For the first time in 21 years, Diamond Peak ski resort in Lake Tahoe will be offering skiing and snowboarding in the early December.
Two early season storms and low temperatures that are suitable for snowmaking has resulted in Diamond Peak pushing its planned opening date up by a week. Diamond Peak will now open Thursday, Dec. 3, the resort’s earliest since the 1994-95 ski season.
With Sugar Bowl ski resort opening today, there are now nine Lake Tahoe ski resorts that are open for the 2015-16 season.
See other Lake Tahoe ski news:
SUGAR BOWL SKI RESORT OPENING SATURDAY (NOV. 21)
EARLIEST OPENING IN 11 YEARS FOR SIERRA-AT-TAHOE SKI RESORT
WHAT’S NEW AT NORTH LAKE TAHOE SKI RESORTS
Diamond Peak plans to open with top-to-bottom skiing and snowboarding, The resort will have access to the high-speed Crystal Express quad as well as the Lodgepole Quad and School House chair lift, and potentially the Lakeview Quad if conditions permit.
To date, the resort has received over 20 inches of natural snow which has provided a solid base for the snowmaking team’s pre-season efforts.
“The cold temperatures we’ve had in November have allowed us to operate our snowmaking system at or near its capacity for over 130 hours so far, meaning we’re almost a full month ahead of where we were with snowmaking last year,” said Interim General Manager Mike Bandelin. “And with more natural snow and cold temperatures in the forecast for Thanksgiving week, we’re confident that the skiing and riding will be great by our early opening date of December 3.”
Located in Nevada’s Incline Village, Diamond Peak is an affordable, family-friendly resort that offers great views of Lake Tahoe and has a summit elevation of 8,540-feet and a 1,840-foot vertical drop. Skiers and boarders can experience 655 acres of beginner to advanced terrain that include open groomers, glades and powder bowls.
Diamond Peak will host its annual season passholder appreciation barbecue on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All Diamond Peak season passholders are invited to enjoy a complimentary barbecue lunch on the Base Lodge deck or inside if the weather is chilly. Food will be available for purchase for non-passholders as well.
For more information or to check the snow report, visit www.DiamondPeak.com or call 775 832–1177.
Sugar Bowl, located off the Norden exit on Interstate 80, opened today (Nov. 21) with will top-to-bottom skiing and snowboarding on 1,500 vertical feet of terrain. The resort will remain open on Sunday, but will close Monday through Wednesday next week. Sugar Bowl will reopen for the four-day Thanksgiving weekend.
Sierra-at-Tahoe opened Friday (Nov. 20), it’s earliest start to the season in 11 years. Sierra operated three lifts and two surface lifts. Season sasses and additional products from 2014-15 will be valid for use through Dec. 20.
Granlibakken plans on opening its sled hill today and has a tentative date for the ski hill on Dec. 11.
Lake Tahoe ski resorts Opening Dates:
- Alpine Meadows Resort – Open
- Boreal Mountain Resort – Open
- Diamond Peak – December 3
- Donnor Ski Ranch – TBA
- Granlibakken – Dec. 11
- Heavenly Mountain – Open
- Homewood – December 11
- Kirkwood Mountain – Open
- Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe – Open
- Northstar California – Open
- Squaw Valley – Open
- Sierra-at-Tahoe – Open
- Soda Springs – TBA
- Sugar Bowl – Open
- Tahoe Donner – December 11
Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jeffweidel. Thanks for visiting his website at www.tahoeskiworld.com
