Tahoe All Time—A Mind Bending Photo Essay by Ming Poon
2 years ago
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David Reddick
Drop in to this deep temerity
Story and Photos by Ming Poon
Driving to the trailhead this season was often the crux of the day. You often had to battle to get out of your house, then out of the neighborhood, then contend with nearly single lane roads, fallen trees, accidents, unplowed roads, etc. It was an adventure more days than I can ever recall in any one season. Those who persevered were rewarded. Drew Petersen and Cody Townsend.
Photo: Ming Poon
In the most epic winter of our lives, this cycle— two days in particular—stood out among the rest. In a season of “that was my best day yet” continually repeated, this cycle stood out. The difference? The temperatures were cold, but the wind had eased, and the snow was as good as it gets and as deep as anything I’ve experienced anywhere.
Street signs and stop signs disappeared, streets turned into one lane, police and other locals relied snowmobiles. It was stormageddan, hard living, but some of the best powder cycles anyone had experienced anywhere. One for the books, literally and figuratively. This was the second largest annual snowfall on record and the biggest of my life. Still comprehending what’s happened and will be riding into July.
Photo: Ming Poon
Digging your own parking spot at the trailhead, signs of a good day. It snowed so hard we had to shovel again to get the van out of the parking spot when we left. The effort to ski on days like this are no joke, it’s hard living. Most people didn’t get out of their driveway or their neighborhood this day, we had to dig out, dig a parking spot, dig ourselves out of the parking spot and then dig ourselves back into our homes. Pretty epic!
Photo: Ming Poon
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Most people didn’t leave their house during these two days—, it was deep, hard to navigate, and the avalanche danger was nothing to ignore. We’d need as much pitch as possible without putting ourselves in “avalanche terrain.” I, it was a tricky task.
The snow was so deep that turning felt like you were only slightly changing direction because of the depth and quality of the snow. It was slow motion skiing/snowboarding— of the most unique feelings and truly hard to describe.
Waaaaaaaa?! Skier: Elyse Saugstad
Photo: Ming Poon
Drew Petersen popping pillows. Jumping off something was one of the only ways you could guarantee being able to see for a least a moment. The snow was so good you couldn’t hear the landings, it was like you were landing on Eider down that disintegrated on impact. Some of the finest snow any of us had ever experienced. Memorable.
Photo: Ming Poon
You usually couldn’t see because your face was fighting away fine snow particles. We couldn’t help but laugh about our “Sierra Cement” snow. There were days where it just kept getting deeper. While there were plenty of times this season where, it seemingly didn’t stop snowing for weeks, but this cold cycle really stood out.
Cody Townsend trying to find the light on a deep dark day. Pretty sure he and the others saw white room more than anything this day. It was so deep and high quality you changed direction or made the slightest movement and it seemed to explode the snow and cause instant white room. We liked it.
Photos: Ming Poon
Sometimes the faces of your partners say enough about the day. Drew Petersen and Cody Townsend realizing the dream.
Photo: Ming Poon
Elyse Saugstad ripping some of Tahoe’s finest. As parents, it seems much more difficult to connect these days, but when we do I think it’s that much sweeter. This was one of the deepest and highest quality snow days any of us have ever had anywhere.
Photo: Ming Poon
Houses, cars, street signs, etc. were all buried. I barely made it out of the neighborhood. We had to dig a parking spot at the trailhead just so we could park and the plow could drive by. It was snowing so hard I had to clean and adjust my camera constantly, at least after every sequence. Sometimes multiple times a sequence. It was just snowing so hard, and the snow was so light the flakes would hang in the air for what felt like forever as they were slowly pulled back to earth.
Drew Petersen sampling some “Sierra cement” near his new home base of Truckee, CA.
Photo: Ming Poon
IMG_6757 (0:16) Drew Petersen had to thaw his beard for hours after this day from all the face shots he was getting. Signs of a good day.
Photo: Ming Poon
These are the days we all dream of and then wish we could repeat. But they are never the same and feel fleeting even in a season full of them. These are the days you just look at your partner(s) and laugh because the snow is so ridiculous there is nothing else to say. These days have been some of the best in my life.
Cody Townsend testing gravity on the west shore of Lake Tahoe
Photo: Ming Poon
I’ve been getting after it pretty hard in Tahoe (and around the world) since 2002 and as a kid in VT before that. But THIS is what we live for. Until next season, I have something to look forward to and some nice photos to reminisce on.
Todd Ligare popping pillows in Tahoe during one of the best storm cycles I’ve experienced anywhere. It was so special there seemed to be magic dust floating in the air this day. Near Truckee, CA
