Snowboarding and Murphy's Law

I rode in Tahoe in the winters of 2001, 2002, and 2003. I found a crew of fun dudes with whom we rented a house in Truckee. We were in Tahoe almost every weekend so long as the resorts were open or there was snow on the ground.

Then, in 2004, we moved back to Seattle. Winter 2004-2005 was the lowest snowfall in the Pacific NW in the last 1000 years. Many Northwest ski resorts were open for less than 3 weeks, if that. Thanks to Murphy's Law, Tahoe got a season-long pummeling that only happens once in a generation, and my Tahoe buddies gorged themselves. Fortunately, I had a job that brought me to Utah each week, so I still eeked out 20+ days of solid riding and great snow.

Last year, I was on the World Tour and out of the country from January until September. The snow season in the Pacific Northwest got started early in 2005, and I got to ride some great conditions twice at Mount Baker before leaving the country. After I left, the Pacific Northwest got pummeled with a deluge of snow that only happens once in a generation. My friend Travis made sure to keep me updated on the stupifying amount of snow that Mt. Baker and other local resorts had received. I cussed him repeated from Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand. My consolation was that I was surfing and hiking and frolicking abroad in a dream-fulfilling manner.

This year, it might be time for Mr. Murphy to compensate me. It's piling up nicely here in the NW, and Tahoe and Utah conditions are really behind pace. Naturally, I had to cancel a planned trip to Utah recently due to lack of snow.