The Case for Skiing Lake Tahoe

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While I had a blast at Snowcial in Tahoe last month, I’m still dreaming of days spent tearing down the slopes as my time on skis was limited this past trip. We hoped to hit up Park City this winter—a ski fantasy that will be shelved until next season what with our relocation, SVV’s new job and all else going on in our lives—but then booked an impromptu few days to Colorado next week for an inaugural visit to Vail. What can we say—we can’t resist the thought of freshly fallen snow!

Are you a first-time skier looking for a well-groomed slope? Or an experienced snowboarder hoping for some pow to shred? Either way, Lake Tahoe is your spot.| CamelsAndChocolate.com

While I won’t complain about the 65-degree winter we’ve been having here in Tennessee—it feels strangely like a San Francisco summer, albeit sunnier—I’ve been craving some powder like I crave chocolate on a regular basis (meaning all day, every day). To satiate my snow lust in the meantime, here are some images from winters past in California.

Are you a first-time skier looking for a well-groomed slope? Or an experienced snowboarder hoping for some pow to shred? Either way, Lake Tahoe is your spot.| CamelsAndChocolate.com

One thing I so love about Tahoe is the bluebird, clear skies (most of the time) for which it’s known.

Are you a first-time skier looking for a well-groomed slope? Or an experienced snowboarder hoping for some pow to shred? Either way, Lake Tahoe is your spot.| CamelsAndChocolate.com

Sometimes, it really does feel like you can see all the way up to Heaven.

Are you a first-time skier looking for a well-groomed slope? Or an experienced snowboarder hoping for some pow to shred? Either way, Lake Tahoe is your spot.| CamelsAndChocolate.com

And the random day it’s overcast and/or cloudy?

Are you a first-time skier looking for a well-groomed slope? Or an experienced snowboarder hoping for some pow to shred? Either way, Lake Tahoe is your spot.| CamelsAndChocolate.com

Well, those don’t suck either, particularly when the fog blankets the lake as if in an act of maternal protection.

Are you a first-time skier looking for a well-groomed slope? Or an experienced snowboarder hoping for some pow to shred? Either way, Lake Tahoe is your spot.| CamelsAndChocolate.com

I, for one, cannot wait to be back in the mountains, even if it’s not our beloved Sierras this time around—and I’m pretty sure there’s one snowboarder I know who would second that sentiment.

COMMENTS
  • February 3, 2012

    Wow, I like that last one – a real action shot! Was that you getting blasted in the face with snow?

    • February 3, 2012
      Kristin

      Haha, nope, it was Scott! I’m a skier through and through; he rides. We attach the GoPro to his snowboard sometimes and set it to shoot every three seconds on the run.

  • February 3, 2012

    i am not really a skier, but my family took everyone to park city for new year’s. despite the warm and less than ideal ski conditions we had a blast. totally worth the trip out!

    • February 3, 2012
      Kristin

      I am DYING to go out there. We were in Salt Lake last summer for five days and actually could have gone skiing in PC if we’d thought to bring our gear–it was end of May, and the snow was still coming down! Maybe next winter…

  • February 3, 2012

    We’ve had almost no snow in Pennsylvania and the ski resorts in the state are really hurting. Being from Texas I’m used to skiing the rockies in Colorado. Someone mentioned they have skiing in PA (I guess the Appalachians?) and I just laughed and said this might not be the year. I already know how they’ll compare to CO, so we might as well not add insult to injury. Have fun and take plenty of pics so I can live vicariously!

    • February 3, 2012
      Kristin

      I think the ski industry as a whole is *really* hurting this year. Even Colorado’s been suffering in comparison to normal, as have many of the other Western states. Though considering all the resorts are slated to close in April each year and stayed open until July last summer, maybe this is just balancing the scales.

  • February 3, 2012

    After skiing only once (in an event that ended in a ski patrol snowmobile ride down the mountain), I can’t fathom how you were able to get so many great pictures while on skis! I love the first and last picture. That last one is a great action shot! Amy, at the Q Adventures, just recently went skiing in NC somewhere I think. That might work for a weekend getaway from Nashville!

    • February 3, 2012
      Kristin

      Ha, well thank you! Most of them are just with an old little point and shoot I keep in my ski jacket pocket, though the “shooting up” shots (like the last one) are done with our GoPro. We attach it to Scott’s snowboard and set it to rapid fire as we go down the mountain.

      Amy and I have discussed this Southern skiing actually–she and her family love Keystone in Colorado, as do Scott and I–and sadly none of the more local resorts are “real skiing.” They’re more six or seven icy hills with fake snow–not very fun conditions (or worth the money, in my eyes). I grew up doing an annual ski trip to North Carolina or Indiana with my church group, and now that I know Western skiing, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to go back! If you have kids and just want to get them used to skiing, I’m sure it’s great, but I’m not sure my California-born husband would approve 😉

      • February 3, 2012

        My husband agrees with you! He is trying to convince me to give skiing another try next year somewhere like Keystone or Park City because my first skiing adventure was on some icy mountain in Maryland. It was an awful experience! 😉

        Do you love the GoPro? We were looking at one the other day and are trying to decide if we would put it to enough use.

  • February 3, 2012

    Awesome shots….really want to hit Tahoe sometime. Might just have to make that happen…

    • February 3, 2012
      Kristin

      It’s beautiful at all times of year, but for skiing, I think late February or March are usually best.

  • February 3, 2012

    Oh dear, There’s snow in those photos. Ugh. 🙂

    • February 3, 2012
      Kristin

      Is that a thumbs up FOR snow…or a thumbs down? 😉

      • February 3, 2012

        That’s a thumbs-up for the photos, but a resounding thumbs-down for the snow. Too many Canadian winters make Raymond a bitter boy… 🙂

  • February 3, 2012

    Gorgeous photos!

    • February 3, 2012
      Kristin

      Hopefully, you left some good conditions behind in Vail for us…

  • February 3, 2012

    Shutupshutupshutup, you’re making me want to cry! Best conditions of the season were yesterday, and that’s only because they didn’t resemble a solid sheet of ice or mashed potatoes. Where’s my giant snow storm? Where’s my fluffy powder? I finally learn to ski well enough to leave the bunny hill and there’s no damn snow! It’s just not fair.

    • February 3, 2012
      Kristin

      That’s how I feel…I finally get comfortable on the slopes, and now we live a whole flight (or two…or three) away from any good resort!

  • February 3, 2012

    I’m not a fan of winter but when I see shots like these that make snow look so beautiful then I almost have a change of heart.

    • February 4, 2012
      Kristin

      I like winter a lot more in theory, and then I put myself in it and I often regret it around the time I can’t feel my fingers or toes.

  • February 3, 2012

    Don’t ski anymore, but Heavenly was my favorite. Except for the Gunbarrel.

    • February 3, 2012
      Kristin

      When I was there two weeks ago, Gunbarrel had zero snow on it so it was even scarier than usual–all rock and boulders!

      (I will never be good enough on skis to attempt that one either.)

  • February 3, 2012

    As a native Coloradan who doesn’t ski (oddly enough, I’m an excellent sailor–I think I was born in the wrong state) I’m not really interested in the mountains, but your pictures really make we want to get my butt up to Winter Park where my brother lives and harangue him until he teaches me how to ski.
    Slightly unrelated–I hope you have good snow when you come out here next week. It’s chucking it down all along the front range right now, but doesn’t sound like anything west of the Continental Divide is getting much of the white stuff.

    • February 4, 2012
      Kristin

      Oooh I hope I do, too! I’ll also be in Denver for a couple days on another assignment, so if you have any must eats/drinks/dos/etc., please pipe up! =)

  • February 3, 2012

    OOH! You have made me so envious!! With my skiing season over (torn ACL) I’m at least able to vicariously enjoy the slopes via your great shots.

    • February 3, 2012
      Kristin

      Oh boo! I’m always so worried I’m going to get a knee injury skiing as one wrong turn and that could so easily happen. My sister had THREE knee surgeries before her 16th birthday even. (I’ve yet to have any sort of surgery, knock on wood.)

  • February 3, 2012

    I can’t help but think that snow-covered rocky mountains are the most beautiful thing in the world. You can have your beaches, your city skylines at dusk, your prairie and your forests. Give me the towering granite, snow-capped peaks.

    xox

    • February 4, 2012
      Kristin

      I’ll take my beaches, my city skylines, my prairie, my forests AND my snow-capped peaks. Who says you can’t have it all, right? =)

  • February 3, 2012
    Brandy

    Your pictures make me want to go skiing! Although I’m more of a warm weather person, I wanted to go to Park City this winter, too, but alas, it’s looking like it’s not going to happen. Hope you and SVV have fun in Vail!

    • February 3, 2012
      Kristin

      I hear Park City (and the resorts around Salt Lake) are some of the best in the country. I’d also like to try Jackson Hole sometime, but after staying there last year in summer and seeing the steep inclines, I’m a bit scared!

  • February 3, 2012

    Fantastic photos! Just Gorgeous!!!

  • February 3, 2012

    I love these photos. I’ve just discovered skiing and a passion for snow for the first time this week – we’ve just spent two weeks in Bulgaria at a ski resort. Of course with my coordination I left our expensive camera behind and only took the iPhone so my photos are terrible. I’m jealous! It looks like you had a wonderful time. The view from the top really does look like you can see forever.

    • February 3, 2012
      Kristin

      I’ve read a lot of blogs lately where people have gone skiing in Bulgaria recently–funny, I had no idea it was such a ski destination! Romania is the closest I’ve ever been to Bulgaria.

      All these photos were actually just taken with a six-year-old throw-away point and shoot I keep in my ski jacket (we don’t take our nice equipment on the slopes either), but now that I have an iPhone (finally! only took me four years!), I feel like I’ll probably just use that for future ski trips. There are so many awesome camera/photo-editing apps now that you can take awesome shots with just an iPhone.

  • February 3, 2012

    Stunning pics! I really miss Tahoe!!!

  • February 3, 2012

    those first two pictures are beautiful! i’ve got a long weekend booked in keystone this february so i guess it’s finally time i put living in colorado to good use and learn to ski.

    • February 3, 2012
      Kristin

      Ooh what weekend? I LOVE Keystone and would love to ski there again sometime. We just figured we’d try somewhere different this time as we’ve only ever skied in Colorado once before.

  • February 3, 2012

    Beautiful photos. It looks like you were in Heavenly. We haven’t been to Tahoe in ages but these pictures make me miss it. Brian Head, Utah and Mammoth are a little closer than Tahoe for us here in Southern CA folks. Have a great time skiing.

    • February 4, 2012
      Kristin

      Yes ma’am! Heavenly it is. It’s my favorite for the terrain and the views. I also love Mammoth, but that always involved a flight (albeit a cheap $39 one) for us, so Tahoe was our norm.

  • February 4, 2012

    This makes me so jealous! 😀

    Perpetual summer has been… interesting.

    • February 7, 2012
      Kristin

      I hear ya, sista. That’s how I felt our last year was. After our winter-y May and June road tripping, we had a gloriously heated July and August then through December we were chasing summer around the world on the ship. I LOVE me some heat, but I’m actually happy for a bit of snow this next week as I’m still going out in bare legs and arms in Tennessee right now. IN FEBRUARY.

  • February 5, 2012

    Perfect timing for me to read this! I just went skiing for the first time in 15 years today!! I love these photos — gorgeous!! Don’t think I could snowboard though!

    • February 7, 2012
      Kristin

      Yay! I didn’t even know there were ski resorts so close to Vegas (without going to New Mexico or Utah, I mean).

  • February 5, 2012

    I went to Lake Tahoe when I skied and would love to go back now that I snowboard.

    • February 7, 2012
      Kristin

      Scott rides, and I ski. We both really like Heavenly for terrain that we can both do together. (Although that said, there are a whole lot of catwalks there that aren’t so ideal for boarders.)

  • February 6, 2012

    We lived an Showshoe when I was kid. My parents had a shop there for a bit. You’d think I learned to ski while there, but I didn’t. Instead I learned that if I fell and refused to get up during lessons on how to fall and get up, I’d be assisted and given hot chocolate. Even at 4, I was a wise one.

    • February 7, 2012
      Kristin

      Smart one you are. I’m really hoping to try out Snowshoe sometime, maybe next winter (as this winter isn’t really optimal for skiing most places, it seems). I just wish it weren’t SO FAR. I mean, West Virginia borders Tennessee for chrissakes and it’s STILL a 10-hour drive.

  • February 6, 2012

    These photos are kick ass- especially love that black and white and that last one. Holy crap- I want to go skiing!!

    • February 7, 2012
      Kristin

      Thanks, girl! Hoping to get some even better ones (with my iPhone, too) this next week in Colorado. Fingers crossed there’s powder…

  • February 7, 2012

    The mountains are wondrous, when I was living in France I lived 45 minutes from Chamonix I never got enough of it throughout the year. I was able to ski a couple times in Cervinia, Italy, which was also incredibly beautiful and you are right, even in bad weather it is breathtaking!

    • February 7, 2012
      Kristin

      My friend is skiing near there right now, and her Instagram photos are just insane. I would love to do some skiing there–I’ve actually never skied anywhere outside of the US!

      • February 7, 2012

        You MUST, it is amazing! My experiences are only France, Switzerland and Italy, but I will never forget those images….

  • February 19, 2012

    I love seeing…and taking…photos from unusual angles. Love this set…makes you feel like you are right there on the mountain 🙂

  • February 21, 2012

    Colorado seemed much like Armenia 🙂 Beautiful pictures here.

  • February 21, 2012

    That first picture is beautiful.

  • February 22, 2012

    I like skiing very much, but I’m a very bad skier :))

    • March 8, 2012
      Kristin

      It’s never too late to learn! I was terrified of skiing until I started taking a couple lessons here and there–it’s amazing what a little confidence will do once you know the basics.

  • March 8, 2012

    I love those pictures! I live in Denver so we have some pretty choice skiing here too! Nice work

    • March 8, 2012
      Kristin

      I just got back from Denver and Vail! Colorado has the best skiing in the US–you’re very lucky living there.

  • January 2, 2013

    Do you have a destination in mind for Park City? Just moved out West and hoping to get a feel for the best ski resorts.

    • January 2, 2013

      Deer Valley is the one I’ve always wanted to go to! Though I’ve never skied in Utah period, so they all would be new experiences for me. I don’t think you can go wrong with any resort out there.

  • August 8, 2013

    The blue skies are beautiful, I agree. Thanks for sharing about your trip to Lake Tahoe. Safe travels.

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