Ski Safari, Part 2: Red Mountain

Red Mountain ski resort

Bush league sidecountry at Red Mountain.

Missed Part 1?

From Wenatchee we headed north to the small town of Omak, which is near another small ski resort we didn’t hit – Loup Loup Ski Bowl – but it got us closer to the Canadian border, and our next destination, Red Mountain.  Red’s located near Rossland, B.C., a mere 10 km from the U.S. border.  It’s also part of the Powder Highway, and the official start to that part of our ski safari.

Red’s one of those ski resorts that’s a bit under the radar for many Californians.  I’d heard of it as having great terrain, and remembered its tongue in cheek ad from a few years ago.  Most people, when they asked me where we were headed, automatically assumed Whistler-Blackcomb, and when I mentioned Red Mountain and Whitewater, had never heard of them.

Red Mountain ski resort

No steeps at Red either.

But as the ad so clearly states, Red sucks.  So you definitely don’t want to check it out.  No fun steeps, no easily accessed sidecountry, huge crowds, only 4,200 acres of terrain, and it has no personality.

Yeah.  That’s it.

Red Mountain

No powder snow either.

It sucked so much we spent two days there, including a day where a 15 minute hike resulted in some fun powder turns…days after a storm.

Next stop: Whitewater

Ski Safari

When much-anticipated plans to take a ski vacation to France didn’t quite pan out, we found ourselves looking north.  Canada north.  We had passports and fat skis, vacation time, and a yen to ski new terrain – ideally with new snow.

This idea wasn’t totally out of the blue.  Last year’s trip to a backcountry lodge near Nelson, B.C. piqued our interest in exploring that part of the world, and an article in a ski magazine on the Powder Highway further encouraged us.  The final straw was the dry and springlike weather in Tahoe, with a forecast that offered no immediate relief.  So off we went.

Mt Bachelor powder skiing

First day of vacation – not bad.

Considering that Canadian border is nearly 1,000 miles from Tahoe, we decided to hit a few U.S. ski resorts on the way up.  First stop was Bend, OR, to see N’s parents…and sneak in skiing at Mt. Bachelor.  This is not a new resort to us – it’s where N learned to ski, and we’ve had more than a few memorable powder days there already.  But to have fresh snow after weeks of sunshine and high pressure in California was a welcome start to vacation.  

Mission Ridge Ski Resort

Short hike, big payoff.

From Bend we drove to the town of Wenatchee in eastern Washington.  Located on the east side of the Cascades, it’s home to Mission Ridge, a 2,000 acre ski resort right outside of town.  It’s not your typical PNW resort, in that there’s a lot of sunshine (300 days a year – like Tahoe) and the snow is drier than those resorts on the western side of the state.  Like a few other ski resorts we visited, Mission Ridge does not boast villages or lodging.   There’s a base lodge and a smaller lodge mid-mountain, but it was refreshingly simple – and the lift ticket rates reflected it ($53).  Our timing was good, for a recent storm meant that fresh tracks could be had if you were willing to hike.  And we were.

Mission Ridge ski resort

Fun terrain…and a bomber plane!

Mission Ridge’s terrain is varied, with plenty of advanced/expert steeps to keep us skiing until the end of the day.  It offers night skiing as well, but we had to get on the road for the next stop on our ski safari.

Next up: Red Mountain

Blunka Kucha cookies

Blunka Kucha cookies

Not long ago I was talking to my grandmother about an attempt to make German lebkuchen for a potluck.  I told her how it was a more complicated recipe than I usually make, one requiring multiple steps, including rolling it out.  Truth is, I’m more of a drop or bar cookie fan, and while the lebkuchen were a hit, they’re a bit too involved for me to make regularly.

She told me about a recipe she used to make that required no rolling, no dropping – just pouring the dough into the pan and letting it spread on its own.  I was intrigued, as it sounded like the ultimate for a lazy baker.

When she sent it to me, I immediately went to Google to see if I could find more information on this recipe.  Outside of a link to an old Lebanon, PA newspaper article circa 1977, there is nothing, which leads me to believe this is an uber-regional Pennsylvania Dutch cookie recipe.

I’ve made it a few times now, once without the second 2 tablespoons of butter (which in the original was vegetable shortening), and once with.  The added butter does help it spread easier.  I also decided to add some of the lebkuchen cookie spices to this, as the final product resembles a soft biscotti.  There’s plenty of room for customization here – think a handful of nuts, maybe some chocolate chips, a few raisins or dried cherries.

Blunka Kucha recipe (adapted from my grandmother)

½ cup + 2 Tbsp butter
1 1/8 cup buttermilk
1 ¾ cup granulated sugar
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp allspice

Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter a cookie sheet with sides.

Mix butter, sugar and buttermilk.  Mix dry ingredients separately. Add dry to wet in two batches, mix until just combined.

Pour dough into middle of sheet, but do not spread.  It will spread itself.  Bake for 45 minutes. Remove and let cool at least 10 minutes before removing from pan.  Cut into bars (or whatever shapes are desired).  Makes many.

Help Sierra Avalanche Center by saving money on lift tickets

Kirkwood powder skiing

Skiing at Lake Tahoe isn’t just about the ski resorts.  While I’m a huge fan of them, and have spent many memorable days on their respective slopes, I’m also a passionate backcountry skier (who appreciates a good deal).

As such, I’m a donor and supporter of the Sierra Avalanche Center (SAC), a local non-profit that promotes safe backcountry travel through regular avalanche advisories, education and events.  Most importantly, it provides the only daily avalanche forecast in the region, an incredibly valuable resource for backcountry users.

SAC has partnered with many Lake Tahoe area ski resorts this winter to raise money through its SAC Ski & Ride Days.  Discounted lift tickets are available online, with all of the proceeds going directly to support the continued operation of this regional avalanche center.

This season’s fundraisers include the following dates at the Lake Tahoe ski resorts:

•$50 lift tickets to Northstar California valid on, January 29th-31st
•$35 lift tickets to Homewood Mountain Resort valid on February 3rd-8th
•$45 lift tickets to Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows valid on February 3rd-8th
•$50 lift tickets to Heavenly Ski Resort valid on February 5-7th
•$35 lift tickets to Mt Rose-Ski Tahoe valid on March 3-10
•$50 lift tickets to Kirkwood Mountain Resort valid on March 5-7th
•$35 lift tickets to Sugar Bowl valid on Sunday, March 17th
•$35 lift tickets to Sierra-at-Tahoe valid on any Sunday-Friday (except holidays)

In addition to lift ticket savings, each SAC Ski & Ride Day will feature Q & A sessions with professional avalanche forecasters. Skiers and snowboarders can demo avalanche safety gear, and learn about avalanche conditions and items related to backcountry travel and recreation.

Support the Sierra Avalanche Center by purchasing SAC Ski & Ride Day lift tickets here. And feel good knowing that your terrific deal is helping sustain this important resource.

Desolation Wilderness Under Snow

Backcountry skier above Lake Tahoe

Not a bad day at all.

I wanted to celebrate my new year with a big day out.  I wanted it to be somewhere new, and ideally involve winter snow.   The latter was of particular importance because my birthday falls in what locals call ‘Juneuary’.  Corn tends to be more plentiful than powder, and typically I have to go elsewhere if I want to get my snow fix.

This year I got both of my wishes.  N and I had been discussing heading back into Desolation Wilderness, and our friend Meghan kindly told us of some lines that hold winter snow weeks after a storm.  Lucky for us, she wanted to play too, so a posse of four telemark skiers set out from the Emerald Bay area early-ish on Saturday.

Skinning above Dicks Lake

The views were well worth the climb.

Our route involved some up, some down, lots of snow, very few people, and plenty of sunshine.  And views.  While I have spent a lot of time in the Desolation Wilderness, it’s been in the summer and fall mostly, so seeing it under snow gave me a whole new perspective.  There are a lot of skiable lines back there!

Backcountry skier above Lake Tahoe

She was right about the snow.

Despite my inherent skepticism, Meghan was right.  You can still find untracked powder, even in Juneuary.  Which we did.

It was a great start to my new year.   Yes, getting older sucks, but when it’s celebrated like this, it’s actually not all that bad.

Skiers crossing lake

Heading back after a fun – and full – day out.

…this nature frames my world…

what i wanted, what i needed, was the moon and the wind and the shore and the ocean and the mountains…

- Charlotte Davies

My personal new year celebration is this month, and despite attempts to ignore it, I find myself thinking about what I want out of my new year – and what is important to me.

So this video by Seb Montaz, which I came across today, seems so appropriate.  And so beautifully mesmerizing.  It makes me think, and smile, and remember how lucky I am that I can celebrate my line.

It’s a timely reminder to continue celebrating this, now, next year and beyond.

Revelation, a Visual Poem. from sebastien montaz-rosset on Vimeo.

Winter is back – really!

After what could optimistically be described as a disappointing ski season last year, it appears that Mother Nature is trying to win back Lake Tahoe’s affections.  She succeeded this month, with a series of big storms that left up to 94 inches of snow before and after Christmas.  The ski resorts couldn’t be happier, and frankly, neither could I.

The timing has been awesome, as many local’s season passes are blacked out during this holiday period, reducing the bum rush to get the untracked powder.  We’ve enjoyed relaxed days at our favorite ski resorts, lapping areas that typically are tracked out in minutes. Despite the holiday crowds, we also found untracked snow and few people at some of our favorite backcountry stashes as well.

While the snow volume appears to be slowing down for now, cold temperatures are forecast for next week, ensuring great mid-winter snow conditions will stick around.  At least until the next storm shows up.

Need proof of the awesomeness?  See below.

Trimmer bonus run from TahoeJenn on Vimeo.