On the slopes

In America people love their sport.  Be it a ball game or something more adrenaline inducing like going down a sharp mountain slope at high speed on a surface made of ice.  The latter is available courtesy of nature during the winter months in states that have majestic mountains to allow for said exercise.

The kid had been wanting to try downhill skiing for a while.  The parents having attempted it on slower slopes in hills of Michigan were not at all keen on the endeavor.  But nothing ventured nothing gained or something silly like that made me take her on a father daughter tour of the Sierras near Lake Tahoe yesterday.

She took to it like bee after honey.  What follows is a picture based narrative of the day long activity - of which six hours were spent on the slopes (by child only whilst the father was relegated to sherpa duties and amateur photog).

The bus picked us up early.  5.30 AM to be precise from our neighborhood and after 3 + hours of squirming in coach class seats and pretending to doze in the predawn darkness dropped us at Kirkwood Ski Resort just south of the Lake Tahoe area.  The sun had broken through to reveal a stunning blue sky.

The average mountain peaks here are around 9,500 feet elevation.  The parking lot was at 7,600 feet.

Majestic snow capped peaks dazzled in the morning sun with air temps hovering at 40.  That is eight degrees Fahrenheit above the temp where water becomes ice.

Parking lot where the bus dropped us off

Sierra peaks in the distance

Pictured above is a panorama of the actual ski slopes which range from 7,600 feet above sea level at the base where I am standing to over 9,600 feet on top of the tallest ridge.  There are taller peaks not far from here.

Check in is a process.  I mean well organized industrial strength process.  Fill out a waiver on a computer, get your boots, get your skis and poles and out you go to the practice area.

The kid had a coaching session we signed up having never put on skis in her life.  Worked out well.  That lasted couple hours and later she did it by herself.  Up the chair lifts to the peak and then swooshing her way down to the start of the lift ride.  Up and down and again and again.  Average times round trip were 20 minutes since the crowds were marginal - they had blocked off season pass holders this time of year, which worked out well for us.