It’s been a year since parking reservations were implemented at Alpine Meadows and Palisades Tahoe. At this time last year, we were all stressed out about how it would work and what if it did not work. There were struggles here and there, but overall the system may have worked. As I mentioned several times last season, we really don’t know if it works until we get another big year like ’22-23, where it seemed like endless powder days all fell on Saturdays. Ultimately, I was able to secure free parking every single date when reservations were required last season. At first the process was daunting and confusing, but we figured it out and streamlined the process to make it easier.
For the upcoming season, there have been no big announcements regarding changes to the program, dates when reservations will be required or when we can start making reservation. Because I am the curious sort, I went and looked on my own. As it turns out the information for next season is already publicized. There’s a calendar of about 53 dates where parking reservations are required, all occurring on weekends and holiday periods beginning December 7th. Parking is unrestricted Monday through Friday (non-holiday) and all dates after 1 pm.
The good news is that all reservations will continue to be free, with the exception being those people that want to guarantee a reservation more than 5 days ahead of time. Those advanced reservations allow you to book well in advance of planned vacations for $30 each day. Free reservations will again be released at 12pm and 7pm on the Tuesday before each weekend.
What Has Changed?
• The program remains essentially unchanged from last season and that is a relief. Several ski areas have used reserved parking as a way to ease people into paid parking for all visitors. Meaning the first year is free, but then more and more paid reservations become the norm in successive years. We are happy to report that there was no escalation at Palisades Tahoe and Alpine Meadows for the upcoming season. We can only hope that it continues that way.
• The best I can tell, the process for making reservation will remain the same as last season. I absolutely suggest that you follow the directions we posted last year to make this easier in a post titled This Is The Way. No, I am not going to repeat those directions here, you just have to click the link in the last sentence or click on the Favorites menu above.
• I found that when I tried making a reservation today, I had been logged out of the “Honk” system, and the password I had saved no longer worked. You might want to test this out for yourself and go through the password change process, if needed, before you have a panic situation at 12:00pm on Tuesday, December 3rd. Last season, my phone kept me logged in at Honk the entire season, except for that one week when they logged everyone out.
• I have heard some rumors that some adjustments are being made that will allow for families with kids on ski teams to make reservations earlier than everyone else. Whether that is right or wrong is not my call, but I can see where those parents get stressed. That said, those of us that ski every day, have seasonal lockers, have had passes for decades and already have completed the ski team years, well, we get frustrated too. If ski team families are allowed to jump the line, reservations for the rest of us will become more difficult.
• Yes, there was some fairly consistent enforcement of the program. Most weekends you could find vehicles with yellow violation notices on their windshield. Most people did pay their fines. There were stories told of unjustified violations being given, but I probably heard more humble brags from people that beat the system and did not get a violation. I found that getting a reservation each week was easier than the worrying about the potential for getting a violation.
It’s Probably Going To Be Okay, Again
Ultimately, in the grand scheme of things, reserving parking at our favorite ski area is absolutely a first world problem. There’s been a lot of political upheaval over the last month and we have got bigger fish to fry in our future. Thanks again to Palisades Tahoe for keeping most parking free and not radically altering the system that we have learned to live with. I can’t wait to be skiing our favorite mountain again.
I also heard there maybe additional free ones released on Friday mid-day – YMMV.
And for the well-heeled among you, I’m pretty sure that if you book a full-day private lesson, you’re guaranteed a “free” reservation (you still have to make it, just don’t have to pay). And there may be a limited set of additional reservations available for those who book regular lessons (again, YMMV – don’t take my word for it).
And Mark, you know you can always park in my driveway and take the Mountaineer if you get shut out.
The day that I don’t get a reservation, I will very purposefully use public transportation and then document every hour of several it takes to get to Alpine Meadows and back from my neighborhood. That would be a fun blog post.
Oh yeah great news – only 53 days requiring a reservation!
How did I not know about “This Is The Way” last season? That will make it so much easier! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Orientation for the big mountain program was last night. Eash ski team family gets a code that will allow them one vehicle advance parking reservation that they can book before parking becomes available to the general public. No comment on whether that is right or wrong, but, to the coaches’ credit, they did belabor how privileged this was and spent a lot of time asking people not to abuse the privilege.
Mark, thanks for the great reporting and for being a resource for the region. You have made a big impact.
Randy, also nice to see you chime in. Super pumped for this year.
I am stationed up at the Summit these days, my crew misses the hill at Alpine. Good times.