Though the seas are relatively calm, the waves are nevertheless too large for a safe mooring against the base of the structure to enable the BBC team to climb the 17m steel ladders up to the service deck.
The structure spans 15, 000 square feet, and sits 500 inside plus 250 more on an outdoor deck with sweeping views of the Sierras, and most of the time it functions as just another on-mountain ski lodge with restrooms and dining, albeit a very modern and environmentally friendly one with great food (and a full blown barbecue smokehouse outside).