A gorgeous bluebird day greeted skiers and snowboarders this morning at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, which staged its season opener Saturday (Nov. 18).
Following snowy, wet days in the Lake Tahoe area earlier in the week, Squaw Valley had its opener Friday and one day later it was neighboring Alpine Meadows igniting its 2017-18 season.
Like most resort openings, Alpine’s is modest. The resort off Highway 89 in North Lake Tahoe has one lift (Kangaroo) running that accesses the ungroomed Kangaroo Main Run.
Squaw has much more terrain at this point. On Saturday, the famed Olympic ski resort was running six lifts and 23 trails, including nine that were groomed. Among the lifts opening today were Aerial Tram, Bailey’s Beach, Mountain Meadows and a surprise opening of Emigrant.
“Opening weekend has been a blast so far – we’re off to a great start. We have sunny skies and genuinely great coverage. It looks like mid-winter up top,” said Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows spokesperson Liesl Hepburn. “Ski patrol opened up some incredible hike-to powder turns off of Siberia Ridge and North Bowl yesterday, which spiked the energy level.”
And the good news for Squaw Alpine and other Lake Tahoe-area ski resorts is temperatures have been quite cold, allowing for snow-making to commence.
Squaw Valley Alpine are reporting 7 inches of new snow at its highest peaks and have received 24 inches in the past week. Hours of operation for both resorts are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Last year, Squaw enjoyed its longest season in resort history, running lifts one week after the Fourth of July before finally closing. With its opening Friday, Squaw was closed for just four months and one day, its shortest offseason ever.
Season passes are currently available at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. The cost for a seasonal pass rises Wednesday (Nov. 21).
Lake Tahoe now has five ski resorts open. Heavenly Valley had its opener Friday, while both Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe and Boreal Mountain have bene running lifts on a daily basis for more than a week.
Kirkwood Mountain is scheduled to open Nov. 22 and Northstar California says it will be running several lifts by Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23).
The Soda Springs website is reporting the tiny kids-friendly resort near Sugar Bowl ski resort will begin offering tubing and snowplay activities Sunday (Nov. 19).
Projected Lake Tahoe ski resort openings
- Mt Rose: Open
- Boreal Mountain: Open
- Heavenly Mountain: Open
- Squaw Valley: Open
- Alpine Meadows: Open
- Kirkwood Mountain: Nov. 22
- Northstar California: Nov. 23
- Homewood Mountain: Dec. 8
- Tahoe Donner downhill: Dec. 8 (X-country Nov. 23)
- Diamond Peak: Dec. 14
- Donner Ski Ranch: Dec. 15
- Granlibakken: Dec. 16
- Springs Soda: TBA
- Sugar Bowl: TBA
