We just got back from a trip to California where we visited family, and squeezed in a few days skiing at
Northstar, a forested bowl on the North Lake. To the left is the mid mountain lodge, which had a handy taco shack for quick lunches. A trio of 3 lifts fan out from this area.
This is J. after finishing a nice run on the sunny side of the bowl. Northstar is well protected from the wind, and this pocket is particularly sunny. That can mean the snow gets soft by the end of the day, making the skiing slow, but it was very easy to turn on.
Here is a picture from the top of the mountain facing down the sunnier West ridge. There is a particularly good long classic intermediate trail here from the top of the mountain, winding first on the top of the ridge all the way down to a notch in the side, where it broadens out to a tree lined gully back to the main lift areas. At the very top, when you first start, you can catch a glimpse of the vast alpine Lake Tahoe.
The next day I went to ski the backside, which was steeper and had longer runs. I thought the snow was harder on this side, although the runs were more challenging than I remembered from the last time here, although that was in better mid-winter conditions. For Tahoe, there is a lot of vertical to do in one lift here, 1800 vertical feet, without any crosswalks to interrupt it.
While we were visiting family in LA, J's parents threw us a nice cocktail party, where (among other things) J. made a baked brie en croute, with slices of crisp apples and pears to dig the gooey cheese out. (You can kind see the cheese oozing out of as it lost its form over time) Like most parties, there was tons of leftover food that was sent home with family friends, Justin and Randall.
We also had lunch by the seashore, in Newport Beach, where I had yet more of that particularly Californian invention, fish tacos. It's a scenic drive to there, worth the trouble. I can see why its a popular place for vacationers and residents.
After wanting to visit for many years, the stars and schedules finally lined up to view the
Ronald Reagan Presidential library in Simi Valley. It's an unusually beautiful hilly site, with surrounding views for perhaps 50 miles. On the clear sunny day we spent there it was remarkable in its serenity and --although we did not bring one -- a perfect spot for a picnic. The museum takes 2-3 hours to explore and covers the various stages of Ron and Nancy's life well, although Jane Wyman (Reagan's first wife) seemed conspicuous by her ommission.
Upon our return to Sacramento, my mother gathered a large group of friends and hosted a lovely brunch at a local Punjabi restaurant where we had a buffet, followed by a splash of young Coutet. It was great seeing local friends again, especially those who had not been able to join us in New York last year. The food was good, but nothing to make us forget our fiery hot and greasy
Jackson Heights Diner in Queens.
We just got back from a trip to California where we visited family, and squeezed in a few days skiing at Northstar, a forested bowl on the North Lake. To the left is the mid mountain lodge, which had a handy taco shack for quick lunches. A trio of 3 lifts fan out from this area.
Here is a picture from the top of the mountain facing down the sunnier West ridge. There is a particularly good long classic intermediate trail here from the top of the mountain, winding first on the top of the ridge all the way down to a notch in the side, where it broadens out to a tree lined gully back to the main lift areas. At the very top, when you first start, you can catch a glimpse of the vast alpine Lake Tahoe.
The next day I went to ski the backside, which was steeper and had longer runs. I thought the snow was harder on this side, although the runs were more challenging than I remembered from the last time here, although that was in better mid-winter conditions. For Tahoe, there is a lot of vertical to do in one lift here, 1800 vertical feet, without any crosswalks to interrupt it.
While we were visiting family in LA, J's parents threw us a nice cocktail party, where (among other things) J. made a baked brie en croute, with slices of crisp apples and pears to dig the gooey cheese out. (You can kind see the cheese oozing out of as it lost its form over time) Like most parties, there was tons of leftover food that was sent home with family friends, Justin and Randall.
We also had lunch by the seashore, in Newport Beach, where I had yet more of that particularly Californian invention, fish tacos. It's a scenic drive to there, worth the trouble. I can see why its a popular place for vacationers and residents.
After wanting to visit for many years, the stars and schedules finally lined up to view the Ronald Reagan Presidential library in Simi Valley. It's an unusually beautiful hilly site, with surrounding views for perhaps 50 miles. On the clear sunny day we spent there it was remarkable in its serenity and --although we did not bring one -- a perfect spot for a picnic. The museum takes 2-3 hours to explore and covers the various stages of Ron and Nancy's life well, although Jane Wyman (Reagan's first wife) seemed conspicuous by her ommission.
Upon our return to Sacramento, my mother gathered a large group of friends and hosted a lovely brunch at a local Punjabi restaurant where we had a buffet, followed by a splash of young Coutet. It was great seeing local friends again, especially those who had not been able to join us in New York last year. The food was good, but nothing to make us forget our fiery hot and greasy Jackson Heights Diner in Queens.
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