Reno-Tahoe

The snow is falling at Reno Tahoe’s ski and board resorts, and the powder hounds are getting itchy with anticipation. The region should start seeing some openings in the coming weeks. Here are some tentative dates (conditions permitting):

• Alpine Meadows: Dec. 5
• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: TBD
• Squaw Valley USA: Nov. 21
• Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort: Nov. 21
• Diamond Peak: Dec. 10
• Sugar Bowl: TBD
• Heavenly: Nov. 20
• Boreal Mountain: TBD
• Homewood Mountain Resort: TBD

For complete listings of Reno Tahoe resorts, visit us online.

(Photo taken today courtesy Alpine Meadows)

This week is feeling a little more like winter than spring in the Sierra Nevada, with several inches of new snowfall, and powder conditions. That means great conditions for skiers looking to get a last-gasp trip in before the season winds to an end.

Resorts have marked their calendars preparing to close up for summer, so be sure to get to the mountain before its too late.

A sample of Tahoe-area closing dates for the 2008-2009 season:

• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: April 19 for daily operation; the resort will be open for weekend operation April 24-26 and May 1-3
• Alpine Meadows: April 19
• Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort: April 19
• Squaw Valley USA: May 10
• Diamond Peak: April 19
• Heavenly Lake Tahoe: April 19
• Sugar Bowl: April 26
• Boreal: April 12
• Kirkwood: April 26

To book your spring skiing getaway shop online.

The Sierra Nevada is finally digging out Wednesday after the largest storm of the year – and it’s been a good one for skiers. Tahoe-area resorts are reporting several feet from the latest dumping … and transportation crews have opened roads, so get up to the mountain!

24-hour snow totals as reported by Tahoe resorts Wednesday morning:

• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: 20 inches
• Diamond Peak: 24 inches
• Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort: 18 inches
• Alpine Meadows: 32 inches
• Homewood Mountain Resort: 24 inches
• Squaw Valley USA: 24 inches
• Sugar Bowl: 37 inches
• Boreal: 40 inches
• Heavenly Lake Tahoe: 36 inches
• Kirkwood: 48 inches

Search Reno-Tahoe’s 18 ski and board resorts for maps vacation deals, up-to-the-minute snow conditions and more. Read More

Headed to the mountain? Be sure to bookmark these Web sites on your iPhone or mobile device for the latest snow and driving conditions:

NVski.mobi: Created by the state of Nevada, this useful site offers updated resort reports with information like accumulation totals, weather conditions and base depth information. When the snow is coming down, conditions are always changing. Keep an eye on your favorite resorts with the searchable features.

NVroads.mobi: Although crews are on top of road clearing in and around the Sierra Nevada, conditions can change with big snow flurries. Nevada Department of Transportation alerts are channeled through this site to provide updates on slowdowns, chain and snow tire controls and other traffic news instantly, so drivers know what to expect around the bend.

A week of intense storms over the Sierra Nevada has brought epic powder days to Reno-Tahoe area ski and board resorts, a gift from Mother Nature that has built a deep snowpack and the potential of a lengthy spring ski season.

Reno-Tahoe has some great package deals going for lodging and lift tickets. Shop online

Base totals as reported by Tahoe resorts Tuesday morning:

• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: 66 inches
• Diamond Peak: 61 inches
• Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort: 62 inches
• Alpine Meadows: 150 inches
• Homewood Mountain Resort: 58 inches
• Squaw Valley USA: 78 inches
• Sugar Bowl: 62 inches
• Boreal: 135 inches
• Heavenly Lake Tahoe: 64 inches
• Kirkwood: 146 inches

For updated snow conditions, check out our resorts page online.

Although we’ve had a couple healthy early-season storms in the Sierra Nevada the weather has been pretty dry the last couple weeks – but temperatures are finally dropping, which means that ski and board resorts have been aggressively building their bases with snowmaking.

Here are the latest opening day projections and resort updates for the beginning of the 2008-2009 ski and board season (as of Dec. 5 – conditions are subject to change.)

• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: Open seven days a week turning two lifts with terrain features. Tickets are $20.
• Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort: Opening Dec. 6
• Alpine Meadows: Opening Dec. 12
• Squaw Valley USA: Opening Dec. 6 with intermediate skiing and snowboarding from the Exhibition/Searchlight Lift
• Diamond Peak: As conditions permit
• Heavenly Mountain Resort: Open seven days a week with six lifts
• Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort: As conditions permit
• Boreal: Open seven days a week with one lift and terrain features. Tickets are $20.
• Sugar Bowl: As conditions permit
• Kirkwood: As conditions permit

The first BIG Snow of November

Originally uploaded by alpinemeadows

Recent storms in the Lake Tahoe basin have been low in temperature and high in moisture content, which can mean one thing: Deep snow. Some resorts have reported more than a foot of fresh powder and are talking about opening. Here’s a run-down of tentative opening days:

• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: Dec. 8
• Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort: Nov. 22
• Alpine Meadows: Nov. 26
• Squaw Valley USA: Nov. 22
• Diamond Peak: Dec. 11
• Heavenly Mountain Resort: Nov. 21
• Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort: undetermined December
• Boreal: Nov. 7
• Sugar Bowl: Nov. 27
• Kirkwood: mid- to late-November

Last weekend’s snow in Reno-Tahoe reminded us of the reason for the season – skiing and boarding! Hopefully the early season flurries are indicative of a snowy winter ahead.

For regular, even semi-regular, skiers and boarders a season pass is a worthwhile investment. Here’s a breakdown of pass prices at local resorts (adult). Drop a few coins on a pass now … it will pay off when the big dumps come this winter!

• Alpine Meadows: $599-$1,074
• Boreal Mountain Resort: $199-$329
• Diamond Peak: $109-$567
• Donner Ski Ranch: $249
• Heavenly Lake Tahoe: $379
• Homewood Mountain Resort: $349-$499
• Kirkwood: $439-$569
• Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe: $599
• Northstar-at-Tahoe: $299-$749
• Sierra-at-Tahoe: $299-$749
• Soda Springs: $199
• Squaw Valley USA: $1,889
• Sugar Bowl: $299-$839
• Tahoe Donner: $270

* Prices may reflect early season specials/online discounts.