After three disheartening drought-stricken years, the ski season is off to a promising start – there’s actually real snow in the Sierra and cold temperatures as well.
Whether the 2015-16 season results in a renaissance or turns out to be another dud won’t be determined for several months. With an optimistic start to the season – nine Lake Tahoe resorts opened for the Thanksgiving holidays – there are a number of positive changes taking place at Tahoe-area resorts.
Squaw Valley replaces Siberia Express: A favorite of intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders, Siberia has been replaced with a high-speed six-passenger chairlift. This upgrade improves reliability and efficiency, and gets skiers and snowboarders up the mountain and out of the lift line much quicker.
The Siberia Express chairlift provides access to Siberia Bowl, Mainline and the Mainline Terrain Park, as well as the expansive Gold Coast area.
Sugar Bowl opens multi-level terrain park: The new park is located below the Mt. Lincoln Express lift and will be accessible from both Mt. Lincoln and the Christmas Tree lifts. It includes 43 features at build-out, with a focus on flow. The terrain park will accommodate children and families, and should offer fun for all levels of skiers and riders.
Snow Park Technologies, which has designed terrain parks for the Winter X Games, Winter Dew Tour and U.S. Burton Open, created the Sugar Bowl park.
Snow condition webcams at Squaw Valley|Alpine Meadows: The KSL-owned resorts will provide high-definition snow condition updates via their Roundshot webcams installed on the upper mountains of both resorts. The webcams offer 360-degree views of current conditions so skiers and riders can make real-time decisions based on high-definition images of snow conditions.
The Roundshot webcams also allow users to download images for personal use.
New tree run access at Diamond Peak: The resort in Incline Village offers improved tree skiing for skiers and riders looking for new terrain at the family-friendly North Tahoe resort known for its fantastic views of Lake Tahoe. Look for new off-piste terrain off Crystal Ridge lift between Diamondback and Spillway.
Expanded beginner’s terrain at Mt. Rose: The Nevada resort will relocate and rename the Ponderosa chairlift, in an effort to expand and enhance the beginners’ skiing and snowboarding experience. The new positioning of the Wizard lift enhances beginner terrain with access to four new trails.
Mt. Rose, which spent $1.2 million in capital improvements for the season, also renovated the children’s lesson registration area, which should reduce wait time. There’s now a larger indoor staging area and a complete redesign of the registration desk and process.
Northstar revamps Big Springs Express Gondola: Skiers and snowboarders will experience improved mountain access this winter. The mountain tram, connecting The Village at Northstar to mid-mountain, offers renovated portals and a mechanical update to enhance travel time efficiency.
Kirkwood Expedition Kirkwood: This season the resort off Highway 88 is linked to the overall state power grid, which should eliminate the irritating stalled lifts that took place occasionally in the past.
Tahoe Donner Downhill adds new snowmaking technology: Tahoe Donner will be the first U.S. ski resort to utilize Silent Polecat snowmaking. The new system will debut on the resort’s opening day, Dec. 11.
The Silent Polecats are significantly quieter than traditional snowmaking systems while offering reduced energy consumption. The new system at Tahoe Donner includes seven machines, a pump station building, and 12 hydrants and electrical pedestals.
A cooling tower, which lowers the water temperature quickly and allows for shorter operating times, has also been installed. Skiers and riders will reap the benefits of snowmaking this year while taking advantage of a variety of learn-to-ski programs and family events.
Opening dates Lake Tahoe ski resorts:
- Alpine Meadows Resort – Open
Skiers and snowboarders will experience improved mountain access this winter. The mountain tram, connecting The Village at Northstar to mid-mountain, offers renovated portals and a mechanical update to enhance travel time efficiency. - Boreal Mountain Resort – Open
- Diamond Peak – December 3
- Donnor Ski Ranch – TBA
- Granlibakken – Dec. 11
- Heavenly Mountain – Open
- Homewood – December 11
- Kirkwood Mountain – Open
- Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe – Open
- Northstar California – Open
- Squaw Valley – Open
- Sierra-at-Tahoe – Open
- Soda Springs – TBA
- Sugar Bowl – Open
- Tahoe Donner – December 11
Jeffrey Weidel can be reached at skiweidel@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jeffweide AND visit his website at www.tahoeskiworld.com.
