This won’t be a ceremonial opening. Kirkwood Mountain ski resort expects to have significant terrain available Wednesday (Nov. 21) when it opens the 2017-18 season for skiing and snowboarding.
Kirkwood Mountain will open at 9 a.m. with four lifts operating: Snowkirk (Chair 1), Solitude (Chair 5), Cornice Express (Chair 6) and the Reut (Chair 11). That combination will provide 350 acres of terrain for skiers and riders.
“Due to the recent storms and cold temperatures for snowmaking over this past weekend, the Kirkwood mountain operations team was able to prepare the mountain for top-to-bottom skiing and riding in time for Wednesday’s opening,” said Doug Pierini, general manager of Kirkwood. “It’s an excellent start to the season and provides Lake Tahoe guests with one of the best options for skiing and riding leading into the Thanksgiving holiday.”
The Lake Tahoe ski resorts will all see a rise in temperatures to 50 degrees or more for the Thanksgiving holidays, following a week of mostly inclement weather and snow, especially at higher elevations.
Kirkwood, located off Highway 88 near South Lake Tahoe, has 24 inches of snow. Current conditions certainly won’t rival the 2010 season, when eight Tahoe ski resorts had 100 or more inches by Thanksgiving weekend, including a high of 165 inches at Kirkwood.
As a caution, Kirkwood reminds skiers and riders that they must observe all posted signs and closures, especially during the early season. Closed trails may contain hazards due to a lack of early snow coverage.
Any questions regarding uphill travel routes and mountain access should be directed to (209) 258-7444.
The third and final Vail Resort in Lake Tahoe will also open this week. Northstar California will begin running several lifts Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23). That will give the region six ski resorts that are open.
The third Vail Resort – Heavenly Mountain – opened for the 2017-18 season Nov. 17. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe and Boreal Mountain are already operating lifts on a daily basis for several weeks. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows opened last week.
Family-friendly Soda Springs ski resort is open for snow play and tubing.
Mammoth Mountain: With several storms recently dropping sizable amounts of snow, Mammoth officials say the resort now has more terrain open than any other in the country.
Mammoth has top-to-bottom skiing and riding, with 12 lifts and 69 trails set to be open for the Thanksgiving weekend. The current base of snow is 20-60 inches.
Projected Lake Tahoe ski resort openings
- Mt Rose: Open
- Boreal Mountain: Open
- Heavenly Mountain: Open
- Squaw Alpine: 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. 15
- Sugar Bowl: TBA
- Springs Soda: TBA
