The last storm that swept through the Sierra dropped enough snow for the resorts just east of Sacramento to open more trails. Skiers in the greater Sacramento area are now able to access much more terrain. Alpine and Nordic skiers will find much better conditions for skiing.
Here's how it stacks up as of today, Monday, January 31:
Kirkwood is 100% open. The storm dropped over 3 feet of new snow onto their base layer. Conditions, as reported by returning skiers, are very good. The Wall is open for the extreme set.
Kirkwood XC and Snowshoe Center is 35% open, with 45 km of trails for the skinny ski set.
Sierra-at-Tahoe has 8 lifts open serving 37 trails, with 27 of those groomed. Burton Progression Park, Broadway Terrain Park, and Upper Snowshoe are open. The Superpipe needs more snow before it can be opened. Next weekend they host the Gatorade Freeflow ski and board amateur slopstyle event, with a rail jam and junior rail jam included.
Heavenly features 30% of its total runs open. There are 24 out of 30 lifts running, with 66 runs skiable. The Nevada side and California side are connected and skiers can traverse from one to the other with ease. Views from the top are fantastic.
Squaw Valley is 95% open, with 2300 acres accessible. 25 lifts are spinning, according to Amelia Richmond, Squaw's PR manager. Their base is between 30-36 inches and conditions are said to be extremely nice.
Alpine Meadows is running 9 of its 13 lifts, accessing 2200 acres of mountain. Groomed runs are the best skiing right now. Lift ticket packages from Alpine are good at Squaw, Squaw packages are good at Alpine. It's one of the best deals in decades.
Northstar has 16 lifts open, serving 89 trails, with 46 of those groomed. 26 terrain park features are available as well. The Cross-Country, Telemark, and Snowshoe Center is open with 10 groomed trails for the kick and glide enthusiasts.
Homewood's Elissa Blank reports that the resort is 40% open, with all lifts running. 20% of the runs are groomed, andgreat early season conditions prevail. Homewood was able to open just last Friday. Look for great skiing, with the "the best views in Tahoe" according to Elissa.
Sugar Bowl boasts 57 runs open, with 45 of those groomed. Groomed runs are best according to Jennie Bartlett of Homewood. The terrain park has 16 features that are ridable. Skiers from 13 to 69 receive a ski rental package with purchase of a lift ticket, Monday thru Friday, that includes a 2 hour group lesson, for all levels of ability. Season ticket holders, 4 years and up, also recieve the package.
Donner Ski Ranch reports 7 out of 8 chairs spinning, with 90% of their mountain open. Chair number 5 should be open by this weekend. Conditions are best on the groomers, and are said to be early season great.
Boreal Mountain Resort is running 4 of its 6 chairs. 30 of 36 runs are open, along with 3 terrain parks with 30 features. That's about 90% of their mountain open and ready to ski, says Anders Isaacson of Boreal. Great spring conditions prevail.
Mt. Rose offers 4 of 7 chairs carrying skiers to the trails, with 80% of the mountain open. Mt. Rose has 37 runs to ski on, with a very healthy base. The last storm put about 4 feet of fresh snow on their slopes. Kayla Anderson, the PR and Web Manager at Mt. Rose says that the conditions are the best in the Tahoe area. Mt. Rose has a base elevation of 8260 feet and tops out at 9700 feet.
More snow will simply improve conditions throughout the Tahoe Basin. With great skiing already in place, now is the time to take advantage of the winter wonderland in Tahoe.
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