![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
So skis on and into the woods.
![Image](http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/2009/01/120x120/biglines_87224.jpg)
Considering how long it's been since the last snowfall here in Tahoe, I surprised how few tracks there were.
Quite quickly we broke tree cover
![Image](http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/2009/01/120x120/biglines_87221.jpg)
As things got steeper we found ourselves ducking back into the woods
![Image](http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/2009/01/120x120/biglines_87219.jpg)
The upper mountain
![Image](http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/2009/01/120x120/biglines_87222.jpg)
Probably three hours in we headed into the summit bowl
![Image](http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/2009/01/120x120/biglines_87223.jpg)
Cresting the summit ridge
![Image](http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/2009/01/120x120/biglines_87225.jpg)
And the summit itself
![Image](http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/2009/01/120x120/biglines_87218.jpg)
The views were spectacular, but the snow was less than stellar. The upper bowl was firm but ok. Lower down there was some patches of velvet in the trees but interspersed with areas of crust or ice. but with no visible difference. making turning a lottery.
![Image](http://www.biglines.com/photosv2/2009/01/120x120/biglines_87220.jpg)
Wider planks would have been more weight to carry up the hill. But I would have appreciated a greater platform on the way down.
The lowest slopes were in fact refrozen nasty crust.
My first real ski peak in the Tahoe basin. It's not the 'Mini Golf' terrain people had described to me. These are real mountains, but......
A grand day out, pity about the snow
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)