| When the days are short and snow hides the dirt | | | | lake. |
| and makes the water of Lake Tahoe WAY to cold | | | | Backcountry Skiing |
| for swimming, you do the only thing you can do: Go | | | | Though there are some of the best ski and |
| SKIING!!! There are fourteen ski resorts in and around | | | | snowboard resorts in the world, there are FAR more |
| Lake Tahoe in both California and Nevada. There are | | | | mountains to be skied around Tahoe than you can |
| thousands of hotel and motel rooms, you can't swing | | | | reach at the end of a chair lift ride. Any of the peaks |
| a dead cat without hitting a gourmet, or deliciously | | | | around the Tahoe Basin, however, can be reached at |
| funky restaurant, and there's more music, theater, | | | | the end of a hike. |
| shows, gambling and amenities than you could | | | | Whether by snowshoe, crampon and ice axe or ski |
| possibly know what to do with. | | | | tour you can reach endless untracked ridges and |
| But relax. It's simple. Follow these two steps for the | | | | couloirs from the Pacific Crest in the Desolation |
| best winter vacation you've ever had: 1) go to Lake | | | | Wilderness on the West shore to the Carson Range |
| Tahoe. 2) go skiing! Everything else will come | | | | above Reno on the east. Many resorts also have |
| naturally. | | | | hikeable backcountry terrain, like the Milkyway Bowl, |
| Getting to Tahoe | | | | at Heavenly which gives you a few more feet of |
| Lake Tahoe is easy to find. If you're flying (and you | | | | vertical for a little bit of extra effort. Always check |
| don't have your own helicopter), the closest airport | | | | for up-to-date avalanche, snowfall and weather |
| with good service is Reno Tahoe International | | | | forecasts for the entire Tahoe back country area |
| Airport. All the major carriers fly in there including the | | | | from the Sierra Avalanche Center ( before you go |
| beloved Southwest Airlines. From Reno the closest | | | | out of bounds. |
| Tahoe ski resort are only 30 minutes away (Mt. Rose | | | | Lifts, Trams and Gondolas |
| and Diamond Peak), and the farthest are barely over | | | | Tahoe is the land of the six-pack high-speed chairlift. |
| an hour. Flying in to Reno also puts you at an | | | | We have gondolas, funitels, and trams along with a |
| advantage as most of the traffic comes in from | | | | life time supply of high speed 6 person chairlifts. The |
| Sacramento and San Francisco, so tourist congestion | | | | resorts here are fully modern with the latest in |
| is minimal. | | | | technology and as rich skiing history, like the old |
| From Sacramento or San Francisco take US Hwy 50 | | | | Trams at Heavenly and Squaw Valley. Skiing around |
| East to South Lake Tahoe, California and the casinos | | | | Tahoe is a fully modern, fast and fun experience. The |
| at Stateline, Nevada and Heavenly, Kirkwood or | | | | astounding uphill capacity at the resorts keeps you |
| Sierra at Tahoe; or take Interstate 80 through | | | | skiing with a minimum of down time. |
| Truckee to Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Donner | | | | On-mountain Amenities |
| Ski Ranch, Sugar bowl, Northstar or Homewood. | | | | What's that? You want a little down time? |
| Good weather info can be found at ( NOAA.gov ( | | | | Understandable. Skiing endless top to bottom mogul |
| and snotel ( | | | | or powder runs can be tiring. You need a recharge |
| Check traffic and snow conditions before you go at | | | | now and then. No worries, no matter where you are |
| CalTrans( NDOT ( and Magnifeye( | | | | at the resorts here you're never far from a bite to |
| Tahoe Terrain and Snow | | | | eat. Mid mountain lodges, top of the mountain lodges |
| Lake Tahoe is big: 22 miles long and 12 miles wide. | | | | abound with gourmet dining, and drinking, right off |
| Along its 72 miles of shoreline ski conditions can vary | | | | the runs with stellar views of the ski slopes and the |
| from north (Northstar at Tahoe) to south | | | | lake and no shortage of wine and beer. |
| (Kirkwood), so it helps to keep track of the weather | | | | Tahoe Lodging |
| and snowfall rates. If you're into groomers and | | | | Sure, you could sleep in your car at the base of the |
| perfect corduroy, or neck deep powder in the trees, | | | | runs after eating a ski-bum-gourmet meal of saltines |
| check the snow reports on each resort's website and | | | | and ketchup, but why now live a little? You want be |
| hit the one with the most new snow. | | | | good to yourself; that's why you're here. |
| Most of the resorts have terrain parks, and usually | | | | As a year round vacation destination, Lake Tahoe |
| more than one. Heavenly has several including | | | | has thousands of hotels and motels to choose from |
| beginner, intermediate and advanced jumps, rails and | | | | after a big day on the slopes. If you're hungry there |
| boxes for all skiers and snowboarders. | | | | are enough dining establishments to feed tens of |
| Which resort should you go to? Well that's | | | | thousands! Great lodging rates can be found to keep |
| complicated. Since everything at Tahoe is totally | | | | your budget happy even at a hotel close to the |
| awesome, it can be challenging to find the right | | | | slopes! |
| resort for you. The huge resorts, Heavenly, Squaw, | | | | In a competitive vacation market such as Tahoe, |
| and Kirkwood, offer fancy dining, big vertical relief, | | | | resorts are always teaming up with hotels to offer |
| and incredible on-mountain amenities. The small ones, | | | | ski and lodging packages to get you the best deal |
| Homewood, Diamond Peak and Mt. Rose, offer a | | | | for your trip. Whether you're skiing or snowboarding, |
| more low key experience that might be great for | | | | you can bundle your lodging, lift tickets and |
| beginners or people who want to experience | | | | equipment rentals into one great deal, so you spend |
| everything Tahoe. Every mountain has its specialties, | | | | less money and more time having fun. |
| secret powder stashes and amazing views of the | | | | |