Fresh snow certainly added to the festivities Friday (Nov. 16) for Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows and Heavenly Mountain, which both opened for the 2017-18 season.
The most recent storm to hit the Sierra Nevada came just in time for opening days for these two iconic Lake Tahoe-area ski resorts.
Located in South Lake Tahoe, Heavenly Mountain officials were reporting there was 12 inches of new snow Friday for skiing and snowboarding.
Squaw Valley, located off Highway 89 in North Lake Tahoe, reportedly got 7 inches of snow at its highest peaks and has received 23 inches in the past week.
Last year, Squaw enjoyed its longest season in resort history, running lifts one week after the Fourth of July before finally closing. With its opening Friday, Squaw will be closed for just four months and one day, its shortest offseason ever.
Lake Tahoe now has four ski resorts open. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe and Boreal Mountain are already operating lifts on a daily basis.
New this year for Heavenly is night skiing on the mountain for the first time. The World Cup chairlift will begin operating at night every weekend, starting on Dec. 18, allowing skiers and snowboarders the chance to ride under the stars.
Heavenly is also introducing a new rooftop bar on the California Lodge, and several new après skiing options.
Kirkwood Mountain is scheduled to open Nov. 22 and Northstar California says it will be running several lifts by Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 23).
Many Tahoe-area ski resorts like Sugar Bowl have taken a wait-and-see approach for their openings.
“We do not have an opening date set. When we have a quality product from top to bottom, we will open,” said Jon Slaughter, Sugar Bowl’s Director of Marketing & Sales.
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: TBA
- Sugar Bowl: TBA
- Springs Soda: TBA
