Ski Racing Magazine Summer Video Update

SKI RACING caught up with me during the USSA partner summit last weekend in Park City to see how my summer was going and to see how things were shaping up with the mens speed team for the upcoming season.

Tahoe Backpacking- Mini Glaciers Forming! Is this the start of the next Ice Age!?

It is the end of July and this week alone I have gone skiing twice here in Tahoe! Yeah there is still a lot of snow out there... it is truly amazing! It has made the hiking and backpacking conditions a little interesting this summer. I went on a short one night backpacking trip about a week ago with my dad from Donner Summit to my house in Alpine Meadows. It is an amazing route following the Pacific Crest Trail the entire time staying up high on the Anderson Ridge to Squaw and then around the back of Squaw to Alpine.  We were hiking on snow over 50% of the time! And Im not talking about little patches here and there but huge wind drift snow fields that were 10-30 feet deep! That snow is not going anywhere this summer. It will definitely stick around all the way through summer into next winter! Mini permanent snow fields are starting to form in the Tahoe Sierra! Is this the start of the new ice age? I don't know, but the fact is that you will be able to ski all summer long in places here in Tahoe and that those snow fields will stick around and refreeze when next winter takes a-hold on the Sierras!

These arn't small trees! 

The Anderson Ridge

The Benson Hut is still buried! 

A look at Squaw from the Anderson Ridge. The tree runs on Shirley should still be open! As well as Granite! 

Granite Chief Peak and National Geographic Bowl still full of snow. 

Streams still have crossable snow bridges on them. This was at our camp site at 7000'! 

Below Granite Chief Peak...

5 Lakes still partially frozen!

Skiing Today in Tahoe: The Date- July 24th!!!!

On the US Ski Team our summers are really dedicated to getting stronger and more fit. I have been looking up at the ridges the last few days and there is a ton of snow still, so why not train by hiking up a mountain with some skis and then shredding back down! I am already thinking and dreaming of skiing every day, and guess what!?... we can ski here in Tahoe still!  And its not to bad.  The sun cups are not too obtrusive and 1000+ vertical is still available!  From the looks of it today, things will be skiing well for another few weeks!  I am headed down south to New Zealand next week to start training so now I am already three ski runs up on my competition! (haha)  And Ill for sure go back out there before I leave...

John Parker slicing down 

Tahoe Summer Living!

Home and family

Tahoe is one of those special places in the world! I was lucky enough to have grown up hiking and biking on its shores and skiing in its mountains! I don't get to spend too much time here any more as I train in the summer in other places and then I travel and ski the rest of the year, but it is always nice to be back and I really try and take advantage when I am home!

Hurricane Bay

Tahoe City Farmers Market! 

Summer! 

Freezing water this summer because of the huge winter we had!

Truckee Thursdays Street Fair! 

Tree House

Leaving Canada!

I had a great time this summer living and training up in Canmore, Alberta! It is such a cool healthy town, and there are lots of activities to keep me busy and in the Mountains! Marie and I were kind of sad to have to leave our little apartment, but it was a great experience and I am always looking forward to the next adventure! I am back in Tahoe now where I will spend the next two weeks loving summer until we are off to New Zealand! I have already gone backpacking, and sailing, and done tons of mountain biking on my new Yeti! Tahoe is awesome! Here are some photos from my last few weeks in Canada.  BBQ's with friends, Bocci Ball, and hiking with Marie!