Luckily, this storm is rolling in just the way we need it, starting warm and hopefully finishing cold, if the forecast is correct. Since there is little to no base over most of the mountain this wet dense snow is just what the doctor ordered to spackle in and stick to everything and cover it up for the rest of the season. The temperatures are forecast to drop overnight tonight while the precipitation intensifies, dropping as many as 9-13 inches at lake level around Tahoe City by Saturday morning with snow forecast to continue intermittently through Tuesday. I’d recommend dusting off the powder boards and maybe even throwing a coat of wax on ‘em, it looks like winter has finally arrived…

As we head into the next week I would also urge the use of caution. This is, quite literally, the first major storm of the season. While the snow should be piling up quickly it is important to remember what the mountains looked like a few days ago. Its pretty obvious that people are powder starved and chomping at the bit to get out shred, so have fun and be safe, there’s still a lot of season left to enjoy….

-Jeremy Benson

If you forgot to pack the party this is where to find it.  The Ice Bar is renowned as an unparalleled Tahoe experience where friends gather and gatherers make friends while basking on the south slopes in the winter sun for which the Sierra’s are famous.  Kick back here because the atmosphere is well, kicked back.  Get down, literally to the bottom of the Sherwood Express Chair on the Backside, and look forward to getting down with the Alpine Bandwagon.  This hybrid snowcat sound stage makes regular appearances at the Ice Bar to help the party happen.

You should have the sunscreen already, we’ll provide the lounge chairs and everyone will just have to imagine the beach is just off the steps with the chill (not to be confused with chilly – it’s supposed to be warm and sunny) attitudes and ambiance, barbecued bratz, an occasional snowball brawl (think getting splashed by that person who thinks they know how to be flirtatious while kickin’ it poolside).  However you shred your mountain, there is good times to be had by all.

If you are wondering where the crowds are on the Frontside, on a Friday, over the holidays it can mean only a couple things; 1 – The Abominable Snowman was discovered! …At Alpine. 2 – The secret ingredients to the Colonel’s chicken was reviled at the local KFC. 3 – The Ice Bar is open for business.  As with most multiple choice tests with only 3 answers, go with the last option.  When there’s more then three choices the statistics change dramatically and the best guess isn’t just given away for free.  Sorry all you college students, if your professors do multiple choice tests beyond 3 choices, you’ll have to earn those degrees on your own.  Enjoy the best off the beaten path place to chillax this season starting today at the Ice Bar.

It makes for a lot to keep track of in terms of snow stats!  A common question is, “just how the heck do you figure out your snowfall totals?”, or, “hey, that can’t be right!  How did that much snow fall??”.

It may be common knowledge to many of the long-timers at Alpine, but might come to a surprise to others – Alpine keeps track of everything there is to know about the snow that falls on its mountain: snow depth; temperature; weight; water content; layers; relationship between layers; sublimation; wind-effect;  you name it, it’s studied, every day.

There are several dedicated, full-time forecasters and snow studiers at Alpine.  One of those forecasters is Gary Murphy.  He’s the skier who appropriately resembles Ullr (without the long beard).  Gary has been recording snow stats since 1970 at Alpine (if earlier, sorry Gary!).  Gary is one of the most respected avalanche and snow forecasters within forecasting’s cream of the crop.  If forecasting were basketball, Gary would be Michael Jordan.  Among many reasons for clocking the snow, he provides snow reporters each morning with snow stat updates – whether it snows a lot, a little… even if it doesn’t snow at all.  Snow reporters use that info to then update snow reports which reach skiers and riders every day throughout the season. We can look forward to Gary’s data for this storm, as well as storms throughout the winter.

Measuring the 24-hour stake and taking a snow sample:

Having a look at the behavior of the new snow layers (very light, fell away easily):

Placing the 24-hour stake on top of the snow to start the accumulation count all over again:

Weighing the snow, determining snow density and water content:

The surface layer was cold enough so that the crystals were easily visible:

JMA’s acquisition of West Shore Cafe represents a new beginning for the inn and restaurant, which closed its doors during the summer of 2009.

“We are extremely pleased to be able to offer the West Shore Cafe,” said Art Chapman, Chairman of JMA Ventures, LLC. “The re-opening fits JMA’s commitment to restore the vitality of the west shore. We intend to bring back good food at an affordable price to those looking for a lake view dining experience; and to have some fun at the same time,” he said. “The Cafe will create new employment opportunities in both the winter and summer; and will encourage destination visits to Lake Tahoe’s west shore,” he added.

The West Shore Cafe is the fourth property acquired by JMA Ventures within California’s North Lake Tahoe destination. Other current holdings include Homewood Mountain Resort; Alpine Meadows Ski Resort; and the Hotel Avery – a full service four star hotel slated for construction, which received approval from Truckee, California’s Planning Commission during November, 2008. Within San Francisco, JMA holdings include Ghirardelli Square; Fairmont Heritage Place; 706 Mission Street; and Epic Roast House and Waterbar restaurants along San Francisco’s famed Embarcadero.

JMA has plans to announce the re-opening date for dining and lodging later this summer. For additional information about West Shore Cafe, visit WestShoreCafe.com.

West Shore Cafe viewed from Lake Tahoe

With all the unbridled wind, prodigious accumulation, beautiful moon glow, early mornings, late nights, and that enigmatic anticipation we all feel during a big cycle – it was the promise of sun and endless powder that met us in the end.

Snow led us all the way through January. All said and done, it was one of the biggest January months Alpine has seen since 1970.

You’re always sharing your stories and photos with us; so we tried to keep up with the storms this month to share some of the memorable days with you.

Thanks to everyone for a great January 2010. As this is being written on February 2 the flurries have started once again; so here’s to more great months ahead:

A Month of Snow Storms

Check out the video from the event!

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5kmeOm7S_E

Our next exclusive Alpine Club Party is this Saturday (Valentine’s Day!) at the Last Chair. Not only will you be celebrating a phenomenal powder day (it is expected to keep snowing through Saturday), but all the chicks who rip, “Alpine Divas,” will be there. With your Alpine Club membership, you can enjoy specials on Ghirardelli Chocolate Martini’s and Cinnamon Martini’s, and $3 Chocolate Trio-chocolate dipped fruit. Yum!

We’ll be groovin’ to music by Tarcorum, and raffling off great gear from Mountain Hardware, North Face, and local restaurants.

See you there!

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pg04eB9tTQ

Ever wonder why the diehards are still jockying for the first ride up the Summit 6 even on non-powder days? Try carving Super-G turns on laps down Wolverine and Nick’s laying down sweet patterns in the corn rows. Tip, use a face mask or that smile will get frozen to your face…

Video Tricks

We confess: To tell the story of what the Alpine Grooming team gets done after sunrise we had to use some sneaky video tricks. We worked long and hard on it and we think it makes a night and day difference.

We tried to be subtle about it, walk backwards through our tracks, stay in the shadows, but we think you might catch us anyway. If you can spot the TWO video tricks used in this episode of the Ski Alpine Podcast, post a comment here in the blog. The first one to get the both will get a two pack of Lift Tickets. Want to ski the freshies for free tomorrow? Watch closely…