Venerable Frosted Flakes have been around for 71 years and would be the appropriate cereal at the breakfast table Thursday morning following the early season’s largest snowfall to date.
Palisades Tahoe had the most snow among Tahoe ski resorts, reporting 15 inches at its summit Thursday morning (Dec. 7). Sugar Bowl got 14 inches, Mt. Rose recorded 13, while Boreal and Soda Springs both received 10 inches.
The result is Thursday will go down as the first true powder day in the Tahoe region. More snow is on the way this afternoon in the Lake Tahoe region, although it’s not expected to snow as long, so the totals will likely not match the previous day.
What it means to Tahoe ski resorts is some new resort openings and the nine that are currently open should increase the available number of lifts and trails.
“At the moment our terrain offerings are the same (today) but this new snow will definitely help us as we aim to expand and get more of the mountain open,” Palisades Tahoe spokesperson Patrick Lacey said Thursday morning.
TAHOE SNOW REPORT (December 7)
- Palisades Tahoe: 15 inches
- Sugar Bowl: 14 inches
- Mt. Rose: 13 inches
- Boreal: 10 inches
- Soda Springs: 10 inches
- Northstar: 9 inches
- Kirkwood: 9 inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 9 inches
- Granlibakken: 8 inches
- Heavenly: 6 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 5 inches
- Diamond Peak: 4 inches
- Homewood: 4 inches
The fresh snow was great news for Diamond Peak, which staged its season-opener Thursday with 4 inches for skiers and snowboarders.
There was certainly reason for optimism Thursday at Sugar Bowl, where new terrain is expected as well.
“Is there anything sweeter than waking up for the first powder day of the year?” a message on the Sugar Bowl website stated. “The 24-hour total is sitting at 14 inches and it’s still coming down. If you are one of the lucky ones able to chase down some morning turns, there’s no doubt you will have a hoot and a holler out there.”
The winds were so severe Wednesday at Mt. Rose that the Nevada ski resort closed for the day. Mt. Rose was the first Tahoe ski resort to open this season and heading into Thursday had perhaps the most available terrain – four lifts and 10 runs. The Mt. Rose website was reporting that lift holds are possible Thursday.
TAHOE SKI RESORT OPENINGS
- Mt. Rose: opened Nov. 10
- Boreal: opened Nov. 17
- Heavenly: opened Nov. 21
- Palisades Tahoe: opened Nov. 22
- Northstar California: opened Nov. 23
- Soda Springs: opened Nov. 24
- Sugar Bowl: opened Dec. 1
- Kirkwood: opened Dec. 1
- Diamond Peak: opened Dec. 7
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: Dec. 9
- Granlibakken: Dec. 15
- Homewood: TBA
- Tahoe Donner: TBA
