Although temperatures were warm and hovering in the lower 50s at many locations in Lake Tahoe, there was Thanksgiving skiing and snowboarding taking place.
Vail Resorts – Northstar California and Heavenly Mountain Resort – opened Nov. 21, and Mt. Rose, Squaw Valley and Boreal Mountain were all offering Thanksgiving skiing in Lake Tahoe as well. All five resorts are open thanks to some natural snow and their snow-making systems.
Another relatively warm day is projected Friday, followed by a dip in temperatures and possible snow on both Saturday and Sunday, according to The Weather Channel. Predictions are 70 percent chance of snow Saturday and 80 percent Sunday, with an estimated 2-6 inches of snow accumulating for the two days. More snow could arrive next week, starting Tuesday.
Here’s a look at the five Lake Tahoe resorts that are open.
Heavenly: The South Lake Tahoe resort is operating the Gondola, Tamarack Express and Dipper Express chairlifts. The Tubing Hill Lift is open as well. Heavenly is providing access 34 acres of terrain, including terrain park features on the left side of California Trail. The Orion Trail, accessed by Dipper Express, opened today.
Squaw Valley: The resort off Highway 89 is offering 8 lifts, which includes Gold Coast. Squaw has three groomed runs. Temperatures reached 43 today, which was colder than many other locations for Thanksgiving skiing in Lake Tahoe.
Northstar: Northstar has opened Big Springs Gondola, Arrow Express, Vista Express, Highlands gondola, The Big Easy chairlift and the Big Dipper magic carpet and offers access to five trails.
Mt. Rose: The resort had its opening day Nov. 7 along with Boreal Mountain. Mt Rose had skiing and riding available Thanksgiving, serviced by the Ponderosa lift with access to Lower Galena, Enchanted Forest & Lower North Rim. The Park has been moved uphill to Lower Galena with four features.
Boreal Mountain: The resort off Highway 80 near the summit reopened earlier this week. Boreal has one run and six-plus terrain park features, including a jump accessed by the Castle Peak Quad chairlift. Boreal has 3 lifts and four total runs.
PROJECTED OPENINGS
- *Boreal Mountain: Nov. 18
- Northstar California: Nov. 21
- Heavenly Mountain Resort: Nov. 21
- *Mt. Rose: Nov. 21
- Squaw Valley: Nov. 26
- Diamond Peak: Dec. 11
- Alpine Meadows: Dec. 12
- Sugar Bowl: TBA
- Kirkwood Mountain Resort: TBA
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: TBA
*Both Boreal and Mt. Rose opened briefly in early November
