Trip Report - Forestdale Divide Backcountry

[jjue]

Forestdale divide is a great backcountry area near Kirkwood in the Tahoe area . There is a nice easy snow covered road that provides touring access to the area and a variety of descent options from extreme to moderate . We chose the moderate option today in order to preview this area for those planning on doing this backcountry trip during Shredfest 2 .

This used to be a mixed use area with snowmobiles as well as skiers , now the snowmobiles have been outlawed and the whole area is much quieter and less crowded then when the snowmobilers were there .

Here is the trail head with a large no snowmobile sign .

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0863.jpg

Here is my son Jordan and my buddy Cliff . Jordan is on his first backcountry trip on a skiboard!

He is an expert backcountry snowboarder but on this more moderate trip wanted to try skiboarding .. He has only been on the Summit 125 once before last year at the ski area and is a neophyte skiboarder for sure . Nice that he is game and also nice to have him along to break trail .. 16 year olds have boundless energy for sure .

Cliff is on waxless ( fishscale based ) long telemark skis . Jordan and I have climbing skins on our skiboards . Thanks Cliff for shooting vids !!!

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0854-1.jpg

I am on my 2010 Condors with Revel8 Receptor bindings ,with touring cables .

Here is a vid of in Tour mode on my Condors .. ps . I don't have to give away my condors and get long skis ..;)! Cliff is not faster because he is on long skis he is faster because he is not using skins ( he has a fishscale cross country ski base ) and we are on a bit of a downhill ..

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[jjue]

Here is a nice wide open moderate slope at the end of our morning tour .
Backcountry snow is not always perfect pow .. and this snow is a bit heavy , wind and sun affected , so it is a little tricky , but Jordan is game on his very first backcountry run on the Marauders ... ( he had a great time on skiboards and got the hang of them quickly in tricky backcountry pow ... no falls
and he says he plans on alternating between skiboards and snowboards in the backcountry) . I continue to have a really fantastic time on my Condors in backcountry snow ,super stable , super easy to turn , plenty of float and speed!

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[jjue]

Here is Jordan having lunch in the meadow after our first descent , nice sunny spot ..
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_0860.jpg

We climbed up and did another run and then headed back out ..

Here is an overview of the Forestdale area . A bit windy in the late afternoon .
Not much snow on the south facing steep slopes yet , but that should change dramatically over the next two weeks with a huge El Nino weather event on tap ...

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[slow]

Thanks for sharing Jack. Even with the wind, it seems like you had a great father/son day in the backcountry.

I always enjoy the photos and videos. Cliff's comments were a nice touch and entertaining.

Please keep sharing.

[jjue]

Thanks for sharing Jack. Even with the wind, it seems like you had a great father/son day in the backcountry.

I always enjoy the photos and videos. Cliff's comments were a nice touch and entertaining.

Please keep sharing.

Thanks Slow .. I am especially happy that my teenage son actually enjoys touring and climbing and riding in the backcountry with a couple of old farts instead of just presuring me to go to the resort !

Here are some more vids and pic that Cliff sent me this morning . Thanks Cliff !

Father and son at the trail head .. really cool that the trail head starts right outside our van !

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l88/jjue/IMG_1149.jpg

[jjue]

Here is a short vid showing off the Condor/Receptor Tour binding

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[jjue]

Here is Cliff showing off our private stash .. no other riders have been here since the storm several days ago , totally untracked ...

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[jjue]

Here is me having some more fun in pow on my new Condors !

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[wjeong]

Jack,

Real nice post. Thanks, Wendell

[slow]

"Here is me having some more fun in pow on my new Condors !"

The Condors look effortless to turn in powder. Or is just rider skill? ;)