The Bad News Is The Rain…But We Can Dream Good Dreams

The bad news is that it has been another “snain” day in Tahoe. That’s right, the higher mountains are seeing more snow, while the lower mountains are seeing more rain. It’s not a downpour, but it’s not snow. Reviewing the Ward Peak temperature sensors shows that at the summit, temperatures never got above 32° – while at the base, the temperature never got lower than 39° today.

Alpine Meadows is still on schedule to open for the season on December 7th and we are well aware that the grooming crew is going to have to work some snow farming miracles to make things work for the opener. Fortunately, they have a lot of practice from last season. Word on the street (aka Facebook) is that they have been active this week in preventing rain damage and moving snow where it is needed.

Meanwhile, another story snuck on to our plate this week. We certainly were scooped on that by the other Unofficial guys, but we also have to work for a living. KSL quietly announced this week that they had purchased a 24% stake in Whistler-Blackcomb. As it always seems to be in the ski industry, there were some clues that something was afoot last season, when discount lodging and other Whistler-Blackcomb perks were announced.

The Tahoe Really Super Plus Pass is just a dream for now. Please don’t catch the next flight to Vancouver and catch a bus to Whistler just yet. But after a week of rain in Tahoe, it sure creates a nice picture in our heads. Sure it’s just another Intrawest village, but the mountains are spectacular. One ride to the top of either peak may involve a series of chairs and short traverses that may lead to some of the longest ski runs in your life. The terrain is hugely varied and spread out. It is totally worth the trip – especially if you can catch it when the exchange rate is a bit more favorable for loonies and toonies.

Update: I have had a couple of people tell me that we may not be dreaming too long. Whistler-Blackcomb access on our pass would be a fantastic Christmas present. It may just be a matter of working out details for different levels of passes,

Here’s some things I love at Whistler-Blackcomb:

So all we can do now is wait for opening day at Alpine Meadows this Friday…and wait for that announcement that our passes will be good at Whistler-Blackcomb.