Maggot Trip - Skiing Tahoe's First CatSki Op

December 21 - Tahoe, A cold storm had just blown through Tahoe as a clandestine group of maggots headed up Cabin Creek Road north of Squaw Valley. Clouds linger, but the occasional blue suckerhole feeds hopes for epic catskiing with fresh powder deposited by the typically-Tahoe storm, a blustery powder pump that had dumped and departed. A mile up Cabin Creek, everyone scrambles to for the cat as the skies clear. Maggots from Reno, North Lake, South Lake, The Bay Area, and as far away as Salt Lake City prepare to rip the pristeen, unseen slopes above them. Somewhere between Squaw Valley and Sugarbowl, five guys and three women anxiously anticipate the fresh snow beneath the Pacific Crest Trail as the cat heads upward. The sun plays through the trees as a kabillion flakes sparkle across two thousand acres of fresh powder on Pacific Crest Snowcat's terrain. Thick and thin forests sprinkled across ridges of granite and volcanic intrusions provide a variety of geologic formations. A foot of fresh and sunshine above the clouds makes for the ultimate of days.

After the obligatory first run capabilities check, guides Dave, RB and Jason take us higher, to a sunny slope directly under the Pacific Crest. Lingering leftovers of the storm leisurely drift by, adding an element of magic Hobbitland impressiveness to the backdrop. As if watching a widescreen movie, neither the slope nor the view could be better. With rock poking up through the early season snow and flat topped pines one seldom sees elsewhere in Tahoe forests framing the most orgasmic of settings, we hike above the cat road to see and ski as much as possible. We found our slope and settled in for a little photo session. Although the sun warmed up the powder, it didn't stop anyone from having fun…