Tahoe Ski World

skiing in Lake Tahoe

Mt. Rose ski resort delays opening day

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Although weekend storms delivered snow to the Lake Tahoe, it wasn’t enough for Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe to make a planned Halloween opening date.

Mt. Rose, The resort, which resides at 8,260 feet and is the highest base area in the region, was hoping to be the first ski resort to open in not only the Tahoe region but in Nevada and California.
Mt. Rose, which resides at 8,260 feet and is the highest base area in the region, was hoping to be the first ski resort to open (Halloween) in not only the Tahoe region but in Nevada and California.

The resort, located off Mt. Rose Highway in Nevada, requires a minimum of 10 inches of base for skiers and snowboarders and it didn’t happen. Mt. Rose received an estimated 5 to 8 inches from the weekend storm. Warm temperatures in recent days hasn’t helped either, robbing Mt. Rose of snowmaking during chilly evenings.

“We’re not going to put people on rocks,” Mike Pierce told the Reno Gazette. Pierce is marketing manager for the Reno-area resort. “Before we open it is going to be a deep base.”

The resort, which resides at 8,260 feet and is the highest base area in the region, was hoping to be the first ski resort to open in not only the Tahoe region but in Nevada and California. But the previous weeks delivered temperatures that weren’t conducive to making snow at the base and rain depleted the early snowpack all over the mountain.

Pierce said they’ve got all 13 of the resort’s mobile guns positioned on the lower mountain ready to spring into action with a focus on opening as soon as possible.

“The guns are in place and we are making it every chance we get,” he said.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows: The two neighboring North Tahoe resorts that are owned by the same company, are hoping to offer Lake Tahoe’s longest winter season. They received 7 inches of new snow Sunday night and plan to open early – between November 11-18, weather and conditions permitting.

The resorts received seven inches of new snow Sunday night and plan to open early – between November 11-18, weather and conditions permitting.
Both Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley received seven inches of new snow Sunday night and plan to open early – between November 11-18, weather and conditions permitting.

“Over the past 50 years, when the Tahoe region receives over 8 inches of precipitation during the month of October, the winter season has brought above average snowfall 75 percent of the time,” according to Bryan Allegretto of OpenSnow.com.

Mammoth Mountain: Following a weekend storm that dropped 18 inches of snow, snowmaking is now underway in preparation for opening day, which is scheduled for November 10.

Projected Opening Day 

  • Mt. Rose: TBA
  • Boreal: TBA
  • Squaw Valley: between Nov. 11-18
  • Alpine Meadows: between Nov. 11-18
  • Northstar: Nov. 18
  • Heavenly: Nov. 18
  • Kirkwood: Nov. 18
  • Homewood: Dec. 9