THE OFFICIAL 20/21 TAHOE SKI & SNOWBOARD THREAD. PANDEMIC SCHMANDEMIC!

[Eastern Sierra Skier]

Ssssssshhh ^^^^

Also I hear if you pick up that phone in the lake kirkwood campground it tells you the exact day minute and second that you die...

ESS you get your shades yet?

Now I’m scared to go pick up that phone again. Haven’t gotten any shades yet, but will definitely need some new ones after this fire season ends.

Update:…Looks like a fire weather watch has been issued for Monday as winds build with a weather front approaching the West coast.


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[Eastern Sierra Skier]

Another fairly quite day (Saturday) on the Caldor fire, but activity is expected to pick up over the next couple days. A weasther system coming into the West Coast will bring increased winds and may lead to smokey conditiuons with the forecast SW winds bringing additiuonal smoke up from firtes on the Sequioa NF.

Staged for part of the day at KW checking out the terrain here.

Beautiful day out with a hint of fall in the air.

Just a heads up for anyone parked along the Carson Spur this winter or in the back country where the fire impacted it is there are 1000's of burned out cat faced tree's like this.

Took this one down yesterday right next to a pull out on Hwy 88. In this pic it had just started to "pop."

On the way down, time to run.

On the ground safely. Just a reminder to keep your SA up when out in any of the areas that the fire burned thru.
Death comes from above.

[powdork]

why 'cat faced'?

[~mikey b]

that’s just what it’s called when they’re burned out like that

[old goat]

Thanks for the pix

[Eastern Sierra Skier]

why 'cat faced'?

I think it’s just an old logging term.


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[powdork]

after it's down, then it would be a lying cat faced pony soldier?

[old goat]

Piece 60 minutes tonight, filmed at Truckee Airport and on planes flying out of there about night flying Chinook tankers with computerized water drops. A Socal chief brought them up to use on the Caldor and Dixie fires. A lot of disagreement between USFS and Calfire limited their use. Worth watching the segment on line.
https://www.cbs.com/shows/60_minutes...w-helicopters/

[mcski]

Was just coming here to make the same post re 60minutes. Curious about the squabble as well

[powdork]

Seemed like the SoCal chief was upset he (or Coulson Aviation) didn't get his 8k/hour per bird for enough hours for him to 'volunteer' their service.

[mcski]

Im sure he had his angle as well, but the weak “joint statement” leads me to believe there was something substantive to his criticism

[powdork]

there are so many possible reasons though. the smoke always settles in at night. Maybe the only places they could attack by air on those nights were not high enough priority to spend the money (keep in mind it could be waaay higher than 8k/hour when the spotter bird and extras are included). Also I could envision a situation where at night the Chinook would have to fly farther to refill water making it even a worse decision financially. That's just spitballing. There's a myriad of variables that we don't have the info on, and it didn't look like 60 minutes dug any deeper than asking.

[powdork]

Another fun somewhat related factoid. The Fawn fire was started by an arsonist, and hundreds (maybe thousands) of homes were saved, or at least protected, by PGE power lines.

[old goat]

there are so many possible reasons though. the smoke always settles in at night. Maybe the only places they could attack by air on those nights were not high enough priority to spend the money (keep in mind it could be waaay higher than 8k/hour when the spotter bird and extras are included). Also I could envision a situation where at night the Chinook would have to fly farther to refill water making it even a worse decision financially. That's just spitballing. There's a myriad of variables that we don't have the info on, and it didn't look like 60 minutes dug any deeper than asking.

60 minutes and its 15 minute segments is not know for in depth reporting.

[Eastern Sierra Skier]

Red flag warnings have been issued for the next 24 hrs. Winds forecasted to gust to 40+ mph over the ridges.


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[Mokomahonah]

Loved the "haven't had a day off in months" quote. Then why is home boy trying to drink for two days straight every two weeks???
It's sensationalizing an already sensational sensation.

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[old_newguy]

there are so many possible reasons though. the smoke always settles in at night. Maybe the only places they could attack by air on those nights were not high enough priority to spend the money (keep in mind it could be waaay higher than 8k/hour when the spotter bird and extras are included). Also I could envision a situation where at night the Chinook would have to fly farther to refill water making it even a worse decision financially. That's just spitballing. There's a myriad of variables that we don't have the info on, and it didn't look like 60 minutes dug any deeper than asking.

I’ve tried to watch the video a few times but can’t get it to load correctly.

Anyways..

Flying low level at night under NVG is really dangerous. Add in a fire environment and it’s even more dangerous. You have to have specific tactical objectives that warrant the use and certain other pieces in place.

It took a lot of political pressure to get the USFS to restart their program in SoCal and when I was in tuned to it my understanding was that it doesn’t actually get much use because the criteria are very tight.

[old goat]

I’ve tried to watch the video a few times but can’t get it to load correctly.

Anyways..

Flying low level at night under NVG is really dangerous. Add in a fire environment and it’s even more dangerous. You have to have specific tactical objectives that warrant the use and certain other pieces in place.

It took a lot of political pressure to get the USFS to restart their program in SoCal and when I was in tuned to it my understanding was that it doesn’t actually get much use because the criteria are very tight.

I gather from the show that they have night vision and thermal imaging technology that makes it safer to fly at night than in the past, but of course I have no way to know how true that is. They're using a Chinook plus a spotter helicopter. The Chinook flies to a GPS coordinate and the water or retardant drops automatically when its in the right place.

[skier666]

Looks like the lift renaming at Palisdades Tahoe confirmed...I'll let you guys find them.

[teledad]

How dare they rename the Tucker carpet - think of the history.

[Eastern Sierra Skier]

Looks like the lift renaming at Palisdades Tahoe confirmed...I'll let you guys find them.

Wa She Shu? That’s a the name of a casino on the South end of Gardnerville. Never stopped there, it’s not even the cheapest gas as you head South to Mammoth.


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[meter-man]

Wa She Shu? That’s a the name of a casino on the South end of Gardnerville. Never stopped there, it’s not even the cheapest gas as you head South to Mammoth.


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Wa She Shu is the word that that the Washoe use for Washoe people.

"Washoe," of course, is what whitey wrote down.

Cool name, I like it.

Bummer they didn't name Resort chair Snow Queen. That was my vote.

But DAMN, the Shaka Carpet! I wanna ride that thing.

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[cmc]

Anyone else think Wa She Shu Valley would be a way better name than Palisades Tahoe?

[old goat]

Wa She Shu is the word that that the Washoe use for Washoe people.

"Washoe," of course, is what whitey wrote down.

Cool name, I like it.

Bummer they didn't name Resort chair Snow Queen. That was my vote.

But DAMN, the Shaka Carpet! I wanna ride that thing.

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"whitey"?
I'm sure you'll get your chance--on one of those storm days that Olympic Valley shows 4 lifts running and they're all carpets.

[~mikey b]

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...klwGIugQEUE0UQ



Partial Reopening: Caldor Fire Closure Replaces Forest Wide Closure and Fire Restrictions Increase - Effective September 30th on the Eldorado National Forest

While the Caldor Fire continues to burn, the emergency forest wide closure that went into effect August 17, 2021 for the Eldorado National Forest will be terminated and replaced with a smaller Caldor Fire Closure, beginning Thursday, September 30, 2021. The new Caldor Fire Closure, Forest Order 03-21-18 will be in effect until March 31, 2022, but could be lifted sooner or modified if conditions warrant. Due to the continued level of fire risk, the areas of the forest outside the Caldor Fire Closure will be open for day use only. Beginning September 30, overnight camping will be temporarily prohibited under Forest Order 03-21-17 and a full fire ban will be in effect under Forest Order 03-21-16. These restrictions mean that all kinds of open flame are prohibited in the forest, including wood, charcoal and gas fires. (**NOTE: Links to the forest orders are at the bottom of this post.**)

“The Caldor Fire threat is not over yet,” said Eldorado National Forest Supervisor Jeff Marsolais. “I know people have been waiting a long time to get back into the forest, but safety is the highest priority as we begin to reopen. We are still engaged in fire suppression and there are many hazards in the burned area.”

The Caldor Fire was reported on August 14, 2021, and is currently 221,774 acres, 76% contained with active burning and potential for spotting. Wind events causing large fire runs are common in October. Other dangers in the fire area include fire weakened hazard trees, heavy fuels that continue to smolder, stump holes, loose rock and debris on steep slopes, and hazmat from burned structures.

A description of the closure boundary, a list of closed roads and trails, and a map of the Caldor Fire Closure are included as Exhibit A, B, and C in the Forest Order. Note, that Mormon Emigrant Trail (aka Iron Mountain Road), Silver Fork Road, and Wrights Lake Road are popular roads within the Caldor Fire Closure that will remain closed. Portions of Desolation and Mokelumne Wilderness areas will also remain closed which includes part of the Pacific Crest Trail. Please plan your visit accordingly.

The following persons are exempt from the Caldor Fire Closure on the Eldorado National Forest:

1. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.
2. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order.
3. Persons with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission license or Forest Service special use authorization for an electric transmission line, an oil or gas pipeline, or communications site may access their permit areas to conduct administrative and emergency functions to property and related assets.

4. Commercial recreation special-use permit holders and their customers are not exempt from this Order. However, commercial recreational special-use permit holders, under the terms and conditions of their permit, may access their permit areas to conduct administrative functions and to protect property and related assets. Recreation residence permit holder are not exempt from this order.
5. Persons with a Forest Service non-special use written authorization to conduct nonrecreational activities, such as harvesting timber, forest products or grazing livestock.
6. Owners or lessees of land and residents of such private landholdings, to the extent to access their land.
The adjacent Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit also has a separate Caldor Fire closure on the eastern side of the fire as well as a backcountry closure order. There are also still evacuation orders and warnings on the Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit both inside and outside the Caldor fire closure areas. For links to closure and evacuation information as well as current fire information, visit the Caldor Fire Inciweb page at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7801/ .

Visitor information specialists are available by phone to assist with trip planning from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday:

• Forest Supervisors’ Office – 530-303-2412
• Georgetown Ranger District – 530-334-6477
• Pacific / Placerville Ranger District – 916-500-4712
• Amador Ranger District – 209-259-3774

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Caldor Fire Closure - Forest Order 03-21-18
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...eprd957250.pdf
Camping Prohibition - Forest Order 03-21-17
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...eprd957209.pdf
Fire Restrictions - Forest Order 03-21-16
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...eprd957208.pdf