Posted by Curtis Fong on Feb 13, 2018
Thursday, January 25: Departure for NASJA Group, but continuing on the road The NASJA Western Winter Summit Meeting officially ended this morning with a bus departing at 8:00am, taking participants back to the Spokane airport for departures… Dan and I, along with Hula-Gan planned to continue on the road with more skiing destinations in Alberta, Canada as well as back through Whitefish, Montana, Silver Mountain, Idaho and Alta, Utah… We opted to spend an additional night in Nelson, but decided to drive out to Red Mountain Ski Resort out of nearby Rossland, BC, Canada and about an hour drive away… We packed our boots and gear and headed out, following the directions of the GPS Mapping unit in the car… On route, we encountered a traffic delay with a roll over truck and accident that stopped traffic in both directions… and yes, it was snowing again with slick roads and everyone trying to get somewhere in a hurry… By the time we got to Red Mountain, there was a long chain of cars attempting to get into the parking lot… We followed the flow and found one of the last 5 parking spaces in a lower lot… Geeze… this was a Thursday and why so many skiers & riders? We over heard some skiers stating that the power was out at Whitewater and everyone decided to drive to Red Mountain because you can’t pass up a powder day… We were glad that we made that decision but knew there would be lines on this day. Red Mountain was on the road trip in 2012 when I had my hip replaced, but have had the opportunity to ski it two years ago on a similar road trip and was able to ski all the pods offered… Red Mountain has 2,877 acres of lift-serviced terrain with 110 marked runs, served by 7 Lifts… It also boasts 2,919 feet of vertical and is a good size mountain with 5 different pods… http://www.redresort.com This is a fun mountain… And is one of the only Ski Areas that one can make and investment in and be a part owner… http://www.redresort.com/ownthemountain/ Clouds were moving in and out over the top of the mountain and the call of more fresh snow thru-out the morning set up for perfect conditions… We headed up the Silverlode Chair then jumped on the Motherlode to the top of Granite Mountain at...
Read More
Posted by Curtis Fong on Feb 10, 2018
Road Trip 2018: January 21-25: NASJA Western Winter Summit at Schweitzer & Whitewater Sunday, January 21: Heading North to Sandpoint Idaho Morning came early, especially when one is attempting to sleep on the couch, but another cloudy day with light snow falling in McCall… We packed up the gear and decided to go the infamous Pancake House for breakfast… This place is a local’s favorite and features Cinnamon Rolls that are so huge, it consumes the entire plate. I did not go for that but for a more traditional eggs, sausage & pancakes breakfast… to which I did not even come close to finishing… http://mccallpancakehouse.com We hit the road around 8:00am and caught Hwy 95 at New Meadows and headed north to Sandpoint, Idaho, via Coeur d’Alene… This was a long drive but also had great scenery along the way… Skies were somewhat clear and the sun popped out as we drove over Nez Perce Pass… We stopped short of Coeur d’Alene in Plummer, Idaho, at a Native American gas / smoke / souvenir shop to stretch and grab a cup of coffee… As I was taking a few photos of Hula-Gan at this stop, a guy got out of a vehicle, walking up to the building and said hello, and, “Aren’t you with NASJA”? I took a second look and really didn’t recognize him, but replied, “Yes, and how did you know”? He replied that we had met at a previous NASJA Meeting and a conversation started from there… John Brice was a corporate member of NASJA and I told him, that Dan and I were heading to Schweitzer to attend this year’s Western Winter Summit Meeting… He said, he had let his membership laps, but was returning from making turns at a couple of smaller resorts… This “perhaps” meeting blew me away… middle of nowhere stop and to run into a person who was an acquaintance… This use to happen more frequently and blow Dan’s mind… Back in the day… early 90 thru late 2000’s, when I hosted the K-MTN TV, morning Mountain Resort Report at Lake Tahoe and then co-hosted and produced the Lake Tahoe Today show with RSN Network… I guess I was considered a celebrity and people would stop me and ask, “Hey, aren’t you Curtis Fong, The Guy From Tahoe”? I recall these situations happening in a restaurant in Aspen, Colorado; as well...
Read More
Posted by Curtis Fong on Feb 7, 2018
Road Trip 2018: January 18-20: On the Road / Bogus Basin / Brundage Thursday, January 18, 2018: On the Road Again… Subaru Packed and set up with Studded snow tires… plus, had the front rally bar with the PIAA fogs installed… Dogs fed… Dog sitters briefed… Filled the tank last night and now ready to hit the road on this year’s adventure in search of snow… Every winter is different and this season with it’s slow start at Lake Tahoe, hitting the road with my buddy, Dan Giesin has always been a traditional Rite of Winter for many years as countless visits to other resorts planned before and after, all centered around joining our associates at our annual NASJA (North American Snowsports Journalists Association) Western Winter Summit Meeting…http://nasja.org For the past two years, we have added a travel mascot… Hula-Gan the “Hula Ski Powder Monkey” and with him joining us on this year’s road trip, we are hoping he brings us good luck in finding fresh snow and real powder. This year’s NASJA’s meeting is set to start Sunday evening, January 21 at Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho, then move to Nelson, British Columbia, Canada to ski Whitewater and finish up the morning of January 25… We planned to ski Bogus Basin and Brundage Mountain Resort before heading north to Sandpoint and Schweitzer… Dan and I headed out to eventually hit Interstate 80 to Winnemucca, NV… From there, after a stop at Subway for a bite, we headed north on Hwy 95 towards McDermott, thru the Jordan Valley and to the Boise, Idaho… We’ve made this drive a few times before and the mountaintops along the route had some white stuff, but just on the tops… there have been winters where these were covered with snow, but not this year. Not meant to be a commercial, but we have been use to staying at Holiday Inn Express… https://www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels/us/en/boise/boidt/hoteldetail This, now an upgrade from the early days of our road trips staying a Super 8’s, because of free internet… and, sometimes being frustrated attempting to work out their hotel rooms, especially a few years back, when I would kick Dan out of the room to record my radio ski reports, edit the recording and file transfer it back to the radio station… Sometimes the internet would take so long to transfer it, and yes, I would curse and wait for...
Read More
Posted by Curtis Fong on Jan 17, 2018
Road Trip 2018 Hey skiers & riders… Hoping that Mother Nature delivers in the next few weeks to grace Tahoe Resorts with plenty of snow and Winter will actually arrive! In the meantime, Dan Giesin and I, along with Hula-Gan, the Powder Monkey, will be departing on our annual road trip in search of powder turns and ski adventures… We will be on the road starting January 18 and returning February 4, 2018… We always time this ritual with our NASJA (North American Snowsports Journalists Association) Western Winter Summit meeting that scheduled to meet, January 21 at Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho. The meeting will continue transferring to Whitewater Resort out of Nelson, BC Canada, January 23… This year we will ski many other resorts before and after the meeting to include: Bogus Basin, Brundage, Tamarack before the meeting. Then, Red Mountain, Banff Lake Louise, Sunshine… then returning from Canada, via Whitefish, Montana; Silver Mountain, Idaho and finishing up at Alta & Snowbird in Utah… 12 different resorts over an 18 day road trip… Follow our Ski Adventures here on my website www.BikeandSkiTahoe.com or my BikeandSkiTahoe.com Facebook Page: or my personal Facebook...
Read More
Posted by Curtis Fong on Jan 11, 2018
Lake Tahoe Entertainer Magazine January 2018 Article By; Curtis Fong “The Guy From Tahoe” Happy New Year Lake Tahoe! Okay Mother Nature… What’s Up? The Holidays have come and gone and the locals have recaptured their slopes, or should I say, the portions of the slopes that are open and we keep doing the snow dance and praying for snow, hoping winter will eventually arrive… When is that Big Winter Storm coming? There’s no greater feeling of satisfaction than getting that BIG, 2-3 day, “Winter Storm Warning” kind of Storm… One of “Those kind of Storms” that dumps 4 to 6 feet of snow at a time… One of “Those kind of Storms” that Snowplows can’t keep up with, that require chain controls and causing numerous spin-outs snarling all the roadways… One of “Those kind of Storms” that forces us to break out the snow shovels and curse, several times within hours, to have to clear the snow from our front porches and decks… just so we can get in and out of our houses… One of “Those kind of Storms” that we curse the neighborhood snowplows for not clearing our streets and when they do, they leave a 4-foot burm, causing us to shovel that too and wishing we had bought a snow blower… and, at the same time, knowing a snow blower still won’t take care of shoveling the roof… One of “Those kind of Storms” that causes Panic when the grocery store shelves are emptied, because delivery trucks are stuck on the other side of the pass… Or, your favorite store or restaurant is closed, because none of their employees can get to work… Or you can’t get to work… You know what I’m talking about… Oh yes… One of “Those kind of Storms” when in the aftermath, our ears are treated to the Sweet Sounds of Booms! Yes! Chest vibrating Booming Explosions, as resorts attempt to dig out and prepare their mountain to fire up their lifts allowing us to descend bottomless powder… We need one of “Those kind of Storms”… When is that Big Winter Storm Coming, I ask again… I’m wearing out the bottoms of my ski boots from doing the Snow Dance and my palms are glued together from continuously Praying for Snow! Got to hand it to the resorts that continued to make snow and thank goodness that we had...
Read More
