Lake Tahooe ho ho

The past weekend was really great. I went to look for my dearie in San Francisco, my favourite city, on Friday, and we rode with Yuyuan to Lake Tahoe for the weekend.

I took the earliest flight to SF, and spent the day walking the streets.... how I love SF.

I have always been a fan of places with snow (as a visitor of course), and this trip to Tahoe further confirmed that.

It really filled me with awe, at the sight of a place completely convered white with fresh snow. Even in the dark, I was admiring the great views outside, the little that I could see. This has been one great blessing from God. All the way till 3 days before (Tuesday), there hasnt been any snow, and all these that we see, were actually greens. Not that it's any worse (i actually think it is, but anyway..), we would have to snowboard on man made snow, which besides the lack of visual enjoyment, would not have been as fun to (hearsay). Thank GOD!


We had an interesting first day learning how to snowboard at the Heavenly Resort (yes, the name). A very comprehensive and good lesson at a really high price ($140). We were working on our forward "falling leaves" for the remainder of the day.The slope wasnt exactly great, but we hung around till close to its close. The weather was bad, as the snow fall from the previous two days has continued. It took so much out of me, and I was completely and utterly exhausted at the end of the day.


It was concluded that, due to the late snowfall resulting in the many nicer slopes not being opened, there werent any good slopes for beginners like us to enjoy the process. And to be completely honest, I missed the Skis, which was much less tiring, and something i have a little more confidence with.

Yuyuan decided that we should try another resort, which he feels that will allow us to enjoy the snowboarding more. Little did we know, it turned out to be the perfect day.

We started the morning(waking up at 7am... getting training for the trip with Tim) to beautiful Heavenly resort (as the name suggest). Went around taking some great pictures, honing my photo taking skills. It wasnt exactly a big resort, so we took off earlier than we planned at 930am.

It was followed with a superb drive to our destination. Due to the fresh snowfall over the previous 3 days (ok I forgot to mention that Sunday was a perfectly warm day!), everything looked great! The trees were covered with snow, but yet the roads were cleared of them, due to the sun coming out. Everywhere you turn, you feel that is a photo worthy moment. Each turn the car made, we were fed with an awesome sight. All in all, it is one of those trips that you dont want to end.

We stopped at one of the boat launch area into the lake. And took some great pictures again. It is a really great place!

After about an hour's drive, we reached North Star at Tahoe. A less touristy resort, but great ski place and beautiful too nonetheless. We were planning to purchase a half day life, and a half day rental at the resort. A first look at the price board, $35 for half day ticket, and about $40 for the rental. $80 bugs... much cheaper than the $140 we paid the day before. Looks good already.

So we stepped up and talked to the lady at the counter.

Lady: "Hi, are you all first timers, we have a promotion today?"

ME: "Sure, we are first timers, what's the promotion?"

Lady: "We have a first timers promotion price of $25 for the ski lessons."

Me: "You mean just the lesssons? How much does the ski lift and rental equipment cost?"

Lady: "It includes the lift ticket and rental equipment."

Me (in disbelief): "I mean after the lesson, we would like to try the green slopes, and also have the equipment. How much would the lift ticket cost if we want to try the green slopes after the lesson?"

Lady: "They are included in the price."

Me: "You mean we can try all the green slopes?!?!?!?!? How about the equipment? Does the price include the equipment as well?"

Lady: "Yes, you can have the equipment till the end of the day."

Me (in absolute and total disbelief): "You mean if we pay $25 each, we get the lesson, the ski lift to all the green slopes and the snowboard with boots... for the rest of the day?"

Lady: "Yes."

What a powerful 3 letters.... that totally threw the accountant in me off... how does that work out? The rental of the equipment itself is already more than $25.

Me: "We will do that." (Still extremely skeptical... expecting some additional cost to come up.)

We fitted into our equipments, and stepped out. NO EXTRA CHARGE!!! IMPOSSIBLE!

Then we were thinking... maybe the slope that we will be allowed on is going to be lousy. Little did we know, the "good green slope" that yuyuan told us about, was available. We hopped on it together. And Yuyuan patiently taught us a few tricks and some basic skills.

We stopped for lunch, and continued back on the lift thereafter. After being totally beat up since i was only working on one set of muscles with my forward falling leaf, i decided to take a leap of faith, and do the backward falling leaf. It turned out to be easier than it seems, and definitely gave my set of overworked muscles much relief. I learnt to turn around, and took some spectacular fall on the hard surface.... Now... I am finally enjoying it.

After 4 good runs, I am feeling good about Canada, and the blue slopes. Alot of my basic skills have to be worked on, but I am finally able to enjoy the snowboarding that everyone was raving about. It was indeed a great afternoon. Oh yes, I forgot to mention that the sun was out there working the whole time. At one stage we were even feeling warm with our thick layers of clothes. It was indeed indeed a great day!

We literally stayed till the lift stopped moving, and worked the final few $$ of our 25 well spent bugs. And at 5 plus, we hopped on Yuyuan's RAV4, back to San Francisco. We stopped by Chilli's for a really sumptous dinner (seldom do I praise Chilli's).

And the day ended even better for me, who is not due for work the following day..... as a great night of rest awaits.

Thank God for this perfect day. I am glad I blog this.