An Ocean of Pow

Seemingly endless atmospheric rivers flowed through California this winter, blurred into a bottomless ocean of powder where the Sierra Crest received about 62.5 feet of snowfall, according to the Central Sierra Snow Lab. Winter 2022-23 became the second snowiest season on record, just 4.9 feet shy of winter 1952. March brought home the gold medal for most snowfall in one month on record in Tahoe, receiving about 18.5 feet. Ski resorts were working hard to open daily, with many of those powder days remaining closed due to the staff's inability to maintain the immense storm totals. Ski patrollers found themselves constantly digging out equipment while managing avalanche control and the general public's discomposure.

Like resort employees highway maintenance operatives worked around the clock, unlike in recent years. Having had a record drought for the previous three years this winter forced a change of pace, pushing these industrious folk to work tirelessly to keep the mountain towns functioning and safe while attempting to keep the highways open. Eventually, the snowpack grew so deep that homes got buried, and locals were contracted to do emergency snow removal. In contrast to the recent drought years, where there was hardly any accumulation at lake level, this season had residents in a perpetual maintenance mindset in an agitated snow globe with undeniable anticipation for the next powder turn.

Have you ever risen before the sun, shoveled yourself out of your house, only to load the car with your touring gear and get to the trailhead in the dark? This may seem daunting to most, yet Tahoe backcountry enthusiasts found themselves nearing ridgelines highlighted by the morning alpenglow, the golden glittering snow burned off the fog clouding their tired eyes. Ear-to-ear smiles left crow's feet as deep as their turns. The count was out on how many times "This is the best day ever!" or "This is the best snow I've ever skied!" was exclaimed and echoed through the beautifully gladed forests.

To complement the abundance of snowfall, the conditions provided a mostly cold "right-side up" snowpack that extended down to lake level opening up so much terrain for exploration. The possibilities seemed endless for where you could ski. The classics, the obscure and the backyard were all open with infinite frozen waves to catch, but only if you were willing and able to set a thigh-deep skin track after excavating a parking slot. Flurry-filled days made for memorable white room visits, buried homes and engulfed roadways. While roadside backcountry access is an appetizing strength of the Tahoe area, the parking is an everlasting battle that The Tahoe Backcountry Alliance sustains.

The constant snow clearing had the counties backed up for days on their routes. A typically maintained road remained submerged beneath the ocean of pow, making the area seemingly inaccessible, forced to walk the extra mile up the main road to gain the start of your objective following the parking spot excavation. There was fuss amongst the community regarding the lack of respect for the city snow removal employees. Folks were negligent with parking; on multiple days people had plopped their vehicles in the middle of the road, interrupting any chance of the plow passing through.

If you weren't being called out on the local social media platforms on your poor form and lack of respect for the snow removal people, you were likely following the essential etiquette of digging out your parking spot that would set you up for an uncrowded day in the backcountry and a pleasant cruise back to the car on the main road, making for a memorable season of "firsts." Unburying your vehicle was standard procedure at the end of your day which prepared you for the inevitable unearthing of your home. If you were out for the day you might have found yourself wishing you had left a powered-on beacon in your house to conduct a fine search to locate your front door.

With drought being a major topic across the board and understanding that we are not entirely out of the drought classification, California residents find themselves in constant gratitude for the copious amounts of water brought to the mountains providing invaluable water to wildlife, people and agriculture statewide until the snow begins to fall and blanket the Sierra yet again. Nonetheless, the unforgettable snow load of this season had roofs and decks collapsing, made for daily deep trail breaking, continuous snow removal, and belly-aching laughter, which left Tahoe residents fit, fatigued and forever stoked after the long 22-23 winter.