In case you’re wondering how the snow is in Utah right now, all I can say is you gotta ski it to believe it. Which makes my leaving home this weekend even that much more insane. But, no, I’m not crazy. I headed straight into the oncoming storm and landed my butt in Lake Tahoe just in time to catch their forecasted 10-foot dump. The storms have been hammering the Sierras on their way to my Rockies and we arrived on the South Shore yesterday as the clouds and snow rolled in.

After the 10-hour road-trip it felt comforting to relax in our in-room Jacuzzi at Caesar’s Tahoe before winning back our gas money at the craps table. This morning we hit Sierra-at-Tahoe for fresh tracks. Though the bigger known resorts often shut down due to wind, Sierra has that North-facing knack for shelter. You can always find good skiing there in a storm. We had a blast in the blizzard, skiing trees. My legs were worked after only a handful of runs. In Utah, our stuff is usually soft, pillowy and forgiving. You can float through it simply by rolling knees and ankles into the turn. In Tahoe, if you even try to relax, you’re catapulted over your ski tips or thrown on your butt by the density of what’s under foot. Sorry, Cali fans, your powder can’t compare to ours; I don’t care what you say.

Today reminded me of those days growing up skiing Mammoth and why I constantly screamed to be left inside to watch Speed Racer rather than feel the painful peck of hard snow crystals beating at my face in the storm. But this time I was out making powder turns behind Sierra’s Ski Patrol Director. Doug knew the goods and for a lesser-known resort, Sierra sure can hold its own! Tonight’s dinner of bacon-wrapped filet and brownie sundaes at True North in Northstar refueled us for tomorrow’s adventure into Northstar’s recently opened expert terrain.