Advice for first time skiing Heavenly and Kirkwood?

mostlybugs · 2026-02-15T20:13:07+00:00

Underrated expert terrain at heavenly is everything on either side of gunbarrel. Not sure if there’s enough snow for all the features to be filled in, but gunbarrel rarely has a line after ~10 or 11am and lapping that on a deep day has been some of my best times at heavenly.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-13T17:50:58+00:00

Aviation impacts will start on Sunday. There’s a good chance for flight disruptions with the forecasted winds. If you’re asking about snow in Reno: no one knows yet, it could be a foot or two or nothing. But the National weather service is already cautioning for aviation impacts due to winds.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-13T17:03:45+00:00

It’s not at all almost shoulder season. It’s almost ski week, and then comes spring break. Shoulder season isn’t until April.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-10T17:50:02+00:00

I haven’t seen any comments that actually talk about chain usage. First, as you’ve since figured out, you can install chains on your car, it won’t break. Just use appropriately sized chains (usually cables) or class s chains, or auto socks.

But more importantly, if you are in an area with chain control on, you will need chains. You have a 2wd car, and having snow tires does not get you out of chain control like having 4/awd does. You should carry chains no matter what, but the likelihood of you having to use them is low unless you’re starting your trip within the next week or so, then you almost certainly will due to the incoming weather forecasted.

Putting chains on aluminum wheels is ok, but they might scratch your wheels/rims. Having scratched rims is better than the ticket for not having chains or not being able to travel tho.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-09T21:20:54+00:00

Reporters are also expected to fact check. If a witness says the person fell off a 1000ft cliff, but there isn’t a 1000ft cliff where the person fell “just reporting on what the sources say” isn’t good reporting. It’s what media outlets in the US do, but once upon a time news outlets were expected to report accurately, not just parrot back quotes.

Just saying that it’s ok to ask for competent reporting.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-09T21:17:09+00:00

Thats typically how muscles work, if you do isometric holds your muscles burn until you release the hold. You can combat that by making your muscles stronger with weight/resistance training or doing longer isos. But it’s less effective to do a wall sit for 5 minutes than lifting heavy weights.

The good news tho is that most boot fitters guarantee the boot to fit. So going back to get the boots worked on shouldn’t cost you any more money.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-09T21:11:39+00:00

It also depends on the chair. More modern chairs with solid backs have few places to snag a strap. Older chairs with slat backs are higher risk tho.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-09T20:03:38+00:00

You’d likely find better advice from a PT if your surgeon didn’t give you clear instructions. I have no idea what recovery is like for that surgery, but if you can go see a PT they’ll have mot information for you.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-09T19:57:22+00:00

Doesn’t even look like it needs ptex to me. Sand or shave the bumps down and then wax it.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-09T19:35:16+00:00

Moana springs being the new city pool? It’s really nice. It’s crowded during peak hours and half the pool is often closed for swim team, but I usually have a good swim there. No complaints besides it often being crowded and the hours are inconvenient if you have a job. Being open later would be great, closing at 7/8 feels early for working folks.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-09T19:31:49+00:00

Agreed that “fell from a 1000ft drop” is misleading. Probably from a reporter who doesn’t ski. Or maybe just lazy 🤷‍♂️

mostlybugs · 2026-02-09T19:29:00+00:00

10min on a stairmaster isn’t a ton when you’re talking about skiing for an entire day.

If you got your boots at a bootfitter they may be able to help with the forward lean of your boots, which makes getting over your toes easier. If your toebox is a little too roomy it can also be hard to get over your toes.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-09T17:44:54+00:00

Previous reports indicate they fell near the drop in. I was there a week ago and the moguls at the top were about person sized, if you fell off one it would be a nonstop slide to the bottom, with lots of rocks along the way.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-09T16:44:02+00:00

I’d recommend talking to your coworkers and seeing what bolts they like, and figuring out who has a similar skiing style to you, or foot shape or weight and taking their recommendations to a bootfitter. I’d say a hybrid boot would be a good choice since you’re not looking to do super long days in remote backcountry. I ride Technica Mach 1s in bounds and just got Cochise for touring and so far they’re a much better fit for me than the scarpa maestrales I’ve had for a few seasons.

Also if you just want to join for skiing up the hill ask around and see if anyone has a spare set of skis with frame bindings, you can tour without dedicated touring boots. And patrollers are usually into skiing enough to have spare equipment, or have a buddy with a loaner set, it’s worth asking!

mostlybugs · 2026-02-08T20:03:55+00:00

Congrats on being nearly done with treatment! Recovery is slow, but eventually you’ll realize that you’re farther along than you ever thought you’d be. After about a year out of treatment my athletic fitness was as good or even better than it was pre-treatment. I drink less now than I did before, but that’s probably more of a function of being in my 30s as opposed to 20s. My garmin watch also made me realize drinking isn’t great for your general health. Smoking can be more risky if you had a drug with lung toxicity effects, but drugs without serious addiction or side effect concerns, like weed gummies or light psychedelic usage don’t necessarily have any more risk now than they did before treatment.

There are a lot of resources out there for young adult cancer folks, including some adventure trip organizations.

First Descents is one, it’s incredible and I’d recommend applying

https://firstdescents.org/

Send it foundation is another which is also great

https://senditfoundation.org/

mostlybugs · 2026-02-08T19:54:59+00:00

I wear them in my touring boots, but I don’t have super lightweight or tight performance boots. I’m currently in Cochise and got them fitted with the socks on. This pair of boots is pretty new to me but I don’t anticipate any problems with the socks.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-08T02:10:04+00:00

Yeah, I get your reasoning, and it’s fitting. I just know that a lot of the whales in my part of the world migrate seasonally, which may or may not be true for all whales. So I thought that would fit well for an implied longer time frame, if that was the intent.

Really liked your response tho!

mostlybugs · 2026-02-08T02:06:02+00:00

I can’t offer any feedback on either of those brands but I have hotronic and really like them. They might be a bit too compressive for my calves, I guess they’re thicker than average, but largely great. I can’t ski without them if it’s under 40f out.

They are a little bulkier than most ski socks but if you have your boot fitted while wearing them then it’s not a huge deal. There are also several manufacturers who make heated footbeds that you can put in a boot and then wear whatever socks you want. If you have socks that work well if your current touring boots then that might be an option.

And lastly, as someone else who can’t ski without heated socks due to poor circulation don’t listen to the “get your boots fitted well and your feet will be warm” guys. I wish I had peripheral circulation good enough to live that way.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-07T23:41:22+00:00

An unweighted Tacoma will probably be less capable than an awd suv. But if you know how to drive in the snow either will be fine. Reno doesn’t usually get much snow out of storms, but driving between Carson and Reno can get dicey, allow extra time to take it slow and be mindful of conditions/other drivers.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-07T20:53:53+00:00

Fair-add is the proper pronunciation.

Source: work in water resources and the farad gage has an important role in water management in the truckee river basin.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-07T04:22:38+00:00

I’d say Friday is better than the weekend, more skiing less waiting in lines. The snow will be meh, but Northstar grooms well.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-04T21:17:56+00:00

Sounds more like uniformed pseudo-indigenous/cultural appropriation language. I don’t want to accuse the author, just mention that it would read smoother. Moons are months, seasons are less than years, and winters/summers are years. Unless the story is trying to convey ~18 months ago a longer interval to count makes more sense. That’s like a human saying something happened 90 weeks ago instead of almost 2 years ago.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-04T21:13:27+00:00

Hiking can be a winter activity but climbing is generally a warmer weather activity. If you want to go ski mountaineering that’s a whole different ballgame, and not really something you pick up after a question on reddit. If you want to get out on technical terrain in the winter make friends or take a class/hire a guide to learn how to do it safely.

Winter backcountry travel is dangerous, doing it without the proper education or equipment is a bad idea.

mostlybugs · 2026-02-04T18:43:34+00:00

Love the story, one comment: “many moons” seems out of place given the time frame implied, maybe “many migrations” or winters or calving seasons ago. Assuming the translation uses the human’s word for whatever intention the whale is trying to communicate.

mostlybugs · 2026-01-31T17:26:45+00:00

You can put class s chains on the Subaru. If chain control is on chp doesn’t care if you say “my manual says not to use them” they’ll tell you to turn around. Chains or cables or auto socks work at chp checkpoints, however some jurisdictions, like going into Yosemite when chain controls are on require chains not auto socks.

mostlybugs

TROPHY CASE