Heavenly and Northstar to open 6 days early!
Recent Storms Allow Heavenly and Northstar to Kick-Off Ski Season Six Days Ahead of Projected Opening Day
The wait to enjoy the best ski and snowboard resorts at Lake Tahoe is over. With El Niño serving up a healthy dose of new snow at Lake Tahoe over the weekend, and with forecasts calling for another storm to hit the region Monday night, Heavenly and Northstar have announced the resorts will open six days early, kicking-off winter 2015-16 on Saturday, Nov. 14.
Heavenley Snowmaking
Bryan Steele
“We’ve already received about three feet of snow overall this season which, combined with around-the-clock operation from the West Coast’s two largest snowmaking systems, has created a great early-season base and the best snow surface conditions at Lake Tahoe,” said Pete Sonntag, Tahoe region vice president and chief operating officer.
Heavenley Snowmaking 2015
Bryan Steele
This is the earliest the resorts have opened since 2012, and the first time opening six days ahead of schedule since at least 2009. Heavenly plans to operate the Gondola, Tamarack Express and Dipper Express, accessing Upper California Trail and Orion’s which, at over a mile long, will be the longest run available in the Tahoe basin. Northstar will open top-to-bottom, spinning the Big Springs Gondola, Vista Express, Arrow Express and Comstock Express accessing West Ridge, Luggi’s, Skid, Pinball, Lumberjack and Lower Main Street. Northstar will also operate a surface lift near the Big Easy Chair to offer children’s ski and snowboard lessons.
Kirkwood received 18 inches (46 centimeters) of new snow overnight at its summit. Resort officials have yet to determine if they will open Kirkwood prior to its Nov. 21 opening day.
The Epic Pass is available until Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015.
The Epic Pass™: Ski as much as you want, whenever you want for US$809 (c. £535). The Epic Pass pays for itself in less than five days of skiing or riding. With more than 32,000 acres of skiing and snowboarding terrain, this pass can’t be beat. It features unlimited, unrestricted access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe; Perisher in Australia for the 2016 season there; Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and up to five free consecutive days when staying at in-resort accommodations at Verbier, Switzerland. No restricted dates. A child pass (ages five to 12) is US$419 (c. £278).
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Northstar
Excellent resort featuring one of California's best parks
Heavenly
Its American! On a normal snow day well groomed trails and easy to follow maps, although not that much in terms of steeps on piste. However on a powder day almost ridiculous in terms of off piste riding both in terms of quality and accessability. 4 snowboard parks all well maintained ranging from Groove at Cal Base for beginners to High Roller off Canyon chair for some seriously large features.