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What’s New This Wi
Norman Reed Managing Editor With resorts reporting staggering seasonal snowfall last year and hosting skiers for 275 days, weekenders are eagerly anticipating another epic season for this year. Mike Reitzell, president of Ski California, shares insights into the upcoming season: “Last winter, California resorts experienced their second snowiest season on record, and almost 8.3 million skiers and riders took to the slopes. Skiing and snowboarding were incredibly popular, and the tremendous snow conditions only added to the experience.” California’s ski resorts are promising some fresh and new adventures to explore. However, before setting plans in stone, make sure to check your chosem resort website for the latest updates on current snow conditions. As the resorts prepare for another exciting winter, they’re not only relying on Mother Nature but are also enhancing the visitor experience. From new high-capacity chairlifts to revamped restaurants, upgraded grooming and snowmaking equipment, and enticing off-mountain activities, there’s plenty to look forward to. One notable change this season is the introduction of a parking reservation system for Tahoe skiers and riders heading to Palisades Tahoe, Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood on weekends and holidays. While weekdays offer more flexibility, the weekend and holiday reservation system aims to spread out arrival times, -46- | ExtendedWeekendGetaways ~ January 2024
reducing traffic congestion on mountain roads. According to Reitzell, “There’s no longer any need to rush to arrive at the resort by 8 o’clock in the morning. Skiers can show up for a 10 a.m. reservation and know they have a reserved parking spot. That should alleviate traffic problems that were caused by everyone trying to get to the resort at the same time.” The reservation system brings advantages for resort-goers, offering flexibility in arrival times and even free reservations for cars with four or more occupants on weekends and holidays. Now, let’s take a sneak peek at the exciting changes, upgrades, and improvements at 10 California ski resorts:
June Mountain, June Lake:
This family-focused resort adds two adven-
