Morning on the skin track above Lake Tahoe. Friday's storm dropped upwards of 13" above 7,500'.
Lake Tahoe Backcountry Skiing Conditions 2025-01-05
🎥 Video below!
A lot has happened in the Lake Tahoe backcountry since our last conditions post. We left you off with the idea that the backcountry was skiing great - plenty of powder on top of a firm rain crust. Since that post, conditions have done a complete 180, and luckily recovered, resulting in a full 360 - back to powder skiing!
Tuesday was the last day to enjoy powder skiing until Friday's storm reset the brief ice age between Wednesday and Friday. Winds stripped most any soft snow down to the ice layer and for a couple of days the skiing was actually quite bad in most areas of the Tahoe backcountry - something that is rare of you know where to look!
A short, but intense storm arrived Friday afternoon that reset the snowpack. Storm totals of nearly 13" (data from UCSSL) refreshed the upper snowpack and produced some of the most intense snowfall rates I've seen anywhere. Rafts of snow crystals parachuted down like tufts of chicken feathers for close to two hours with snowfall rates in excess of 3"/hour at times. It was a magical experience just to see the snow and folks that braved the traffic to ski resorts were rewarded with deep snow for the last couple of hours on Friday.
Data from UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab showing the results of the last storm on Donner Summit.
The storm finished Friday evening and the cold temps that came in with the storm remained as the moisture dissipated. Blue skies and light winds welcomed a blue bird powder day and Saturday crowds, resulting in one of the best powder days of the season. Snow stayed cold and didn't seem to form a crust on solar aspects throughout the day.
Cold snow from Friday's storm remained cold throughout the day. Photo: Eric Seel.
The outlook for backcountry skiing conditions in Lake Tahoe is going to be largely dependent on wind and temperatures over the next few days. Daily low temperatures are dipping into the low 20s on Monday and Tuesday evening at 7,000', which should create some nice softening/faceting of the upper snowpack despite some warm daytime temps. We've also got the mid-winter low sun angle on our side with short days and less intense sun than later in the season. Winds will be the driving factor, so finding sheltered terrain will be the place to look for good snow after winds pick up into Tuesday.
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Sunday temps rose well above freezing and snow surfaces were moistened on all but the shadiest aspects. Those moist surfaces will be holding breakable crusts of various thicknesses tomorrow morning. Steeper northerly terrain will still have some cold snow to offer at higher elevations, and our guide team will be seeking out places where the soft cold stuff exists in the next few days.
Look for traverses, like the Sugar Bowl to Palisades Traverse and other long routes to come into shape in the days ahead. Conditions will allow faster movement in the backcountry as the upper snowpack settles and hardens and could make for some incredible opportunities for deeper dives into the range. The Sugar Bowl to Palisades traverse is a noteworthy objective to put on your radar if you're looking for a good way to use the sunny days ahead in the Tahoe backcountry.
Get the scoop on weather, conditions and webcams for the Tahoe backcountry here:
Here's a video showing the massive snowfall rate on Friday and the resulting turns on Saturday:
About the Author
Zeb Blaisis anIFMGA Mountain Guide andAIARE Avalanche Course Leader based in Truckee California. He loves all the disciplines of mountain guiding - ski, rock and alpine climbing - but skiing is his first love. In the winter he enjoys backcountry skiing, guiding local andinternational ski trips, and teaching avalanche courses across the west coast, from Bishop, California to Mt Baker, Washington.
