VA Lakes 2005 Ttips gathering now at Tobacco Flats Road

Tri-Ungulate · Last edited by Tri-Ungulate on Sat May 14, 2005 5:29 am; edited 3 times in total

Tobacco Flats Road, outside Mammoth Lakes, CA.

I had a few PM inquiries from folks asking if it was OK for them to come despite
1) being a lurker
2) not being a longtime poster
3) not having a lot of posts
4) not being a super-steezy spancered kick-butt tele-skier, able to chute couloirs in a single bound (on XCD’s and Snowpines, no less) and instantly read a snowpack from 10km away
5) not liking the smell of patchouli and wet wool.

Unlike some other boards it doesn't really seem to matter how core you are and matters even less how much time you waste posting to this forum - everyone is invited.

I can add is that I was a newbie to last year's gathering and received nothing but open-armed welcome from the rest of the crew, and I'm certain this same spirit will pervade this years' get-together.

Open questions:

Potluck on Saturday? Organizing can fall along what you might consider bringing (grillable carnivorous material, salad, starch, green jello with carrot shreds (a local Ootah favorite), Tofu-seed-and-granola cake, etc. etc.)

Fire: would one or more fire pans be useful? Where should we get firewood?

Anybody interested in a Full Moon Tour on Monday (or earlier, though the ‘official’ Full Moon is the 23rd) ?

‘Official’ FRS radio channel for nnnnerds carrying radios? (For simplicity sake, shall we make it 1-1?)

Dweeb report – Mammoth Weather

Telenater’s hi-res map of the Tobacco Flats area

TopoZone of the area for you to play with.
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Tri-Ungulate · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:36 am Post subject:

Weekend set for May 21-22+/- days on each end. Some people meeting at Mammoth on Thursday/Friday.

Current roster of interested parties:

steeleman · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 1027 Location: Paradise 94920

could be awhile till that opens. soulskier skied it recently:
http://www.thebackcountry.net/board/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=456

Whiteout · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 1488

Not the first weekend in May. After that.

jfb · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2403 Location: Buzerkely

HOO YEAH! Looks like late May anyway. Dave (a.k.a. Banker) and I were just talking about getting this thread going. Look forward to meeting Tri-U and the rest of the gang.
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"It's turns! 'Course it's worth the hike" -MrP

Dave (aka Banker) · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 5:56 am Post subject:

Doods,
I gotsta' check the index more often. Just started a thread o' my own. Ooops. Idea is there, points for that. Thinking late May with the prodigious snow pack.

Sierra Fred · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 289 Location: in the moment

From past experience, that VA Lakes road is often one of the first to open, often before Eastside Tioga. I think they really make an effort to get it open for the fishing opener last weekend in April. Two years ago some of the dirt roads around there were even plowed.

May 21-22 sounds great.
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Heh, I know this place. You know you are on a telemark site when peep's concerns about new gear center on the "downside" that the new gear might make skiing somehow easier or different.
-Cowdog, Sept 8, 2009

jfb · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2403 Location: Buzerkely

Dave had a good proposal for the weekend immediately prior to Memorial Day (May 20-21st). Good for starters anyway. He had a good link for the '03 gathering, too http://www.tahoebackcountry.net/features/virginia03/ginny2.htm Our own were lost in the hack.
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"It's turns! 'Course it's worth the hike" -MrP

Matt R · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 6:22 am Post subject:

I'm all over it! All weekends in May are already committed to Sierra backcountry skiing. I'm also planning a five-day Eastern Sierra tour over Memorial Day weekend.

Now, should I buy one of those early-90's AWD minivans on Craigslist and start working on a DIY camper conversion?
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Think: It's Patriotic

Eric O · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 5333 Location: Tahoe City

I can't make ANY weekends (I work them all) so I'll have to continue my persistent streak as a professional Virginia Lakes no-show. That, and the terrain's boring!

seki · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 6385 Location: Gone

Let me know the date and I'm there!

There are a couple of great things about Ginny Lakes. It has terrain for all abilities, it has very close car camping, and all can congregate at the end of the road to watch others ski while partaking in the social aspect... that, and the camoflauged outfitted ice fishermen/women. Who knew camo helped in the catching of fish!

Shieldzy, where are you?

jfb · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2403 Location: Buzerkely

Eric O · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 5333 Location: Tahoe City

Sorry, that remark of mine was unnecessary. I just have to get my mind off of Black Mountain and think a little wider area. Luminary, ha!

jmm3 · Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 123 Location: So-Cal

I'm in this year. May sounds good - unless i'm skiing in norway at that time!

Snow Weasel · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 2830 Location: Somewhere Else

So, it looks like I've got 2 1/2 months to learn how to ski!
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Montani Semper Liberi

Pride goeth before a face plant.