Got a Santa outfit and like to ski? If so, Sierra-at-Tahoe will offer a discounted lift ticket for anyone who dresses up as Santa or a festive outfit on Christmas Eve.
Sierra-at-Tahoe, which is located off Highway 50 heading into South Lake Tahoe, is offering the one-day Christmas Eve promotion. Anyone who skis in a Santa outfit at Sierra or shows up in festive costume on Christmas Eve will receive a $10 discount on a lift ticket. Limit one voucher per guest.
After receiving 14 inches Sunday and overnight, on Monday (Dec. 23) Sierra was reporting 156 inches for the season. The early-season snow total is the most snow among Tahoe ski resorts. Sierra’s sizable ski area, which includes the Backside and West Bowl, is now 100-percent open.
Santa sightings? Seeing Santa – or multiple Santas – skiing or riding has been a holiday tradition for years at Tahoe ski resorts. And embracing the holiday spirit, many skiers and riders will dress up in Santa gear and hit the slopes on the days preceding Christmas.
If meeting Santa on the slopes is a goal, he has been appearing regularly at Homewood Mountain this week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Santa will be at Homewood at these same times Monday and Tuesday. No problem getting a photo with Santa – just stop and ask for a photo or even a gift from his Christmas bag.
If you’re planning a ski trip to Lake Tahoe during the Christmas holidays, the good news is there’s plenty of snow.
Terrain report: Besides Sierra, two other major Tahoe ski resorts – Kirkwood, Mt. Rose – already have 100-percent of their terrain open, thanks to some sizable snow storms over the past month that’s allowed them to offer top-to-bottom skiing and riding. Other Tahoe ski resorts have numerous lifts and runs open, giving the holiday crowd plenty of options.
And terrain options are a great thing during the Christmas holidays, the busiest time of year for the 14 Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Besides locals who are anxious to hit the slopes, there will be thousands of skiers and riders vacationing in Tahoe for the holidays.
Located on Highway 88 in the South Lake Tahoe region, Kirkwood Mountain has all 12 lifts running, accessing to 2,400 acres of terrain. Kirkwood is reporting 141 inches of snow this season.
Mt. Rose, located on the Nevada side of Tahoe that caters to Reno skiers and riders, has received 135 inches (more than 11 feet) of snowfall for the season. It has all eight lifts running, including the expert terrain on its famed Chutes region.
Holiday weather outlook: If skiing or snowboarding is on the agenda for Christmas Day, don’t anticipate ideal conditions. Monday (Dec. 23) through Christmas Day will be cold with snow dropping lightly from weak systems. Very light accumulations expected, perhaps a dusting of 1 inch each day. Temperatures will range in the 30s at lake level and 20s on the mountains.
Expect conditions to improve by Thursday (Dec. 26). High pressure starting Thursday and continuing into the weekend will result in bluebird days at Tahoe ski resorts through the weekend.
“We should clear out Thursday with sunny skies into the weekend,” predicts OpenSnow, California forecaster Bryan Allegretto. “We should start cold with highs in the 20s on the mountains and 30s at lake level Thursday and Friday, and then warming into the 30s for all elevations on the weekend.”
“It will be a snow-filled holiday here in Tahoe,” said Russell Carlton of Vail Resorts in Tahoe (Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood). “Our ski areas have received more than 10 feet of snow this season, including nearly 8 feet of snow in December alone at Kirkwood and Northstar.”
