We’re still waiting for winter-like weather to arrive in Tahoe. Every once in a while the models, and the forecasters that follow them, have teased us. They will drop hints of a pattern change that could lead to a storm, or even just bring colder air for snow making. The level of hopium rises for a day or two, then Lucy pulls the football away from Charlie Brown, yet again. Sigh.
This is the weekend that was supposed to bring us natural snow, then it became the weekend that would bring us nice cold air for snowmaking. Alas, now it is the weekend that offers more fall weather appropriate for bike rides and planning road trips. I noticed a day or two ago that that inside slider low pressure system we expected was appearing further and further east with each model run, leaving us under the influence of the high pressure Really Resistant Ridge™.
The result of that ridging is more inversions that keep daytime temperatures way above freezing and nighttime temperatures that keep snowmaking guns idle. Here’s the upcoming ten days:
So we kick the possibility of much colder temps all of the way out another 10 days. Ouch. The GIF below is a model comparison of total snowfall during that 10 day period. The Euro and the Canadian models see that faraway system as an inside slider, bringing almost no snow. The GFS is hoping for a bit more westerly track that could bring some snow. Ten days out is on the far edge of credibility for weather models.
Update: They were making snow overnight on Weasel, Tiegel and over at the other side on the lower mountain. The marketing department also sent out a blast for the upcoming “Kids Ski Free Week” that is coming up Dec 6-12th. That would seem to some sort of indicator that there is some confidence in getting something open by next weekend.
Conditions Are Deteriorating
As of today, there are now three ski areas with some open terrain in the Tahoe region: Mount Rose, Heavenly Valley and Boreal Ridge. Yes, I have skied at Mount Rose the last 7 days and it has been fun. Last week, it looked like with some snowmaking they could get some additional terrain open. That has not been the case. While the terrain that is open has been pretty good, it’s deteriorating due to warm temperatures. Heavy skier and rider traffic has compacted the snow leaving a firm surface behind. Snow has also been scraped off and disappeared through sublimation. Rocks and gravel are becoming problematic in several areas.
My Off Peak pass at Mount Rose is blacked out today and tomorrow. It’s not something I expected to happen, as generally Alpine Meadows opens before blackout days are a thing. Honestly, I am okay with a break right now. It’s been really busy and the meager offerings at Heavenly and Boreal won’t really change that.
A Late Opening At Alpine Meadows Is Uncommon But Not Rare
I’ve been asked this question many times over the last week. It seems like the Wednesday before Thanksgiving has been the typical opening day forever, right? It turns out, not necessarily. With the help of ChatGPT (Yeah, not always 100% correct) I went mining for opening dates over the last 15 years. Most were verified by posts here at UA.
I am not super hopeful about our favorite mountain getting open in the near future. Again I am thankful that I am still putting food on the table and have a nice place to call home. This is the time of year where mountain staff that have not been brought onto the payroll yet are starting to worry about how to make ends meet next month. So for all of their sake, I am rooting for a change!
Meanwhile, I may put in a few more days at Mount Rose. But it also might be a good time to get out of dodge for a bit and head for the coast. Yeah, the Ikon Pass is good on the east coast, but I am still in the camp of mega passes being bad for skiing. Do the people of Vermont really want the California hordes descending on their favorite mountain? Probably not…
Leaving You With More “Bring On The Snow” Rituals
- Remove your snow tires
- Put out the lawn furniture
- Plan an outdoor event like a wedding
- Sleep with a spoon under your pillow
- Sleep with your pajamas inside out and backwards
- Flush ice cubes down the toilet
- Put a white crayon on each windowsill in your house
- Eat ice cream every day
We need a dislike button.
👎 Copy and paste as needed!
I’m concerned about the Pajama’s solution 😳
I’ve skied a few days at Rose too…what they have is fine but the most dangerous aspect of skiing is plentiful…the teenage boy. At 68 years and pro patrol retired I know how to ski defensively, but I was barely missed and the skier below me was absolutely destroyed by a 14 year old flying missile. As I helped them untangle ( fortunately no injuries), I suggested our youngster slow his roll a bit. His response? We were all at fault, “ taking up the whole run, and go f$@k yourselves”. Maybe Rose should put a few jackets out there and tone things down…I’m out till after the weekend.
I support! your desire for the Resorts to come up with an effective solution to the flying missile. I had an encounter last February, with a flying female missile and am one of the many, who have lost months of time and money, recovering from these events. After being a ski bum/junkie for over 65 years, returning to the slopes is not a certainty!
Until I read this post I had no idea my off peak Mt Rose pass was blacked out today as it worked just fine this morning. I left around 10:30 when the 10-16 year old flying missiles and widespread gravel were in evidence.
I drove down to Mammoth on Monday, and barely got a good parking spot at Chair 2 arriving at 7:40 a.m. Pretty serious lift line at 8:30 a.m., but I got right over to Chair 23 where there was no lift line. Beautiful thing! Cornice Bowl was pretty good early but scraped off soon thereafter. Pretty darn busy from the jump lower on the hill. I was in and out that day. My nephew took his family down to Mammoth on Wednesday for the holiday weekend and reports it “being like visiting Disneyland.”
Let’s dive a little deeper into why Alterra, flush with revenue from advance pass sales, fails to bring its people onto payroll during a time they had already budgeted to be open.
That is a gamble with all seasonal employment, not just the ski areas. All businesses that thrive on winter tourism are facing that struggle…
Agreed, however most seasonal businesses don’t get to charge their customers months in advance. Alterra and Vail have effectively monopolized alpine skiing making it essentially mandatory to buy a season pass. They have the resources to do the right thing for their resort employees.
Valid points 🙁
The opening date list looks correct.
I skied on opening date oct 29 , 2021.
(Photo won’t post here)
trails on Gold Coast lift were open.)