Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:01 pm
So I flew out there, father in law came with.
General impressions:
-Heavenly is huge, has a lot of scenic views, but not a lot else. On the day I was there every single blue that was open would have been a blue in North Carolina as well. Not many blacks that were open. The only one that wasn't a bump run or into some heavy trees, the milky way bowl, was fun but with thin coverage so I had to dodge rocks and stumps.
-Homewood is a lot of fun. The day I was there, it was pretty warm and it was like skiing mashed potatoes by day's end. I spent most of my time on the North side of the mountain and wish I'd spent a little more time on the south side. I really liked how relaxed and happy everyone was here.
-Mt. Rose was a lot of fun and would've been a lot better had it not been so wind scoured. The mountain would be a sheet of ice on second and 2 or 3 inches of powdery snow over a sheet of ice the next. Once the wind moved out conditions improved drastically. Mt. Rose does a lot of catering to kids and there are kids all over the place there, kids who are way better than me.
Didn't check out alpine meadows and/or squaw as the snow bomb card free lift ticket is only good for late season tix. I wasn't there late enough so I chose homewood.
If I do a family trip to tahoe, unless the rooms in Reno are free, I'm skipping that town altogether save for the airport. I don't have anything against casino towns but the vibe there just seems to be one of desperation. That and the town has no concept of zoning laws: There's a grocery store, adult toystore, fast food restaurant, and school all within 200 yards of each other. I also noticed a couple places selling "discount liquor and food" which I thought was amusing.
Onto the pics..
Heavenly:
My father in law came along for the ride. Didn't ski but seemed to have enjoyed himself. We toured Carson City once he found out it was near by, he said he'd always wanted to go there because of some time life books he had on the old west. He also showed me a bunch of cool masonic stuff at the state capitol.
Lift shot of the terrain park
Really scenic where ever you went
Back before I realized bumps were better at tearing my knees up than allowing me to descend steep things slowly I wanted to go down the gun barrell. It was closed the day I was there.
I stopped here to get some gatorade. While waiting in line, an old man (at least 70), tried to pick a fight with me. I was reading the menu and I looked down and he was staring at me. I said 'excuse me sir" becuase I figured I was in his was and he says "say that to me again!" and bows up on me. I have no clue what I did to tick him off. Maybe he's got an undiagnosed brain tumor or his testosterone therapy in a little more vigorous than normal.
If you went to the galaxy lift it was like having sugar mountain (minus Sugar's blacks) all to your self. Yes that also means the lift was as slow.
I could see how this place is a lot of fun on a powder day.
A lot of walking was involved at Heavenly which I didn't expect. If you can handle NC you can handle Heavenly without any trouble. At least what I saw of it.
Oh and it's expensive.
General impressions:
-Heavenly is huge, has a lot of scenic views, but not a lot else. On the day I was there every single blue that was open would have been a blue in North Carolina as well. Not many blacks that were open. The only one that wasn't a bump run or into some heavy trees, the milky way bowl, was fun but with thin coverage so I had to dodge rocks and stumps.
-Homewood is a lot of fun. The day I was there, it was pretty warm and it was like skiing mashed potatoes by day's end. I spent most of my time on the North side of the mountain and wish I'd spent a little more time on the south side. I really liked how relaxed and happy everyone was here.
-Mt. Rose was a lot of fun and would've been a lot better had it not been so wind scoured. The mountain would be a sheet of ice on second and 2 or 3 inches of powdery snow over a sheet of ice the next. Once the wind moved out conditions improved drastically. Mt. Rose does a lot of catering to kids and there are kids all over the place there, kids who are way better than me.
Didn't check out alpine meadows and/or squaw as the snow bomb card free lift ticket is only good for late season tix. I wasn't there late enough so I chose homewood.
If I do a family trip to tahoe, unless the rooms in Reno are free, I'm skipping that town altogether save for the airport. I don't have anything against casino towns but the vibe there just seems to be one of desperation. That and the town has no concept of zoning laws: There's a grocery store, adult toystore, fast food restaurant, and school all within 200 yards of each other. I also noticed a couple places selling "discount liquor and food" which I thought was amusing.
Onto the pics..
Heavenly:
My father in law came along for the ride. Didn't ski but seemed to have enjoyed himself. We toured Carson City once he found out it was near by, he said he'd always wanted to go there because of some time life books he had on the old west. He also showed me a bunch of cool masonic stuff at the state capitol.
Lift shot of the terrain park
Really scenic where ever you went
Back before I realized bumps were better at tearing my knees up than allowing me to descend steep things slowly I wanted to go down the gun barrell. It was closed the day I was there.
I stopped here to get some gatorade. While waiting in line, an old man (at least 70), tried to pick a fight with me. I was reading the menu and I looked down and he was staring at me. I said 'excuse me sir" becuase I figured I was in his was and he says "say that to me again!" and bows up on me. I have no clue what I did to tick him off. Maybe he's got an undiagnosed brain tumor or his testosterone therapy in a little more vigorous than normal.
If you went to the galaxy lift it was like having sugar mountain (minus Sugar's blacks) all to your self. Yes that also means the lift was as slow.
I could see how this place is a lot of fun on a powder day.
A lot of walking was involved at Heavenly which I didn't expect. If you can handle NC you can handle Heavenly without any trouble. At least what I saw of it.
Oh and it's expensive.