A 9-Day Ski Adventure at Heavenly

After Thanksgiving, Heavenly wasn't quite ready. The artificial snow was harder than A Basin's, with hidden obstacles like stones, branches, and pine cones under the thin snow. My teammates and I had just waxed our new boards, only to have them scratched. Last Thursday, a snowstorm arrived as predicted, making skiing in the wind and snow exhilarating. Unfortunately, my teammate's glasses fogged up, causing a fall and an arm injury, though no bones were broken. As a result, I skied solo for a few days, experiencing Heavenly's sun, fog, rain, and snow from opening to closing. Whenever the sky cleared and the lake was visible, you'd hear on the lift, 'It's a lovely day in paradise.' With my previous experience skiing in Tahoe in March, this 'move' was more organized. I have great respect for Tahoe's 'food desert' reputation, so I brought four boxes of food, half a box of condiments, coffee powder, a moka pot, a milk frother, chopsticks, a slotted spoon, a stew pot, and even a pillow. I recommended Jenny's Kitchen's smoked chicken legs, braised duck wings, and scallion pancakes to Bay Area ski friends. I vacuum-sealed them in small portions, which was quite clever. The scallion pancakes are soft and fragrant after a minute in the microwave, making for a convenient quick breakfast. I bought lamb racks at Baraka Halal Market, which were tender and had a milky aroma without a gamey taste. I also vacuum-sealed them after blanching. I made hand-grabbed lamb chops and roasted lamb chops, which were easy to prepare in the vacation rental. Other ski staples included spicy hot pot and lamb hot pot, as well as tomato gnocchi soup for warming up on snowy days. The slightly more complicated dish was water-boiled beef, with beef from the nearby Whole Foods and sweet potato noodles I had brought with me. This time, I booked a vacation rental in the apartments opposite the Aerial Tram, a cute duplex with a high ceiling and large windows. I initially planned to stay for a week but extended for two more days because the lift was so convenient. I was so excited that I woke up before seven every morning, and on some days, I skied on 'noodle snow.' Before the 4 PM closing, I'd speed up to squeeze in one last run. Regardless of skill level, if Heavenly had a full attendance award for skiing, I'd be a contender. These nine days might be the most significant progress I've felt since practicing parallel skiing at Mount Buller in August. My wide stance has improved, and my weight transfer is much better. Thanks to California's beautiful ridge run, a very friendly blue trail, I was able to practice various advanced techniques. Hopefully, I won't revert to old habits on more challenging slopes next time. #HeavenlySkiing #TahoeSkiing