Each November for the last 21 years, we’ve put together our annual Downhill Ski Guide, looking at each of the ski areas large and small from mega resorts spread across soaring mountain peaks to small, community nonprofits. I’ve penned most of those 21 guides through the years from the first one I started to this year’s guide and while it’s a monumental task each year, it’s also fun to see what’s in the works at the local ski areas.
From a new name for an iconic ski resort to a new ski area that opened last winter, you’ll find information on lift and snowmaking improvements for this season and next, new eateries and some great deals. This year, we’ve also included a feature from Kathryn Reed on her love for the beleaguered Sierra-at-Tahoe resort, which was damaged during the Caldor Fire this summer. The ski resort won’t open until early 2022 and Kathryn shares favorite memories of skiing at Sierra in “Magic of Sierra-At-Tahoe endures.”
Skier visits on the rise
One interesting side effect of the pandemic has been the increase in people enjoying outdoor sports, including a 22 percent increase in skier visits in California and Nevada during the 2020-21 season, according to a report from the National Ski Areas Association. Skiing and snowboarding numbers have been declining for years, so it’s encouraging to the sport and the local economy to see a spike during the pandemic, even with restrictions in place at local ski areas last season.
Most of those restrictions have been lifted, but many ski areas are limiting or have eliminated the sale of lift tickets onsite for day-of skiing. Nearly everything from tickets to rentals and lessons still require advance reservations online. Some will still require reservations or mobile ordering for food service and may require proof of vaccination for indoor dining. Check the restrictions at each resort before you visit.
California still requires masks indoors for anyone who isn’t vaccinated, and Nevada currently requires masks for everyone indoors regardless of vaccinations status in the counties in the Tahoe region.
Tahoe’s wacky weather
As the lifts start turning, Mark McLaughlin looks at Tahoe’s erratic weather from the winter of 2020-21 – the third driest on record – and a look ahead to 2021-22, which is forecast for a La Niña in “Tahoe’s weather outlook.”
But, as Mark always says about forecasting the weather, “no one really knows.”
