The wait should be over tomorrow. After several false starts for a number of Lake Tahoe ski resorts, both Mt. Rose and Boreal Mountain will start running lifts on Friday, Nov. 18.
Mt. Rose, which had set an ambitious Halloween Day opening, will be open for skiing and snowboarding Friday morning. Thanks to several days of cold temperatures that have allowed the resort to fire up its robust snowmaking system, the Nevada resort near North Lake Tahoe will open for the season with access to four beginner trails serviced by the Wizard quad and the Flying Jenny surface lifts on the Main Lodge side of the resort.
Boreal Mountain is traditionally one of the first resorts to open in the Tahoe region.
“Mt. Rose benefits from having the highest base elevation at Lake Tahoe, so early season storms paired with cold temperatures and recent enhancements to our snowmaking system will allow us to offer some of the best early season snow surfaces in the region,” said Mike Pierce, director of marketing at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. “We’ve really been maximizing our snowmaking system, and that coupled with weather forecasts calling for snow and cold temperatures to continue this weekend and in to early next week, will allow our focus to remain committed to opening additional terrain as quickly as possible.”
The resort plans to be open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lift tickets available for purchase for just $40. The Lodgepole Café, Timbers Bar, Equipment Rental and Repair Shop will also be open, and lessons will be available for both kids and adults.
Those interested in skiing or riding Mt. Rose this winter can still take advantage of season pass rates. Adult premier passes valid seven days per week with no blackouts are available for $529. Young adult premier passes – perfect for college students, are available for $399 for ages 16-23. Midweek passes valid Monday through Friday (excluding Dec. 26-30, 2016) are priced at just $429, and children’s passes are available for $279 for ages 6-15.
Weather permitting, there are six Lake Tahoe ski resorts that should be open for Thanksgiving weekend skiing.
Both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows pushed back their original opening by nearly two weeks. They recently announced that the new opening date is Wednesday, Nov. 23, weather and conditions permitting. The two resorts, which are situated practically side by side and share the same ownership group, report they had 41 feet of cumulative snowfall in the 2015-16 season.
“We are eager to kick off the season and look forward to opening the resort as early as weather and conditions permit,” said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley Ski Holdings.
After several false starts, both Heavenly and Northstar are scheduled to start operating on Wednesday (Nov. 23).
Although it has a Dec. 10 opening date, Sugar Bowl could open early given the right conditions. It announced today it was working to prepare for the rapidly approaching season. Sugar Bowl hopes to have top to bottom skiing and riding on Mt. Lincoln.
Tentative Lake Tahoe Opening Dates
- Mt. Rose: Nov. 18
- Boreal Mountain: Nov. 18
- Squaw Valley: Nov. 23
- Alpine Meadows: Nov. 23
- Northstar: Nov. 23
- Heavenly: Nov. 23
- Homewood: Dec. 9
- Sugar Bowl: Dec. 10
- Diamond Peak: Dec. 1
- Kirkwood: Nov. 23
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: TBA
- Tahoe Donner: TBA
- Soda Springs: TBA
- Donner Ski Ranch: TBA
- Granlibakken: TBA
