Thanks to last week’s sizable snow storm, Lake Tahoe ski resorts are running more lifts and opening more terrain for skiing and snowboarding.
It comes at a good time as well, since this is Presidents’ Day weekend and the Lake Tahoe ski resorts are hoping for a huge turnout of excited skiers and riders who have been waiting for conditions to improve.
Well, guess what – they’ve improved.
Some Lake Tahoe ski resorts received more than 5 feet of new snow from last week’s storm. And more snow could arrive this weekend.
Here’s what’s new lately from several Lake Tahoe ski resorts:
Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows: Thanks to 5½ feet of new snow that the two Truckee resorts received, both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows are opening new terrain, including some of the most coveted terrain on the mountains.
Squaw Valley opened the Siberia chairlift and Solitude chairlift for the first time this season on Tuesday, and Granite Chief one day later. On Saturday, both KT-22 and Headwall Express are expected to be open.
Alpine Meadows opened the Scott chair for the first time this season on Wednesday and Lake View opens today.
The two resorts will have over 90 percent of their terrain open for Presidents’ Day weekend.. By Saturday, the resorts will be running a total of 32 lifts, including 20 lifts and over 60 runs at Squaw Valley, and 12 lifts and over 45 runs at Alpine Meadows.
Both resorts are also ramping up their terrain park offerings. Squaw Valley is slated to offer 27 features, including seven small to medium jumps in Gold Coast Park.
Alpine Meadows is planning to have 16 terrain park features, including three small jumps in Tiegel Park by Saturday.
Homewood Resort: The resort of Highway 89 in North Lake Tahoe opened its entire mountain Thursday after the recent storm added 5 feet of fresh snow.
Notable additions include the Ellis chairlift, which provides access to Homewood’s legendary gladed tree runs off Hidden Vein and in Hobbit Land.
To completely open, Homewood will unveil Kolby’s Escape slopestyle and boarder-cross courses for terrain park riders.
Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood: All three Vail Resorts have ramped up their offerings for the holiday weekend.
Kirkwood has opened 100 percent of its mountain for the first time this season. Newly-opened signature runs – such as Wagon Wheel Bowl, Palisades – are waiting to greet skiers and riders.
Heavenly anticipates opening some of its most popular terrain, including Mott Canyon and Galaxy. The south shore ski resort has opened more trails, including Milky Way Bowl, Pinnacles, and Ski Ways.
Northstar expects to open 100 percent of its coveted Backside trails. Other trails opening include Challenger, Rail Splitter, and Sierra Grande.
Sugar Bowl: The resort is spinning its brand-new $3 million Crow’s Peak chairlift for the first time today. The lift will offer nearly 1,000 vertical feet of new fall-line skiing down to the edge of Van Norden Meadow.
Throughout the holiday weekend, Sugar Bowl will be operating 10 lifts, providing access to over 70 runs on the resort four peaks.
Mt. Rose: Located off Mt. Rose Highway, the resort has opened significant additional terrain, including many of the much anticipated Chute gates for the first time all season.
The Chutes are some of the longest continuous vertical runs in North America with pitches between 40 and 55 degrees.
Open gates at Mt. Rose will include Beehive, Hornet’s Nest, Nightmare and Miller time.
Diamond Peak: The resort in Incline Village on Lake Tahoe’s north shore, received 58 inches of snow from the storm and is now 100 percent open with the 58 inches.
Diamond Peak has 31 trails to ski, some new terrain features to hit, and as always, its beautiful views of Lake Tahoe.
Boreal Mountain, Soda Springs: Both resorts, which are located off Interstate 80, are reporting plenty of new snow and are 100 percent open.
Sierra-at-Tahoe: Located off Highway 50, Sierra-at-Tahoe will open the backside of the mountain and will be 100 percent open. Sierra is also working on opening its new terrain park, which could be available by Sunday.
