Wednesday Night > Sunday Night
Jet Blue to Sacramento $270
Get to Tahoe right before the dumping starts, leave when its ending. At this point its just me and Im not crazy about braving a storm like this alone on the road. Check out the report and shoot me an email if youre interested. gottajiboo at hotmail.

Check it out...
Severe Weather Alert from the National Weather Service

...GREATER LAKE TAHOE AREA-GREATER RENO-CARSON CITY-MINDEN AREA-LASSEN- EASTERN PLUMAS-EASTERN SIERRA COUNTIES- MINERAL AND SOUTHERN LYON COUNTIES-MONO-NORTHERN WASHOE COUNTY- SURPRISE VALLEY CALIFORNIA- WESTERN NEVADA BASIN AND RANGE INCLUDING PYRAMID LAKE- 300 PM PST TUE JAN 4 2005
... ANOTHER POWERFUL WINTER STORM POSSIBLE BY THIS WEEKEND OVER THE EASTERN SIERRA AND EXTREME WESTERN NEVADA...

A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OFF THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST IS FORECAST TO MOVE ONSHORE THURSDAY NIGHT BRINGING AREAS OF RAIN AND SNOW TO WESTERN NEVADA AND THE EASTERN SIERRA. SNOW LEVELS COULD INITIALLY START OUT ABOVE THE VALLEY FLOORS THURSDAY NIGHT BUT WILL DROP ON FRIDAY AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA.

AN INTENSE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP OFF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST COAST BY FRIDAY NIGHT WHILE ABUNDANT PACIFIC MOISTURE AND A STRONG JET STREAM PUSHES INTO THE SIERRA. THIS WEATHER PATTERN WOULD BE FAVORABLE FOR PRODUCING A PROLONGED PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOWFALL IN THE SIERRA AND INTO THE VALLEYS OF NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA AND EXTREME WESTERN NEVADA. THIS PATTERN WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THE DECEMBER 30 AND 31 SNOWSTORM... WITH SEVERAL FEET OF SNOW ACCUMULATION LIKELY IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE SIERRA. IN THE VALLEYS AND FOOTHILLS... SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATION IS ALSO POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WEST OF HIGHWAY 395.

PEOPLE PLANNING TRAVEL IN THE SIERRA OR WESTERN NEVADA LATER THIS WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND SHOULD MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ON THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEATHER SITUATION. DRIVING CONDITIONS MAY BE COMPLICATED BY EXISTING HEAVY SNOW COVER IN THE VALLEYS OF WESTERN NEVADA AND NORTHEAST CALIFORNIA. PREPARATIONS FOR THIS STORM SHOULD BE COMPLETED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

It's amazing what's going on out there in California. Apparently even the mtns way down by LA are getting bombed. But Tahoe is ridiculous! It's one thing to enjoy a fresh Eastern-style 12" snowfall, but 6-9' in three days like they had last weekend is too much, turning the roads into a hazardous gridlock and accompanied by whiteout conditions and 100 mph wind gusts that close many lifts. That kind of intensity is very foreign to most of us mid-Atlantic types and takes the pursuit of powder to a new level. Did you hear that they had an INBOUNDS avalanche at Sugarbowl that nearly got some people killed? Hate to sound wimpy, but some caution until the snow settles and the roads clear might be in order.

Now that I've scared you off, I've got a flight booked into Sacramento for $198

...except I don't fly until March.

I'm thinking of taking an extended weekend over the inauguration period and driving to Stowe with my wife. For two people, the car is still the cheapest alternative. Because of its extreme northerly location, it looks like Stowe may get some decent snowfall over the next two weeks, although I'm always a bit concerned about VT in January. It's either cold as heck or rainy and icy.

Can anyone suggest the best driving route to Stowe?

Jim-

You definitely havent scared me off, have you ever seen the snow plows they use out in Tahoe? Theyre monsters that look capable of clearing an entire eastern storm in one pass. At any rate, I dont think this storm is supposed to hit as hard as the last with only 3 to 4 feet. My fear is not necessarily driving around up there as I would definitely rent something 4WD but driving around up there alone. Im not that familiar with the area and a blizzard always makes things look different. I guess Im just a chicken but at one point last night I was considering renting an SUV and doubling it as my hotel room, just park at the base of Kirkwood and let it snow! Doesnt look like I have any takers on the big plan but a friend told me he could go on Sunday > Wednesday so I guess theres still hope. Im just concerned that the basin will be snowed in by then and Ill be snowed out rather than snowed in...and thats never good. Still time to change your mind and head up this weekend...you know you want to! <- Guess now Im a pusher too!

Jonesin' for pow...
-Pig