January 16, 2005
Trimmer Peak - Seeking Remnant Pow with the Larsen brothers and company
Joe, Will, Bob, Michelle, Collin, Mike and Girlfriend
Bob and I had been trying to hook up for some B.C. skiing all year, but just hadn't made it happen yet. That changed on Sunday when Bob invited me to join his group for a venture back to his favorite Tahoe B.C. stash - Trimmer Peak. Equally as significant, Bob's brother Will was up for the weekend and would be joining us on the trek. Will was my first and best ski partner through our wild high school days. We did plenty of things both off and on the snow, that we should not have walked away from - but we always did. It had been at least 10 years since Will and I had made a few turns together, so I was thrilled to meet up with Will again.
Trimmer Peak is the easily recognized peak with the two giant slide paths in the foreground of Freel Peak to the south of South Lake Tahoe. However, it is on the fringe of the backcountry skiing radar screen for most folks on the south shore. Having just laid first tracks down the Cross on Tallac the previous day in transitioning snow, I was expecting similar conditions on Trimmer. I'm glad to report I was wrong.
With hangovers, fresh cinnamon rolls in bellies, and amongst a few pissed off remarks about my 7:00 AM start time, we skinned from the High Meadow neighborhood up the High Meadow access road. It's the same route we pedal up in the summer on our mountain bikes (as reported Here). It's not as brutal on skis. We left the road after the long and rolling hill tops out. From there the route traverses around "2nd shot" and back to the looker's right side of the slide paths. The skin through the old growth forest is steep, efficient and beautiful. We were blessed with a refreshing veil of snowfall from a passing storm. Low clouds obscured the views, while broken skies made for brilliant spot lights on the distant mountains of Desolation. A chilly wind whipped about on the top, and hastened our preparations for the descent. We found incredibly fun wintry consolidated powder for the entire length of the slide path. The open spaces of the path were a blast to fly down. Arcing through the spacious old giants to the side was a rhythmic religion. While the little slide path saplings offered a course for quick darting turns and decisions. A fabulous line, with a bit of an approach to keep the crowds away........I'll be back.
Trimmer Slide Path and Views from the top on a gray day: 
It bears repeating; Super Sweet Consolidated Powder.
Bob 
Michelle
Mike and Girlfriend Collin
Will
Even more significant than the stellar skiing, was the time spent with old friends. Will and I did a fair bit of growing up together in the hills and mountains of El Dorado County. Although years may pass when we may not see one another, he showed up at my doorstep when I was in big trouble with cancer a few years back. He spent some quality time with me; talking, listening, encouraging. He and Bob left for the Himalayas shortly after their visit with me. I asked Will to think a positive thought for me in a powerful place should he find such a place in the grandest of mountains. Not only did Will do that, but he brought me home a map of the region with an X on the exact spot that positive thought was pondered. He told me to get better and go check it out myself. I plan on doing that, just as soon as I've finished raising these great girls. Will is still the world traveler and I'm a happy father of four. But it was like no time had passed when we met again for a day of skiing in the snowy mountains.......except Will is now a tele-master.
.......and I would return to Trimmer in less than a month as reported here.