A succession of storms brought heavy snowfall and big smiles to Tahoe skiers and riders with 1 to 2 feet of snow being reported across the Tahoe Basin over the course of four days. The first storm arrived on Dec. 10 with winds that kept the lifts closed at many resorts, however, by the morning of Dec. 11 many resorts reported 10 to 16 inches overnight.
Homewood Mountain Resort and Tahoe Donner Downhill both opened for the season on Dec. 11 with Madden Chair and Old Homewood Express running. They reported 13 to 15 inches along the West Shore. Meanwhile, Tahoe Donner Downhill opened the Snowbird Chair and the Learning Center Conveyor.
I headed to Alpine Meadows on Dec. 11 and the crew was hard at work getting new terrain open with 13 inches of new snow reported over night. We were making turns on Roundhouse by 9:30 a.m. and Summit Six followed at 11 a.m. They also opened Hot Wheels and Subway for the first time this season. Meanwhile over the ridge, Squaw Valley had a late start, as well, but skiers and riders enjoyed new terrain of Shirley Express with more lifts to follow soon.
Northstar California claimed the most snow from the storm with 24 inches overnight. The resort is now 100 percent open.
Dec. 12 was a bluebird day with leftover stashes of powder lingering for those who knew how to find them. I enjoyed laps at Mount Rose until the winds picked up signaling another storm for the evening.
Heavy snows and high winds kept things quiet again on Sunday for all but the most diehard but the morning of Dec. 14 brought another great day on the hill with few crowds.
On the South Side of the lake, Kirkwood had a delayed opening with just over a foot of new snow on Dec. 13 and Heavenly skiers and riders enjoyed both sides of the mountain. Fifteen inches of fresh snow on Dec. 13 made for a fun day at Sierra-at-Tahoe while skiers and riders at Mount Rose were greeted with blue skies and 16 inches of snow that fell on Sunday.
With a little help from the new snow on Donner Summit, Sugar Bowl Resort plans to open the Crow’s Peak Chairlift on Dec. 15. Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows also opened new terrain on Dec. 15 with the addition of KT-22 at Squaw and Scott Chair at Alpine. Over on the East Side, Mount Rose opened the Chutes.
The good news doesn’t stop here. Keep your eye on the forecast for more snow as early as Sunday, Dec. 20.
