fstopandsee

The sun is setting on 2018, and we have lots to look forward to in 2019! Happy NYE!

Skiing off a cornice such as this one can be intimidating. Last weekend there was nothing but soft, slushy spring snow everywhere, so skiing over this was more like dropping into a pile of mashed potatoes than skiing over a steep drop.

It may not feel like winter yet to you, but up to three feet of snow is predicted to fall in the Sierra Nevada over the next few days. That forecast makes me ready to head out in weather like this to enjoy some fresh snow. What are you hoping to do this winter?

Red flowers stand all over the top of Squaw Valley, with The Palisades off in the distance. I like hiking here in the summer and taking pictures, but I like skiing here in the winter even more!

I can’t take all the credit for this one, a friend pointed out the way this water was curved on a hike at Squaw Valley. I took the liberty of playing with the harsh light and shadows to help bring out the curve of water.

As part of my plan to not admit that it is summer, I went skiing on Saturday. There is plenty of snow on the mountain, more than usual for this time of year, but down at the base things were looking a little bit like spring.

The cable car at Squaw Valley as it approaches its landing spot at the top. This is taken from the restaurant at High Camp, a perfect vantage point to see the magnificent cable car coming up the mountain.

This dead tree at Squaw Valley marks a shoot and rock garden area off of KT-22. It is an imposing tree as you are approaching it, which is appropriate as so is the entrance to the shoot and surrounding area. There are lots of granite rocks to hit if you aren’t careful, but the snow below makes it all worth it.

This small tree was trying to grow out of a huge piece of granite. It looks like it will have a pretty hard life ahead of it. The sky was overcast and snowy, allowing me to shoot straight into the sun and still capture the scene.