Snow is continuing to dump in Reno Tahoe and epic powder days are predicted to show up next in the forecast. Resorts are boasting over 60” of fresh powder from the storm, opening thousands of acres of terrain.

Here are some quick facts on what you can expect at a few of the resorts. And it’s only getting better…

• Squaw Valley was pounded with close to 6ft in the past 72 hours. 650 acres opened today.
• 18 new trails opened at Northstar California Resort after being greeted with 29” at the summit.
• 28” in the past 24 hrs at Alpine Meadows. Tons of expert terrain is now open.
• Royal Gorge XC was graced with 3 ft of fresh. Opening tomorrow.
• 50” of powder in the last 72 hours at Boreal, 48” at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, 38” at Heavenly, and 24” in 24 hrs at Diamond Peak.

The month of January is National Learn to Ski & Board Month and Tahoe is celebrating by allowing first-timers the ability to ride their 51 open lifts and 88 freshly groomed trails without emptying pockets.

Endless blue skies, fresh corduroy, and savings adding up to over $60 per person… there’s really no better time than the present!

Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows
$39 per person (ages 13+) through January 29
Includes beginner half day lesson (10am – 1pm), lift ticket and equipment rentals

Homewood Mountain Resort
$44 per person (ages 13+) through January 31
Includes 2.5 hour beginner lesson, lift ticket and equipment rentals

Diamond Peak Ski Resort
$29 per person through January 13
Includes 1hr 45min beginner lesson, lift ticket and equipment rentals

Sugar Bowl
Through January 31
Ticketed guests (ages 13-69 and all season pass holders ages 4+) enjoy free rentals for the day and a free two-hour group lesson at any level.

Mt Rose Ski Tahoe
$10 lift tickets (17 and under) through January 20
$69 Learn to Ski Packages include beginner lift ticket, 90 min lesson and equipment rentals

Boreal Mountain Resort
Boreal Mountain Resort offers its popular 1-2-3 Ride Free program. Participants taking lessons at Boreal have their days tracked. After the third lesson, skiers and snowboarders (valid for 4 years and older) get a free season pass. Lessons are intended for beginners only.

Whether an awesome ski season means digging into some fresh powder or grabbing some sky in the terrain park, nothing ends a season faster than injuring yourself or others.  In an effort to make sure everyone enjoys a great season of skiing and snowboarding at two world-renown destinations, Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California Resort are implementing Vail’s “Play It Safe, Play All Season” slope safety campaign.

The Play It Safe campaign is aimed at addressing slope safety by communication how guests can ski and snowboard more responsibly while still enjoying a great day on the mountain. To effectively reach skiers and boarders of all ages, Heavenly and Northstar are implementing enhanced on-mountain Play It Safe messages through a variety of channels, including videos featuring Olympic and world champion athletes Lindsey Vonn and Shaun White.  Play It Safe messages will be found in critical locations such as trail merging areas and terrain park exits.

In addition to signage and videos, guests can also expect to see a greater presence of mountain safety personnel, whose primary focus is to enforce the mountain rules, allowing ski patrol to focus on assisting injured riders. A special training program has been designed to equip safety employees with new tactics for enforcing safety laws and rules, including the ability to revoke skier’s and snowboarder’s passes for safety violations and requiring them to attend a safety and awareness class. In addition, the presence of safety personnel will be more prominent on busy days.

Written by, Cody Haener