| It is incredible that within a one to two hour drive of | | | | rated expert/advanced; 45%are intermediate; and |
| a full-feature city like Reno, Nevada, there are more | | | | 20% are beginner.Heavenly has a veritable cornucopia |
| than a dozen world-class ski resorts. Add the | | | | of additional amenities and close access to all the |
| attraction of gambling casinos, fabulous restaurants | | | | lodging, shopping, dining, recreational, entertainment |
| and showrooms and you have a winter vacation | | | | and fitness facilities that you could possibly imagine. It |
| destination at Lake Tahoe that is second-to-none.If | | | | is truly a fantastic resort.At the north end of the lake |
| you are in Reno for a visit to a casino or on a | | | | we find Squaw Valley USA, the site of the 1960 |
| business trip, it is a very simple to just rent a car or | | | | Winter Olympics. It was founded in 1949 amidst |
| hop on a shuttle bus down to Lake Tahoe and enjoy | | | | 8,000 acres of wilderness preserve in the California |
| a day of awesome skiing with absolutely breathtaking | | | | High Sierra. Today it boasts over 4,000 acres over |
| views of the lake from the snow covered slopes.In | | | | six Sierra peaks.Squaw Valley offers skiers a unique |
| the South Lake Tahoe area you will find a little piece | | | | experience since there are literally thousands of acres |
| of skiing heaven called, appropriately, Heavenly. This | | | | of open bowl skiing as opposed to the trails that |
| beautiful and massive ski resorts' lower slopes can be | | | | most people (especially Easterners) are accustomed |
| seen from the Stateline/South Lake Tahoe highways | | | | to. Skiing in wide-open bowls in consistently deep |
| and from most of the lake itself. Many people | | | | snow allows skiers of all levels to kick their skill sets |
| consider Heavenly to be one of the most spectacular | | | | up a notch. There are 16 open bowls to choose from |
| ski areas on the planet.Heavenly opened in 1955 with | | | | and over 100 runs that are serviced by 33 lifts. The |
| only one chair lift and a small hut on U.S. Forest | | | | terrain is rated at 25% beginner, 45% intermediate |
| Service land. Today it covers over 4,800 acres and is | | | | and 30% expert.The area receives over 450 inches |
| literally a massive operation. The resort was | | | | of snowfall annually and boasts one of the most |
| purchased in the spring of 2002 by Vail Resorts Inc. | | | | advanced and sophisticated grooming operations |
| who has pumped over $36 million in on-mountain | | | | around. Three terrain parks and two half pipes round |
| capital to improve and upgrade the site. Enhanced | | | | out the operation to include something for everyone. |
| snowmaking on 70% of all mountain trails, expanded | | | | The summit is 9,050 feet with a base of 6,200 feet, |
| grooming, outstanding terrain parks, new signage and | | | | making the vertical an impressive 2,850 feet.Squaw |
| access to tree skiing are just a few of the | | | | Valley, like Heavenly, offers close proximity to the |
| improvements that have been made.The ski season | | | | Lake Tahoe area with all the added attractions and |
| at Heavenly runs roughly from mid-November to late | | | | amenities. An absolutely world-class resort, you also |
| April. The vertical drop is 3,500 feet and the top | | | | have the additional perk of skiing down slopes once |
| elevation is 10,067 feet. The mountain spans | | | | graced by Olympic athletes.These are only two of |
| California where the base elevation is at 6,540 feet | | | | the many world-class ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe |
| and Nevada where the base elevation is at 7,200 | | | | region but they clearly give an indication of the fine |
| feet. Annual snowfall is 360 inches on average but | | | | facilities that are available. For winter sports |
| they had 480 inches during the 2004-2005 | | | | enthusiasts who enjoy a nice meal, a relaxing spa and |
| season.The resort has 30 lifts, 15 in California and 15 | | | | terrific shopping after a day spent on some of the |
| in Nevada, highlighted by an eight-person gondola and | | | | most awesome runs anywhere in the world, Lake |
| an aerial tram. As far as skiing goes, the mountain | | | | Tahoe is a must visit. |
| offers something for everyone. 35% of trails are | | | | |