Hair of the Dog style leg rehabilitation continued today at Tenney. While ski areas were fully tracked out and busy with the holiday crowds, there was still uncrowded slopes and untracked powder to be found. I began skinning under a bluebird sky hot on the track of the only other soul on the mountain.
The skin track was just as flat and meandering as most of Tenney’s trails. The snow was fluffy in nature with no base to speak of. Snow depths were significantly less than at my house just a few miles away as the crow flies. Lack of trail mowing was evident but no worse than could be expected.
My original plan called for inspection and subsequent descent of Snap Dragon: Tenney’s steepest trail. But base depths and snow density clearly suggested meadow skipping would be the safest and most enjoyable option. On the descent, I scratched up my boards skiing a trail used as an access road. Low angle grassy trails were best!
Halfway up the mountain, I crossed paths with a descending telemark skier and we exchanged pleasantries. And then I was the only skier on the mountain. An entire mountain full of untracked powder all to myself. Many powder laps danced in my head but my body had other plans.
It was not my sore legs that derailed a perfect powder afternoon but rather my feet. Extremely painful cold eventually gave way to numbness just two hundred feet below the summit. I had been pressing on upward with excessive speed and haste in hopes that my feet would warm up. But when I started to loose feeling, I knew the tour was over. I switched to downhill mode and enjoyed my first and only run of the day.
Powder turns on Venus Fly Trap were sublime. The high quality of the powder more than made up for lack of pitch. I quickly forgot about my feet. The fact that this would be my only run soon vanished from my mind. It didn’t matter. I was floating through ideal density powder snow on a Monday afternoon under a bluebird sky without a care in the world. It doesn’t get much better no matter where you are or what you are skiing.
7 thoughts on “Meadow Skipping at Tenney”
I knew it was only a matter of time and you’re just the man for the job! Conditions sound perfect too and there’s so few tracks!
The powder was perfect but the base was not and a lot of brush still sticking up. Between today and Friday, things should be A+.
Nice!
Good call on Venus Fly Trap. I think it is the grassiest of the runs from the top.
Hey Steve,
Not sure you’ll get this and a chance to reply in time but thought I’d try. 2-4-1 Superbowl crowds at Cannon have us thinking Tenney instead. My ski partner grew up skiing Tenney and knows the Mtn well. The questions I have are about access. Did you encounter any problems? Where was the best access and parking option? Mostly I just want to respect and not piss off the residents. How about bringing a dog along? She can handle the touring fine, again I just don’t want to ruffle feathers. Any info is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Alex
Normally, there is front row parking right in front of the lodge. Obviously, the lot isn’t plowed out but the front row parking was ample when I was there. However, this past Thursday I tried to dawn patrol. The access road has always been poorly maintained but it is even worse with the ski area not operational. I got my car stuck (despite snow tires) and had to dig out and abandon the dawn patrol. In hind sight, driving up the condo access road would be a better idea than using the ski area access road. The condo access road is marked residents only but I doubt any one is going to care. The front row rock star parking may not be plowed out fresh after a storm, so you may piss off a plow driver. As far as ruffling feathers, so far I have only done it once and was not the only one there. I haven’t heard stories of any one getting run out of there, I wouldn’t worry about it but keep the dog close near the base if/when you go.
Any ways, you should ski Cannon tomorrow regardless. When I went to dinner a few hours ago, it was changing over to a mix. It won’t be a powder day tomorrow at Tenney. The snow is likely to be heavy and wet. Cannon will do better due to its elevation. Personally, I am thinking Jay tomorrow: as far north as possible. I have skied Cannon on Superbowl Sunday before. It is more traffic than a normal Sunday but with 100% of the mountain open, it will never feel crowded.
On second thought, I doubt Cannon will escape the mix either. It looks like the winds are from the south right now. Not a good scenario for Cannon. Even with the elevation, I bet Cannon gets wet snow at best and a mix at worst.
Hey thanks for getting back so fast with great info. Yeah, I’m in Lincoln and the mix is here. Although it has let up at the moment it’s been in every form for the past few hours. I started a xc trip at 3:30 this afternoon and picked up a nice 2″. But we got back just after dark and it had switched over to not so good stuff.
Jay is a good call. I have some cheap passes to Burke and that might be just a touch further north to help also.
I spent the last two days breaking trail on two good approaches to short vert birch glades here in Lincoln to set up quick access. I may just take advantage of that too. Tough calls.
Again, thanks for the info.