14 minute read
Sierra-At-Tahoe
Beyond the fi re
MAGIC OF SIERRA-AT-TAHOE ENDURES
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STORY & PHOTOS BY KATHRYN REED
This ski season was supposed to be about celebrating 75 years of schussing down the slopes at Sierra-at-Tahoe. Unfortunately, the resort doesn’t know what lifts will spin this winter and has announced that it won’t open until 2022. e Caldor Fire that ripped through Eldorado National Forest in late summer/ early fall caused signi cant damage to some of the lifts and many of the trees.
“We do know that the trails + area accessed by West Bowl Express will be inaccessible this season, as we restore that section of the mountain for seasons to come,” read a Sierra-at-Tahoe Instagram post on Oct. 24.
Even though the ski resort’s insurance company brought in private re ghters before the ames reached that section of Highway 50, re has a way of doing what it wants. Most of the buildings were saved, but the cables on some of the 14 lifts that are scattered across 2,000 acres are the problem. So are all the damaged trees.
On the resort’s website is a Guest Frequently Asked Questions about what to
Ev y e! Wint Fun f
CROSS COUNTRY SKIING · SLEDDING SNOWSHOEING · ICE SKATING
ADVANCE RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED
FOR THE ‘21-22 SEASON
Limited walk-ups will be permitted, but not guaranteed.
RESERVE ONLINE AT TCPUD.ORG/WINTER
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Sierra threw a big party for, from left, Jamie Anderson, Maddie Bowman and Hannah Teeter after they competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics. There is a reason the lift that accesses this vista is called Grandview.
Brothers Ray and Floyd Barrett opened Sierra Ski Ranch in 1946. Vern Sprock purchased it in 1956. In 1993, Fibreboard bought it and renamed it Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort. It has been owned by Booth Creek Ski Holdings since 1996.
expect this season. It gets updated as more information is available. Find more details in this ski guide, as well.
In part, the Nov. 1 update reads: “Holding the vision, trusting the process. As resorts are spinning their rst chairs for the 2021-22 winter season, the yearning to join them in this historic, early opening runs deep here at Sierra. And while we’re stoked for our friends Mammoth Mountain, Palisades Tahoe + Boreal Mountain in this celebratory event, the daily grind to join the winter lineup continues at the place Where Play Reigns Free.
–Sierra-at-Tahoe website
“We have substantial work ahead of us before we are able to announce our opening day for this season, and it is unlikely that we will open in 2021 - so we have set our sights on resuming operations in early 2022. With a delayed start to the season, the recent snow is a strong reminder of what we are working toward, and we will not stop until we are all making laps on Grandview.
WONDERFUL MEMORIES REMAIN
e re changed a lot of things for a lot of people. And while it might be trite to mourn the damage to my favorite South Shore ski resort when whole towns, such as Grizzly Flats and Greenville, were leveled this year, the loss is wrapped up in so many wonderful memories of skiing at Sierra.
I’ve never been a huge tree skier, but I loved the trees at Sierra. I loved that I could nd stashes of powder a day or two after a storm. e special events were fun. e food was good.
Sierra has always had a friendly, noncorporate vibe. It was welcoming. And all those Olympians it has produced.
I skied there with friends and family. I skied for work, I skied just to have fun.
None of those things will change as the resort repairs the re damage. It’s possible Sierra will be even more magical for having endured this signi cant setback.
Sierra has weathered many storms — ownership changes, drought, rain on snow, a pandemic, short seasons, lack of personnel, road closures and so much more. Resilient is what this resort is. It takes some pretty special people — from the general manager to the lifties — to create this sense of belonging. e fact that the resort has been honest about what is going on makes me like it even more. Transparency with guests is going to get some converts to the slopes even with limited terrain this season. is isn’t just a ski resort: it is a community. It’s a place that will always be special to me.
Bill Briner
Fundraising for ski museum
The SNOW (Sierra Nevada Olympic & Winter) Sports Museum has announced it will launch a capital campaign for a new museum in 2022 in Olympic Valley, according to the recently released 2021-22 Vision Report.
The nonprofi t was formed in 2008 to create a museum honoring the unique history of winter sports in the Sierra Nevada and the Olympic Winter Games in 1960. In 2015, the foundation identifi ed a preferred site in Squaw Valley Park. Placer County is now working with the foundation to complete the land entitlement and Environmental Impact Review.
The museum is envisioned to include a Winter Sports History Museum of the Sierra Nevada, exhibit collections that will be shared with Palisades Tahoe, Western SkiSport Museum and Gatekeeper’s Museum; an Olympic Museum to commemorate the winter games held in Olympic Valley and the West Shore in 1960; an education center; community event space; café and museum shop; and a visitor information center. | thesnowmuseum.org
Nordic resorts open
Along with the downhill ski resorts opening or preparing to open in the Tahoe Sierra, a number of local Nordic ski resorts are also opening for the 2021-22 season.
Nevada Nordic has opened its Tahoe Meadows location off Highway 431 for the season with both Royal Gorge Cross Country and Tahoe Donner Cross Country opening on Nov. 26. The Tahoe City Winter Sports Park opens on Nov. 26 with its ski trails open depending on conditions. As well, local state parks are open for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing as conditions permit. Look for our annual Tahoe Sierra Nordic & Snowshoe Guide publishing in December.
Tickets benefi t avalanche center
The Vail Resorts EpicPromise program is offering tickets to Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood that benefi t the Sierra Avalanche Center. The tickets are $129 and good any day this season with no blackouts. Purchase tickets online. | sierraavalanchecenter.org
Centenarian ski patroller honored
Palisades Tahoe and The Sierra Nevada Olympic & Winter (SNOW) Sports Museum recently honored ski legend Martin Hollay, a 101-year-old former ski patroller, known across Tahoe for his many contributions to the ski industry, according to a press release.
Hollay notably had an important role in the 1960 Winter Olympic Games held at Palisades Tahoe. He built the crosscountry track and still participates in cross-country skiing at age 101. Originally from Hungary, Hollay served as a ski patroller for many decades and contributed greatly to the formation of the Heavenly Area Ski Patrol.
The ceremony was held in The Village at Palisades Tahoe on Nov. 2. Hollay told stories from his long history on snow to the crowd in attendance. During the ceremony, Dee Byrne, president and COO of Palisades Tahoe, presented Hollay with a metal sculpture made from old lift parts from the resort and a complimentary Palisades Tahoe season pass, as attendees sang a round of “Happy Birthday.”
Martin recently turned age 101. Eddy Ancinas, the vice-president of the sports museum board and a past IOC guide at the 1960 Winter Olympics, said the museum eventually looks forward to telling the stories of Hollay and other legendary people who have worked behind the scenes to make the ski community what it is today. Her husband, Osvaldo, who was a competitor at the 1960 Winter Olympics, closed the ceremony with a yodel. | palisadestahoe.com
Plates for Powder returns
The Tahoe Fund is again offering the popular Plates for Powder program. Those who purchase a new Lake Tahoe license plate in either California or Nevada before April 1, 2022, through the Plates for Powder program receive a free lift ticket to one of eight participating Tahoe downhill or Nordic resorts, or a Tahoe City Sports Park season pass to be used during the 2021-22 winter season, while supplies last.
Plate sales and renewal fees support the development of hiking and biking trails and watershed restoration projects.
Participating resorts include Diamond Peak, Heavenly, Homewood Mountain Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Mt. Rose - Ski Tahoe, Northstar California, Palisades Tahoe, Tahoe XC and Tahoe City Winter Sports Park. | tahoeplates.org
Whether you’re taking on a DIY project, outfitting your Tahoe home, or gearing up for your next winter adventure - Mountain Hardware and Sports has what you need to take on life in the mountains.
11320 Donner Pass Road | 10001 Soaring Way #105 | Truckee, CA
asc training center
Founded 1928
OPEN
skiable 25km
# of trails 10
Courtesy ASC Training Center
Events
Dec. 31 | Night Sprint Under the
Lights & NYE Party
The Auburn Ski Club Training Center, a nonprofit winter sports facility, is one of the few training centers in the country to offer Alpine, Nordic, Biathlon and Snowboard programs in one facility. Its athletes range from first-time skiers and riders to Olympic-level and U.S. Team professionals. ASC is also one of the oldest ski organizations dating back to 1928. Read about the history of the club at TheTahoeWeekly.com. Night skiing | ASC will be introducing cross-country night with temporary lights on 1.5km of trail for four weeks beginning in mid-December. Hours and details will be announced in the future and some night races will be offered. Regular trail passes will be good for night skiing.
ASC is in the planning stages for a permanent project to install highintensity LED lighting on 2.5km of cross-country trail with plans for another 3km in the future. Lighting improvements for the race arena are also in the works.
asctrainingcenter.org
diamond peak ski area
Founded 1966
OPENS DEC. 9
New park groomer | The resort’s new PistenBully 600 Park grooming machine incorporates the latest grooming and shaping technology.
46 36
NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED
% of terrain
skiable acres 655
# of trails 43
vertical feet 1,840
terrain parks 2
Ryan Salm | Diamond Peak
Events
Dec. 24-25 | Santa & Penguin Pete visit TBA | Last Tracks Jan. 14, Feb. 11 & March 18 | Moonlight
Snowshoe Hikes Jan. 31-Feb. 6 | IVGID Community
Appreciation Week Feb. 4 | Ullr Fest Torchlight Parade & Party March 6 | Retro Ski Day March 14 | Pi Day March 20 | Dummy Downhill March 26-27 | Luggi Foeger Uphill/
Downhill Festival April TBD | Diamond Cut Video Awards New gear | The rental shop has upgraded its entire ski rental fleet for the 2021-22 season with new, beginner/ intermediate friendly Salomon Distance 72 and QST Max Jr skis. As well, look for new gear in the demo fleet.
Ski free | Children 6 and younger and adults older than 80 years ski for free.
Glade zones named | Diamond Peak’s gladed tree skiing zones offered advanced terrain for experts filled with natural obstacles like pillows, rock drops and more. The community was asked to suggest names for these new areas during the last ski season and Diamond Peak will be announcing the names this season.
Video contest | The Diamond Cut video edit contest is back for a fourth year, so grab a camera and film yourself having fun at the resort to enter starting Jan. 1.
Diamond Peak has upgraded its snowmaking systems with four new TechnoAlpin TR8 high-efficiency snowmaking guns and it will be testing one of TechnoAlpin’s latest TT10 tower fan guns this winter. Snowshoe tours | Enjoy guided 3-mile roundtrip Moonlight Snowshoe Hikes to Snowflake Lodge.
Shuttle | Diamond Peak offers two shuttles serving Incline Village.
boreal mountain resort
Opened 1964 OPEN
55
30
15
NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED
% of terrain
skiable acres 380
# of trails 41
vertical feet 500
terrain parks 8
Events
March 14-15 | Subaru Winterfest
The resort kicked off its 2021-22 winter season opening on Oct. 29 for Halloween weekend – it’s earliest opening date since 2011 – after a storm brought more than 3 feet of snow to the ski area. The resort is open depending on weather conditions.
Boreal’s Go Time Tickets offers guests the ability to purchase tickets online, select a start time, arrive and receive contactless mountain access. Tickets and entry may be limited at each start time, but prices gradually decrease throughout the day.
Woodward Mountain Parks |
Featuring a network of terrain zones to build skills at from the Woodward Start Park, Woodward Progression Park and the Woodward Peace Park, among others.
Free kids’ pass | Kids 8 and younger get a free season pass with the purchase of an adult Unlimited pass.
All-Access Pass | Become a Woodward Tahoe All-Access Member and enjoy access to both Woodware and Boreal for a monthly membership fee.
Feel Good Fridays | Enjoy $25 lift tickets with proceeds going to a nonprofit on Dec. 10, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 18 & April 8.
Ride the Magic | Play this interactive game that’s a throwback to the 1980s video games to earn discounts at borealmagic.com.
rideboreal.com, woodwardtahoe.com
donner ski ranch
Founded 1937 TBA
50 25 25
NOVICE | INTERMEDIATE | ADVANCED
% of terrain
skiable acres 505
# of trails 52
vertical feet 1,000+
terrain parks 2
Among the oldest and most iconic ski areas in the Western U.S., Donner Ski Ranch is a family-friendly resort that features a variety of terrain. It is also of the few remaining independently owned and operated family ski resorts.
Donner Ski Ranch boasts more than 500 acres of sheer fun at one of the highest base elevation ski areas in the Sierra. For beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, Donner Ski Ranch offers easy access to novice runs. Advanced skiers and riders can enjoy untouched lines at Donner Ski Ranch’s aggressive high-mountain and backside terrain.
Old School Days | Enjoy throwback pricing on lift tickets and packages deals on select days with adult tickets only $49.
The Pie | Don’t leave with a slice of fresh-baked yummy pie. The Old 40 Bar & Grill is known for its tasty cuisine with locals, but the star attraction are the pies.
BEAUTY THAT’S WORTH PROTECTING
Become a Steward of Lake Tahoe | North Lake Tahoe’s alpine blue waters and Sierra mountain peaks have drawn visitors and locals for generations. With your commitment, we can protect and preserve the natural wonders we all love for future generations to enjoy. Act, think and explore like a local. Take the Traveler Responsibility Pledge and join us in preserving our treasured spaces by leaving them better than you found them. Be sure to pack out what you pack in, remove any sled litter and drink Tahoe Tap from a reusable bottle.
This holiday season you can gift like a local too with our North Lake Tahoe gift card that can be used at a variety of participating North Lake Tahoe restaurants, shops and businesses. Shop local, support local and keep Lake Tahoe beautiful.
SHOP LOCAL SUPPORT LOCAL
SHOP LOCAL SUPPORT LOCAL
