Mar 29th: Surrealistic Spring Pow Day at Palisades Tahoe

Snowboarder in fresh deep powder.
Snowboarder in fresh deep powder.

The conditions today were all-time miracle March, with over a foot of fresh snow, cold temps, and a bit of sun; it was midwinter pow day mode. The mountain was ripping, from the fast, untracked chutes and steeps of KT22, to the open bowls of Broken Arrow.   

This report was written by Ryan Williams.

KT22

It was a fabulous morning walking over to the lift just after eight, with the sun popping out, showcasing the fantastic new snow from the storm over the past few days. The temps were cold, keeping the snow glistening and looking prime. KT looked incredible, and with the deep snowpack this season, the lines are filled in beyond. It was a go-time kind of vibe in line. 

KT22.

Heading up the lift, The Fingers race was on, and it was a treat to watch some of our friends send a few of the classics and point The Box. The conditions were looking prime. The stoke was high. At the top, it was awesome to see how well the storm had evenly filled in all aspects. All the zones looked terrific. 

KT22 to Olympic Lady.

Olympic Lady was holding some untracked, top-to-bottom, so we jammed out there. It was so great seeing so many friends out today. It was a party wave dropping in, with high fives all around. We jammed out the traverse, ducking under the chair—that’s completely buried now—and heading right down the fall line to diagonal chute. The new snow was incredible – blower pow, like mid-winter, over a foot deep. Cold, fast, smooth, and so incredibly good. The chute, bowl, and drops were excellent today; full-throttle powder, top to bottom. 

Olympic Lady.

With the deep snowpack and pow, today was a great time to hit some of the classic drops that are usually huge and, in this season’s conditions, a bit more tame. This was this buzz around the line and mountain today. It was awesome. From The Fingers to Waterfall Cliffs, Granite Chief, Broken Arrow, and more. The conditions were so good, with progression and stoke around the slopes.  

Olympic Lady.
Olympic Lady.
Olympic Lady.

The snow on Olympic Lady was so good and filled in so well from this storm we continued to lap our favorite zones repeatedly. We then traversed out to Heidi’s. It was also a blast to get out there today. The snow on East Face and Red Dog Ridge was incredible, filled in so well, and cold, deep snow. Dropping into Heidi’s, the snow was excellent, from the top open section, down through the big old-growth trees. This zone was awesome and quiet on this morning’s pow session. 

Heidi’s.

Rock Garden

We got to Rock Garden after several laps on Olympic Lady, so we figured it might be tracked out. Fortunately, the upper mountain opening still held some great pow stashes after 10am. We headed into the Rock Garden proper to enjoy the steep chutes, fantastic rock features, and great pow. Love this zone. It is so wild to ride this area, so filled in this season. The chutes are totally different and a new level of fun. Top to bottom, superb conditions. 

Rock Garden.

Broken Arrow

Heading to the upper mountain, the day’s weather changed from sunshine to storm, with snow flying. Taking Wa She Shu up and seeing how well Tower 16 and Broken Arrow filled in was great. We jammed over via Big Blue to the Broken Arrow hike. The great vibe of friends and awesome pow day continued into Broken Arrow. The stoke was high. The conditions held some awesome untracked pow, and the terrain looked prime. 

Broken Arrow.

As we dropped in, the sun popped out, and the visibility was back on with the excellent pow conditions. From the steeps and spines to the wind lips and bowls, the pow and terrain in Broken Arrow was ripping today. It was nice to have the temps stay cold today, keeping the snow fast and wintery blower pow. Today was truly a surrealistic day for March. Awesome pow day conditions all around the mountain. 

Broken Arrow.
Olympic Lady.
Olympic Lady.
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