Ski Southeast Messageboard

Hey board....Its been a while but I was hoping I could ask for some advice on here. I planned a mid-week anniversary trip in early March to Lake Tahoe. Yeah yeah....I know the snow sucks out there right now, but a lot can change between now and then. My wife is not a skier/boarders, but she has always wanted to go to Tahoe in the winter. Even though I promised her I wouldn't ski the whole trip, I will probably spend at least one day on the slopes. Any recommendations on the best resort for a 1 day Tahoe ski experience? I'm leaning toward Heavenly cause we will be staying in South Tahoe, but Northstar and Sqaw are tempting as well. Also intrigued by Sierra-at Tahoe. I am an intermediate skier so I'm not looking for a lot of vertical, steeps, bowls, or deep powder. I'd be perfectly content with long scenic groomers. And it would be a plus if the resort had a good village at the base for my wife to explore while I'm on the slopes.

Also any other suggestions for non-skiing/snowboarding activities in Tahoe would be appreciated too.

Thanks!

If you are staying on the south shore and are looking for blue groomers with a view and a village, then Heavenly is your mountain. There are lots of shops, an ice rink, and movie theaters in the village that can keep your wife busy while you ski. Or she could take a scenic gondola ride and meet you at Tamarack Lodge for lunch. There is also tubing at the top of the gondola. As for off mountain activities, Zephyr Cove is nearby and offers snowmobile tours as well as lake cruises on the M.S. Dixie. I highly recommend both. And of course there are the casinos if you are feeling lucky. Enjoy your trip!

Heavenly is all about long scenic groomers for intermediates. Went there back in 2000 for a family trip and we were all intermediates back then. Had a good time.

Need to be a little careful to make sure that you end up in the correct state when coming down from the top.

Haven't done it, but the boat ride on Lake Tahoe is probably worth considering.

It's not really worth the drive to North Tahoe for just a day of skiing. The shorter route is often closed during the winter. That said, spending a day driving leisurely around the entire lake can be a fun excursion. If you do that, stop by Homewood to check out how rustic a small place out west can be. Quite a contrast to Squaw or Northstar.

Thanks for the feedback on intermediate skiing and non-skiing activities. I am really getting stoked about his trip, even if the skiing may be limited.

There are a host of "mom & pop" old style hotels... some with heated pools or hot tubs. We got one walking distance to the new Hotel and big lift to the top. It was under $60 a night.

Worked out great. Had a great time skiing there... and there is a Casino on the Reno side that has cheap movies...

Our morning ritual was up, a cup of coffee and muffin from the coffee shop across the street from the big hotel, then get on the covered lift to the top of the mountain... just about the time we finished our breakfast on the way up. And the views? Second to none.

Unless you do some digging even mid-week you're gonna be paying 100 for that lifty at heavenly, just be ready. As others have observed, a lot of really 2.5 star hotel rooms within walking distance of the heavenly gondola. We stated a blue lake a while back for $55 a night off hotwire, more than got our moneys worth. Homewood also has the groomers and the views, and is a lot cheaper lift ticket, but is not an option if emrald pass is closed, which it mostly is. Heavenly is one big-ass mountain and will keep you very, very busy for a day. Have a great time!

thanks dean and grinderstation.....yeah I know the lifty will be pricey at heavenly., but I've looked at them all and they are all about that price. I'm still seriously considering Sierra-at-Tahoe...I've heard its a hidden gem for intermediate skiers.

How close do u want to stay? the grand sierra in reno often has rooms dirt cheap

Sierra @ tahoe, great tree skiing. lotta boulders / some cliffs, was lucky to have a local show me around for a while. really nicely-spaced pine forests. to memory very reasonable lifties and generally discounted on liftopia. backside was total frozen tundra when I was there, not worth teh effort.

As we progressed through February and I watched the weather in Tahoe, my fears increased. Just like here in NC, Lake Tahoe had a blowtorch month. I was starting to fear that conditions were going more like summer when I got out to Tahoe in early March. But not so fast my friend.... the end of February was kind to the Sierras with about a foot of snowfall in the past week. And today trough Saturday the Sierras are getting bombed with anywhere from 2-4 FEET of snow predicted. And even better it looks like the storms (and roads) will clear out by the time I get to Reno on Monday and I'll have several bluebird days on almost fresh powder. Plus me and the wife might get to do the snow machine tours we wanted to do. Thank you snow gods for delivering!!! The ski season lives on!! I can't wait to get out there!!