Northern California Weather.

[Trekhawk]

Just been checking the weather online for the next ten days up in Soda Springs and Truckee and it says next week they are expecting snow showers.

Is this the start of snow time in North Cal then?

Enquiring Australian minds want to know. :)

[Trek420]

Trekhawk"Is this the start of snow time in North Cal then?

Enquiring Australian minds want to know. :)"

Sierra Mountain Range maybe. The Bay Area is still nice although looked like rain ahead today. What part of Northern CA are Ausies wanting to know about?

[Trekhawk]

Trekhawk"Is this the start of snow time in North Cal then?

Enquiring Australian minds want to know. :)"

Sierra Mountain Range maybe. The Bay Area is still nice although looked like rain ahead today. What part of Northern CA are Ausies wanting to know about?

Hey Trek - I guess up around Soda Springs. Its not too far from our place and the kids cant wait to get out in some snow again. :)

[SadieKate]

This is northern California -- maybe Thanksgiving????? Maybe sooner? Maybe later? Yeah, big help I am.

Ski resorts opened early last year (I think Thanksgiving) but many make their snow. Look up the Royal Gorge XC Ski Resort and see what they have to see about opening. They are in Soda Springs and depend only on Mother Nature.

Are you looking to stay in a resort or just drive to the snow?? Look up the Snow Park pass system for the State of California. I'll see if I can find a link.

[bouncybouncy]

AAAHHHHH!!!! TrekHawk...once again I am green with envy and missing my childhood home! I have skiied almost every slope in that neck of the woods...in fact I took my "now" fiance there last year in Feb (he proposed on the ice rink at the top of Squaw Valley on Valentines Day...can we get a collective AAAWWWW here :p ) The ENTIRE week we were there it snowed...and I mean snowed to the point of near zero visability :eek: :eek: :eek: I cannot tell you how much the Tahoe area has changed...I was in total shock!!! My absolute fave was Sugar Bowl as a local......We managed to make it over there last year and was not dissapointed at all!!

You will have a blast...and check out the snow park pass...worth it if you plan to visit even a few times!!!!

[Trekhawk]

AAAHHHHH!!!! TrekHawk...once again I am green with envy and missing my childhood home! I have skiied almost every slope in that neck of the woods...in fact I took my "now" fiance there last year in Feb (he proposed on the ice rink at the top of Squaw Valley on Valentines Day...can we get a collective AAAWWWW here :p ) The ENTIRE week we were there it snowed...and I mean snowed to the point of near zero visability :eek: :eek: :eek: I cannot tell you how much the Tahoe area has changed...I was in total shock!!! My absolute fave was Sugar Bowl as a local......We managed to make it over there last year and was not dissapointed at all!!
You will have a blast...and check out the snow park pass...worth it if you plan to visit even a few times!!!!

hey bouncy and SadieKate - thanks for the tips. We spend a lot of our time in winter snowshoeing and try to find places where there are not too many people (perhaps a cross country skier or two) I hate crowds. We have a book with snowshoe routes of Northern California by Marc J. Soares which we used last winter. Its got lots of routes that are away from the crowds but not too tough for little kids. We normally take lunch and make a day of it. It really is a beautiful part of the world and I will miss it very much when we return home.

[SadieKate]

We spend a lot of our time in winter snowshoeing and try to find places where there are not too many people (perhaps a cross country skier or two) I hate crowds. Ditto! We stopped snowshoeing last year because I couldn't deal with the crowds going to Tahoe every weekend. So, I tried the TE Girl's Hill Training Program. Just as much fun! Maybe more (I can see Jo tapping her foot now :))

If I were as close to the snow as you are (and away from I-80) I'd be snowshoeing more.

Several years ago, we spent Xmas Day waaaaay up high on Mt Shasta. Just wonderful.

[wabisabi]

I used to live around there, and recall that there was generallly a big snow fall predictably around Thanksgiving, and then again around the second or third week of January. I always loved the area around Markleeville, Carson Pass, and, of course, the Grover Hot Springs afterward! I plan to get over there to visit and get in some x country skiing--the eastern Sierra still feels a lot like home to me. Over here on the coast the snow stays on the hills (and Shasta and Lassen are not far away) and we just get the rain.

[Irulan]

AAAHHHHH!!!! TrekHawk...once again I am green with envy and missing my childhood home! I have skiied almost every slope in that neck of the woods...in fact I took my "now" fiance there last year in Feb (he proposed on the ice rink at the top of Squaw Valley on Valentines Day...can we get a collective AAAWWWW here :p ) The ENTIRE week we were there it snowed...and I mean snowed to the point of near zero visability :eek: :eek: :eek: I cannot tell you how much the Tahoe area has changed...I was in total shock!!! My absolute fave was Sugar Bowl as a local......We managed to make it over there last year and was not dissapointed at all!!

You will have a blast...and check out the snow park pass...worth it if you plan to visit even a few times!!!!

funny. Dh used to bus tables at Alpine Meadows way back when, and that's where I learned to downhill

Y'all need to come up North. Lift lines are minimal, you can still get a day ticket for $35 at a lot of places...

Irulan

[snapdragen]

Gee, I dunno, it's about 75 degrees and balmy right now in Maui - at 9:00pm. OK - call me names now.............. :D

[jobob]

Snap, darlin', aloha!!! How are the cabaña boys? :D

[bouncybouncy]

Y'all need to come up North. Lift lines are minimal, you can still get a day ticket for $35 at a lot of places...


Ok...so I know you are "up north" somewhere but never got exactly where???? I lived in Oregon and have spent a few months in Montana...I am looking into honeymooning somewhere around Cor d'laine...anywhere close to your backyard?

[Irulan]

Ok...so I know you are "up north" somewhere but never got exactly where???? I lived in Oregon and have spent a few months in Montana...I am looking into honeymooning somewhere around Cor d'laine...anywhere close to your backyard?

Spokane, I'm 20 minutes from Coeur d'Alene, what do you need to know?

[bouncybouncy]

Spokane, I'm 20 minutes from Coeur d'Alene, what do you need to know?

Well, first of all (because we are moving a week after the wedding we are postponing the honeymoon to a later part of the year) What is the BEST time of the year to enjoy MTBing...and is there a time of the year that MTBing and skiing can be enjoyed at the same time????
My Aunt & Uncle have a cabin on the lake (not exactly sure of the exact spot, just on the water) and have offered it to us whenever we want for our honeymoon...so we are going to take about 2 weeks :D
Once we get the time worked out I will be more inquisitive about trails... :p

[Irulan]

Well, first of all (because we are moving a week after the wedding we are postponing the honeymoon to a later part of the year) What is the BEST time of the year to enjoy MTBing...and is there a time of the year that MTBing and skiing can be enjoyed at the same time????
My Aunt & Uncle have a cabin on the lake (not exactly sure of the exact spot, just on the water) and have offered it to us whenever we want for our honeymoon...so we are going to take about 2 weeks :D
Once we get the time worked out I will be more inquisitive about trails... :p


check you PM's

[bouncybouncy]

Sorry for the interuption...We now return to our regularly scheduled chat of NoCal weather.... :D :D :D

[cindysue]

Ditto! We stopped snowshoeing last year because I couldn't deal with the crowds going to Tahoe every weekend.

not sure how the crowds will be, but Andrew and I are planning to do a snow-shoeing / X-country hut-to-hut tour this winter (maybe 2-3 days?).

Any TE gals and SO's interested?

[SadieKate]

Hmm, details? Supported or you have to carry all your gear? I can shoe for miles but the old knees can't carry a load.

[yellow]

Ski resorts opened early last year (I think Thanksgiving).
I skied on Halloween day last year at Sierra at Tahoe (south shore). It was a very early season and the snow was surprisingly good in Oct and Nov.

I really like(d) (before I moved) the XC area in Tahoe City. I think it's called "Tahoe Cross Country" or something like that. It's not the one at Tahoe Donner. Not many people, reasonable trail pass ($16 I think?), tons of trails.

Check with the USFS and look in to their "huts" that they have for "rent". We've snowshoed in to and stayed at the Peter Grubb hut off of Castle Peak (off of I 80) and a couple of others in/near Desolation. OK, I skied but I was with others that snowshoed! ;) .

Finally, go in to Paco's in Truckee and talk to the guys there. They know everything about where to go where people aren't.

y

[yellow]

Hmm, details? Supported or you have to carry all your gear? I can shoe for miles but the old knees can't carry a load.
Knees don't need to carry a load! You get a sled (like a cheap plastic kids' kind of sled), loop a rope through, and attach it to your waist and/or pack. It's easier on your knees and back and great for your abs!

Or you just have Bubba carry everything! :D Better yet, get Izaak trained to tow the sled. I can see it now, a team of standard poodles in the Iditarod!

[SadieKate]

a team of standard poodles in the Iditarod!Been done and since Izaak is a trendsetter he would only want to go in untrod territory (namely down into the wells beside trees). Besides, he likes stepping on the back of my shoes and watching me face plant. Sooo much fun! Look at Mom! :rolleyes:

Oh yeah, I forgot about that superduper MountainSmith sled and harness up in the rafters. It's great for hauling champagne and chocolate chip/dried cherry muffins.

[yellow]

Been done and since Izaak is a trendsetter he would only want to go in untrod territory (namely down into the wells beside trees). Besides, he likes stepping on the back of my shoes and watching me face plant. Sooo much fun! Look at Mom! :rolleyes:

Oh yeah, I forgot about that superduper MountainSmith sled and harness up in the rafters. It's great for hauling champagne and chocolate chip/dried cherry muffins.
I secretly hope that some day Pi and I can skijor (http://www.skijornow.com/images/gallery/wclarge48.html) !

[SadieKate]

Have you tried her in harness? Izaak used to pull Bubba on his in-line skates. They could clear the bike path pretty fast when you think of how tall Bubba is without the skates.

Maggie, the Black Lab who raised me (she didn't acknowledge any human parents) had a child's red wagon set up with a full harness and rails around the wagon bed. She LOVED to pull that thing. She was the only dog allowed to visit our elementary school. She would go 2x a year. Once for kiddie rides with the wagon and once at Halloween as the Big Bad Wolf (very cute in her lavendar gingham mob cap).

So what is Pika going as this Halloween?

[SadieKate]

Poodle Mushing

Aren't they cute?

http://home.gci.net/~poodlesleddog/

[Irulan]

Been done and since Izaak is a trendsetter he would only want to go in untrod territory (namely down into the wells beside trees). Besides, he likes stepping on the back of my shoes and watching me face plant. Sooo much fun! Look at Mom! :rolleyes:

Oh yeah, I forgot about that superduper MountainSmith sled and harness up in the rafters. It's great for hauling champagne and chocolate chip/dried cherry muffins.


lol, we've got an expedition model. DH and I used to work for them waaay back when, he was a sled builder and I was the sewing supervisor. I recall a few back country ski trips where we hauled in wine and sorels. I hauled my kids around too.


~I.

[SadieKate]

From gear.com??? I already forgot.
For years, they made a good selection of all-purpose kid-transport and expedition-load sleds. They quit making them several years ago, but sold the product line to a Colorado company called Kifaru, which also makes a line of tepee-style tents.

Basically, Kifaru has continued the entire Mountainsmith sled line—including the all-around Armadillo ($375), the giant Expedition ($495), and "kid kits" for converting either to a child hauler ($110 to $160).

I didn't realize that MountainSmith made more than 1 model. I wonder which we have? I know you could get a kiddy carrier for it but not having kids . . . Maybe you two worked on ours. I think we bought it in '96 or '97? That was when we were shoeing the most and Izaak was a puppy.

Never heard of Kifaru. I'll have to check on them.

[Irulan]

From gear.com??? I already forgot.
For years, they made a good selection of all-purpose kid-transport and expedition-load sleds. They quit making them several years ago, but sold the product line to a Colorado company called Kifaru, which also makes a line of tepee-style tents.

Basically, Kifaru has continued the entire Mountainsmith sled line—including the all-around Armadillo ($375), the giant Expedition ($495), and "kid kits" for converting either to a child hauler ($110 to $160).

I didn't realize that MountainSmith made more than 1 model. I wonder which we have? I know you could get a kiddy carrier for it but not having kids . . . Maybe you two worked on ours. I think we bought it in '96 or '97? That was when we were shoeing the most and Izaak was a puppy.

Never heard of Kifaru. I'll have to check on them.


nah, we were working for them '82-84, I was Pat Smith's second employee. This was back when the companywas just getting going. Kifaru is Pat Smith's new company. He sold the rights to a lot of his packs(mountainsmith) but kept the sleds and is doing a bunch of new stuff.

http://www.specialtyoutdoors.com/misc/images/sledkid.jpg

[SadieKate]

Is that one of your boys? Love the pic. I think they'd be a tad hard to pull now. BTW, I bet nobody has every told you how much they look like you, huh? :) Good looking boys. You should be proud.

[wabisabi]

I had friends who would do a trans-Sierra by placing caches of food along the way; I always thought that sounded like fun. Oh, this talk of the Peter Grubb hut and all is making me nostalgic!