Boreal and Mt. Rose still open for limited operations

By Nick Cruit | Tahoe.com
November 4, 2008

Early winter weather has proved to be a tease as persistent warm conditions are melting what ski resorts already have open, and dashing hopes of resorts that planned to open this weekend.

North Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts

Squaw Valley USA
While Squaw Valley USA was prepared to open this Saturday, they have rescheduled a light opening for Thanksgiving day. According to Savannah Cowley, Squaw Media and Public Relations, they hope to have Papoose, Squaw Kids, and Lower Exhibition open for skiing by next week.


Northstar-at-Tahoe
Northstar-at-Tahoe, the other resort slated to open this weekend, has also pushed their tentative opening day into late next week. Depending on the weather, they hope to open Nov. 26 with rideable terrain near the Mainstreet area.

“As temperatures permit, our snowmaking team is ready and waiting,” said Northstar communications manager Jessica Van Pernis.


Alpine Meadows
Still shooting for a Nov. 26 opening day, Alpine Meadows has their snow making equipment prepared, tested and ready to go for low temperatures. According to Rachael Woods, Alpine Meadows Public Relations, early November’s cold spell gave new snowmakers an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the mountain and the equipment. Woods said the snowmakers will be concentrating on covering the areas near Kangaroo Lift, Meadow Chair, and Roundhouse as temperatures drop.

“We like to have a beginner area open early,” said Woods. “The park manager is looking to put up a few features too.”


Mount Rose
With a 5- to 10-inch base, Mount Rose plans to continue its early season operating schedule, 9 a.m. to 4p.m. Thursday through Sunday, with a $20 flat rate on lift tickets. Panderosa Run is open and more terrain park features are expected with access off the Flying Jenny Conveyor.

“We’ve held up pretty well despite the temperatures,” said Mount Rose Marketing Director Mike Pierce. “With our altitude and limited direct sun exposure we are still holding on to what snow we have.”


Boreal Mountain Resort
Boreal is also holding up against warm temperatures with one operating lift, one run, and a terrain park.

“We’ve had to adapt the features to accommodate for less snow,” said Boreal Marketing Manager Jon Slaughter, “We basically have a brand new terrain park since the rebuild.”

With favorable snowmaking conditions on their way, Slaughter said they anticipate their new fully automated snowmaking system to run, as temperatures allow, through the next few nights.

“Under ideal conditions the new system can lay down 12 inches on one run overnight,” said Slaughter.


Diamond Peak & Homewood
Elsewhere, Diamond Peak Ski Resort prepares for a Dec. 11 opening day while Homewood Resort is set for Dec. 12.

South Lake Tahoe Ski Resorts

Heavenly Mountain Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort had planned to open this week after a wet start to November. but a week of warm and dry weather during the middle part of the month has pushed back their opening dates to at least Thanksgiving weekend.

Heavenly, which has Lake Tahoe’s most expansive snowmaking operation, posted on its website on Tuesday that it will not open on Friday as previously believed. The South Shore’s largest resort will open as conditions permit.

“The forecast for the next five days calls for a cooling trend that should give us better snowmaking temperatures,” said resort spokesperson Russ Pecoraro.

Kirkwood said it will open Thanksgiving weekend, conditions permitting. Sierra-at-Tahoe hasn’t announced a tentative opening date.

With the recent high temperatures, resorts have been unable to maximize their snowmaking capabilities.