Photo Memory - Second Ski Trip to California

For one week in the month of February during the year 1995, things were Heavenly. Or at least that is where we were staying for our annual ski trip. I love the place because of the great slopes, the beautiful lake Tahoe, the drives through the mountains, and typically we had great weather. This particular trip had our core group of me, my brother Tom, coworkers Gaylen and Ron, and friends Jim and Melinda.  Newbies on this trip were Al Siegel and Randy Evans.

Again, we rented a house for the week. This one was closer to the base of Heavenly, but we still had to drive to get to the area. I hit the hot tub early and often...

BJ at the hot tub at our rental house in Heavenly

The house we rented was at the top of a long set of stairs. One thing I do remember that those stairs were tough after a full day of hitting the slopes. But we usually had a cold beer, a hot meal, and an outdoor spa to make us feel better.

Inside the rented house in South Lake Tahoe

Our first day of skiing was at Heavenly. back then, the Heavenly base lodge and a parking lot that was at the bottom of a black diamond run. A great run early in the day but normally a killer to end the day.  Most people took the option they offered of riding the chairlift back down to the base. My brother Tom and I did not believe that was the way to end a day of great skiing. We skied down. My friend Ron caught a picture of me and Tom from the chair.

BJ poses for Ron's picture on mogul run "The Face" at Heavenly

Tom smiles for Ron on the Gunbarrel Lift at Heavenly

If you have ever been to Lake Tahoe to ski, you know there are lots of ski areas to try. I do not think I have a favorite because each one has a unique personality. We spent one day at Sierra-at-Tahoe. The highest peak is Huckleberry Mountain at 8,852 feet. This area is small and intimate. The trails are nice to ski. The ski area is located to the southwest of lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe as seen from Sierra-at-Tahoe

They have a great variety of green, blue and black slopes. Most of the black slopes are not too difficult. I have included a great photo of my shadow and some of the group attacking a black mogul run called Castle.

Al & Melinda attacking the moguls at Sierra-at-Tahoe

One of my favorite areas is Alpine Meadows. Located on the West shore of Lake Tahoe, the drive itself is just gorgeous. Sometimes the West route is closed due to too much snow. here is a panoramic os some of the front range slopes at Alpine Meadows.

Alpine Meadows

 The highest mountain at Alpine meadows is Ward Peak at 8,637 feet.  Scott Peak is 8,289 feet. The mountain is much bigger than people realize with many back bowls. This trip we stayed mostly on the front side of the mountain. The views were always spectacular.

BJ seeking a great view of Lake Tahoe to the East

 I found a nice Black Diamond run with a view of Lake Tahoe behind me. You can see others in the group on the right of the photo starting the descent of a steep grade. I may get this photo enlarged to hang up at the house

BJ posing in front of lake Tahoe at Alpine Meadows

 Tom wanted a picture with the lake behind but our friend Gaylen decided to photobomb by skiing by as we took the picture.

Tom being photobombed by Gaylen Drape with Lake Tahoe behind

My friend David Paquette worked for many years at Alpine Meadows. He groomed trails. Tom and I got to ski with him a few times of trips to Alpine Meadows, but I do not remember if we did on this trip. I know we visited the Back bowl because this picture is of South Face. Big!

South Face at Alpine Meadows

I did get a picture of Al Siegel skiing at Alpine Meadows. I think this may be Wolverine Bowl but it was a long time ago.

Al Siegel at Alpine Meadows

I think we went to Kirkwood but I have no pictures of that. We might not have gone. The rest of the photos in my memory post are back at Heavenly. Heavenly is both in California and Nevada. The highest peak with a lift is 10,040 feet. I think Ron took this picture of Randy and me on the Dipper Express chairlift.

BJ & Randy Evans ride the chair at Heavenly

 As in the previous trip, it is hard not to capture pictures of lake Tahoe.  It is just so beautiful!  In this photo, you can see the nearest five people are Gaylen Drape, Randy Evans, Melinda Fleshman, Jim Roskind, and BJ (in red ski pants).

The group skiing toward Lake Tahoe at Heavenly

 I like this next picture I caught of Gaylen, on the Nevada side of Heavenly, standing in snow with the Nevada desert in the background

Gaylen Drape in Nevada at Heavenly

On the Nevada side of Heavenly, there are some bowls and canyons.  Here we were at the Milky Way Bowl. I think there may be some moguls on this run!

Milky Way Bowl at Heavenly

 As I mentioned in the previous blog, the Nevada side of South Lake Tahoe has plenty of casinos. As a final picture, I have Lake Tahoe, a lift tower, and a bunch of tall casinos near the lake.

Casinos at South Lake Tahoe 

 What a beautiful place it is. I want people to realize that I started to create these "Photo Memory" posts for various reasons. One reason is I get to share, but the real reason is I get my memories down so I do not have to remember again. I can just visit the Blog! I hope you enjoy them half as I much as I do.