Snow totals keep rising for Lake Tahoe ski resorts. From the recent storm, Tahoe area resorts received between 38 and 45 inches of fresh snow in a four-day period.
One of the major benefactors of the sizable amount of new snow is Heavenly Mountain Resort, which reported 14 inches from Sunday’s storm, which had a large crowd of skiers and snowboarders ready for a powder day on Monday. According to www.opensnow.com, Heavenly has already exceeded its snow total from last winter. Heavenly received just 87 inches during the 2014-15 season, but has already piled up 97 inches.
Kirkwood Mountain is also close to exceeding last season’s snow totals. Kirkwood received 124 inches last winter and is reporting 119 inches so far this season.
“It’s the best start to the season since 2010-11,” Cooper told the Tahoe Daily Tribune. “With the new snow and total snowfall season-to-date, we are looking to open up our backside chairs (today) with 100 percent of our terrain (open) prior to the upcoming holidays.”
The large amount of early-season snowfall is a much-needed boost to the Lake Tahoe economy. Lodging numbers are up and so are businesses that are and winter dependent.
The longtime Tahoe business owner said he’s had one of the best starts to the season in recent memory.
Lake Tahoe Snow Totals (recent storm total; season to date)
Squaw Valley: 14 inches (108 inches)
Alpine Meadows: 17 inches (108 inches)
Heavenly Mountain: 14 inches (97 inches)
Northstar California: 17 inches (113 inches)
Kirkwood Mountain: 12 inches (118 inches)
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: 20 inches (106 inches)
Sierra-at-Tahoe: 12 inches (91 inches)
Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jeffweidel and visit his website at www.tahoeskiworld.com.
