An abundance of snow this week has allowed Heavenly Mountain ski resort to open considerable terrain Saturday (Dec. 18) for skiers and snowboarders.
Heavenly reports it has 51-percent of its mountain open after expanding its terrain Saturday. It received 10 inches of new snow overnight Thursday and 56 inches from the storms that began Sunday evening.
The South Lake Tahoe ski resort started Saturday morning with 14 lifts accessing 63 trails. Available lifts include Gunbarrel, Big Easy, Sky, Canyon, Dipper, Patsy’s, Powder Bowl, Tamarack Express, and Comet.
Also running is the 2.4-mile Gondola that transports skiers and riders from the centralized Heavenly Village near the casinos to the mid-mountain level on Heavenly’s Nevada side. It provides easy access to both the Canyon and Sky lifts.
For skiers and riders, dining options are available at Steins, Sky Deck, Lakeview Lodge, California Lodge, and East Peak lodge.
Dining indoors at California Lodge, Tamarack Lodge, and East Peak Lodge requires reservations and proof of COVID Vaccination. Make reservations at www.exploretock.com/group/heavenly.
PALISADES TAHOE EXPANDS TERRAIN: Also opening more lifts Saturday was Palisades, which includes the Alpine Meadows side and the resort previously called Squaw Valley.
Palisades received an additional 3 inches of snow overnight Friday, bringing its 6-day total to 78 inches (6½ feet).
New Palisades lift open include Subway, Siberia, Gold Coast, Wa She Shu, Shirley Lake, Solitude, Funitel, Aerial Tram, Belmont, Mountain Meadow, and Bailey’s Beach.
On the Alpine side of the resort, available lifts are Summit, Roundhouse, Treeline Cirque, Scott, Subway, Big Carpet, and Little Carpet.
WEEKEND CROWDS: All 12 Tahoe ski resorts are now open for the first legitimate weekend for skiing and riding. Considerable fresh snow, sunny skies and modest temperatures were a great lure for the expected big crowds.
Tahoe ski resorts have received between 4 to 8½ feet of new snow this week, officially kicking off the 2021-22 season.
There was no November snow in the Lake Tahoe region and last weekend there was only one non-beginner lift operating among all the Tahoe ski resorts.
Opened previously with only beginner terrain, this was the first busy weekend at Palisades. Parking was full by around 9 am at Palisades Village and the main parking lot on the Alpine side of the resort.
It was a similar experience at Heavenly, where the resort was reporting its California side parking area was filled nearly 30 minutes after opening.
TAHOE DONNER OPENS: The family-friendly resort in Truckee began running two lifts Saturday for its opening-day skiing and riding.
Tahoe Donner received 17 inches of new snow Thursday morning and has 62 inches at its summit from storms this week.
The Eagle Rock and Snowbird lifts were running, along with the Caterpillar Conveyor.
Located in Truckee, for nearly 50 years Tahoe Donner has offered wide-open bowls, uncrowded slopes, gentle beginner terrain, and plenty of groomed runs.
“Our size allows us to deliver that personal touch that the larger ski areas can’t always provide,” the resort says on its website.
Tahoe Donner is one of America’s largest homeowner’s associations, with 6,473 properties, more than 23,000 members, and over 7,000 acres in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
WEATHER FORECASAT: High pressure continues to build with mostly sunny skies through Sunday. Temperature highs should be in the 30s and near 40 degrees at the base level of most Tahoe ski resorts.
However, wind likely becomes a factor Sunday. Weather forecasters are predicting southwest winds increasing with gusts up to 60-plus mph at many summits, which could affect some upper mountain lifts.
Monday will be another windy day and snow is forecast Tuesday morning through Wednesday night. Additional storms almost non-stop could keep the snow coming down through the Dec. 27, meaning it will definitely be a white Christmas.
A drier pattern is possible starting Dec. 28.
“Holiday travel could be significantly disrupted by these storms, with little break in the snow during this extended event,” say National Weather Service officials.
TAHOE SNOW REPORT (storm total, Dec. 18)
- Mt. Rose: 102 inches
- Boreal: 78 inches
- Kirkwood: 78 inches
- Palisades: 75 inches
- Soda Springs: 78 inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 77
- Northstar: 68 inches
- Homewood: 66 inches
- Sugar Bowl: 66 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 62 inches
- Heavenly: 56 inches
- Diamond Peak: 52 inches
