Ski resorts host Super Bowl parties
A kick-off time of 3:29 p.m. Sunday for the Super Bowl means skiers and boarders can get nearly a full day on the slopes — and have plenty of time to crash a party with a big screen at a resort. Many...
View Article14 inches of snow expected for high Sierra
The National Weather Service has forecast a winter storm with 8 to 14 inches of snow above 7,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada to slam into Northern California by midnight Tuesday. At lake level at Lake...
View ArticleSki and board: How to find rapture on the slopes
At a mountain snow resort, there’s a saying when you get ready to launch down the hill: “miles of corduroy.” Suddenly, winter life is complete. “Corduroy” is the subtle grooved surface created by snow...
View Article$1 donation program pumps $28K into Tahoe Fund
Dollar donations on lift tickets at Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood and other activities raised $28,351 to the Tahoe Fund, Lake Tahoe’s non-profit dedicated to funding environmental improvement...
View ArticleTahoe’s 1st Snow!
So we’re a bit late in posting about Tahoe’s first snow — it’s been crazy here at 5th & Mission with Team Oracle’s America’s Cup win and the A’s being American League West champs and all. But here...
View ArticleWhat’s cookin’ in the Sierra: Snow, Yoga and Beer
What’s cookin’ in the Sierra? Rather a lot, actually. Big news from your Slope Dope blogger… Fall It’s a tingly time of year. Though we’re still in October, and it’s just barely fall outside the house,...
View ArticlePhotos: the Magic Moment when first snow falls
How did you get the news? Half asleep, half-listening to the radio? Suddenly, you’re wide-awake, sitting bolt upright. A familiar buzz on your cellphone when you were supposed to be paying attention to...
View ArticleOpening Day: on its way
Fine. Snow has fallen. Fine. They’re blowing new snow. Fine. Chain-control alerts have been posted. Fine. But when are the slopes gonna open? Here’s when: Mammoth Mountain: November 7th Heavenly...
View ArticleWhat’s trending for 2013-2014 ski season
Had a good time over the weekend attending the SnowBomb festival here in San Francisco. The event took over AT&T Park and it looked like most people enjoyed strolling through the outfield, shopping...
View ArticleBig rain brings new snow to Tahoe
Yes, snow has fallen, lifts are starting, and here’s what it looks like in Tahoe: And if that ain’t enough, in Montana, Big Sky got fourteen inches and is poised to open. Let it snow, let it snow, let...
View ArticleWhat’s new in Tahoe this season
This time of year, when I lived in Vermont, I’d get What’s New messages from Vermont ski areas. Went like this… Stowe — two new chairlifts! Sugarbush — two new chairlifts and a gondola!! Stratton —...
View ArticleArctic cold front gives life to Tahoe ski areas
The Arctic blast that is sweeping into Lake Tahoe and the high Sierra this week is the best and worst news the ski resorts could get. Many operations hope get up and running soon, at least with limited...
View ArticleWhere’s the snow? Drought hits Truckee-Tahoe
Where’s the snow? Not in Truckee, that’s for sure. Or at Donner Pass or Lake Tahoe, either. It looks grim for trips planned for the Christmas-New Year’s holidays. A tour of Truckee and Tahoe Wednesday...
View ArticleNorth Tahoe: Beginners take note
While we wait for serious snow, what’s happening by the lake? Learning, for one. While experts are jonesing for open steeps, beginners have three good reasons for taking to the slopes now. Lack of...
View ArticleDespite drought, skiing still great in Tahoe
It was bugging the heck out of me. Sitting in San Francisco, I couldn’t tell if skiing in Tahoe was finished/gone/deplorable or brilliant/superb/remarkable. Trusted voices told these very different...
View ArticleTahoe Report: 3 mountains in 3 days + Hot Gossip
On my three-mountain trip to Tahoe, I got four surprises. Both I-80 to the North Shore and 50 to the South were virtually snowless. I knew the temperature would be unseasonably warm; I didn’t expect...
View ArticleFinally: Good news for cross-country skiers
Not one but two Tahoe cross-country centers are opening today. Thank you, Thor. Here are the details… Royal Gorge Cross Country is re-opening Saturday, Feb. 1 with 30 kilometers of groomed trails...
View ArticleHere it comes: First snowflakes fly at Donner Summit
The first snowflakes in a projected five-day procession of snow and rain arrived at Donner Summit Thursday afternoon as the Tahoe region braced for storms many hope will reclaim the winter season....
View ArticleWeekend rain, snow a healing storm
Snowplows clear I-80 over the weekend near Donner Pass. Photo by Reuters. The big storm over the weekend was a “healing storm.” That is, it is healing the landscape across...
View ArticleStorm brings some good, some weird snow conditions at Tahoe
Once again, I was getting wildly conflicting reports from Tahoe. Some said, Snow at last! Great skiing! C’mon up! Others said, Areas closed. One chair working. Eternal lines. I went to the source —...
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