A self-timer photo of Makisha and Stev.

Penny and Makisha join me in a double-dog selfie.

We had fun and I started my 172nd consecutive month skiing in style.

Thank for sharing this. It's a great way to help us "stay psyched" for skiing, throughout the next several months. Enjoy!

We had fun and I started my 172nd consecutive month skiing in style.