 Poster: A snowHead
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| Dippy wrote: |
| DaddyLouLou wrote: |
I did Tahoe from SFO last year.
I rented from Thrifty, and despite reserving chains, they refused to give them. "If it's bad enough for chains, we don't want you out on the road".
Ultimately, we didn't need them as the roads were clear, and we didn't get any fresh snow.
Also, FWIW, the best skiing we had was mid-week at Kirkwood (about an hour's drive from Heavenly). The place was very, very quiet, and the conditions were almost perfect (given that there was no fresh snow).
Lastly, across the road from the Heavenly gondola base, the Flatstick Pub is well worth a visit. Superb selection of beers, and very filling pizzas.
Where are you staying? |
Thats great to know - thank you!
We are staying at the Marriott Grand, South Lake - right next to the Gondola, so will most definitely check out the Flatstick Pub.
Have bought a Tahoe Local pass as that seemed to suit us best (passes are a mindfield to work out) that gives us access to Kirkwood, Northstar and Heavenly - so yes will definitely get to Kirkwood. Did you drive there? |
Sounds very similar to what we did. Drove up from SFO, and had 11 nights in SLT (then 3 nights back in SF sampling local beers  ). We stayed in one of the lodges across the road from the gondola, so in the same area. Also did the Tahoe local pass, so skied the same 3 resorts. And I did all of the driving between them.
If you have any questions, drop me a message.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| abc wrote: |
The OP needs the car to get around. So there’s no avoiding having a car and paying to park there. But we don’t know, maybe guests get to park for free.
The Marriott Grand isn’t cheap. So even if it’s extra $35 to park there, clearly the OP can afford it. |
I did notice the valet only parking charge - hay-ho - will just have to suck it up I guess - going to be expensive tho as staying there for 13 nights!
Would liked to have split the stay with North Tahoe but with the ski passes being so expensive (as well as difficult to navigate) I opted for one base for the entire stay as it ticked all boxes - hotel amenities but with self catering facilities.
And I am treating myself as its a special birthday - one with a zero on the end 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
| I just checked and almost certainly there isn't a better deal for anyone staying in South Lake than the Tahoe value pass if you can dodge the blackout dates and buy while it is still on sale I.e. before early December. |
Yes it seemed the most sensible option, especially as we are not there during any black out dates. Purchased it back in the summer when prices first came out - worked out to be a similar price (just a bit more) that a weeks skiing in the Three Valleys. Although we may well end up buying day tickets to a couple of other hills - if we can get there!
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Hi Dippy
I just wanted to chime in, as I grew up in San Francisco - my brothers and I would often make the drive (sometimes just for a day's ski) - it's easy peasy and well managed by the Road Service - - it rarely closes down or requires chains / but it DOES happen
- just keep en eye on the weather reports and road conditions
https://roads.dot.ca.gov/
I have gotten stuck in bumper to bumper traffic during bad weather - turning a 4 hour drive into 9... no fun
- if going to South Lake Tahoe, don't miss the split in Sacramento and be sure to take Hwy 50
I have also done that before...
- American drivers are mostly horrible... and road rage is real (sadly). You don't want to get some toothless cowboy mad at you.
Yep... had that happen many times
- Keep in mind that Tahoe has only 2 ways to enter: Hwy 50 and 80... on a big weekend traffic can be really bad... maybe consider timing your drive to avoid heavy times...
sounds like you'll have plenty of time
The Marriot's location is great and parking is so convenient... the food options, from what I remember, are pretty bad in that whole village - there's a giant supermarket about 100 yards away so we stocked up there with snacks - they have a great Deli for sandwiches, etc if you get tired of high food cost and low quality. Maybe a fancy dinner at one of the casinos nearby...
Driving up to North Shore is quite a hike... Squaw an Alpine are a good option if you decide to go - but I really like going south to Kirkwood about 45 minute drive.. it's less travelled, higher, and drier/lighter snow... but that depends on your luck. Homewood has stunning views... but it's really very small and not really challenging, imo... but the view is tops.
Happy Birthday - I hope you have a great trip!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@US_EU, I'm glad that someone has sounded a note of caution about winter driving conditions.
We had fun and games on the i80 a few years ago. Driving from SFO the weather closed in and we hit stationary traffic not far from Donner Summit. A jack-knifed truck had blocked the Eastbound carriageway. We were stuck for about 1.5 hrs. It started going dark and the temperature plummeted. Chaos ensued ahead of us when the soft slush on the road started to freeze and vehicles on the incline ahead of us started slipping backwards. Such fun. Soon afterwards Caltrans bashed a gap through the central snowbank and sent us up the westbound side for a couple of miles.
On another trip, we were in a shop in Truckee towards the end of our stay. Guy in the shop spots our little none 4x4 car outside. "you folks need to get off the hill before the next storm arrives!". We thought he was a little OTT but the forecasts seemed to back him up so we drove down to Sacramento that afternoon.
Storm hit Friday evening and dropped about 4 ft of snow in the next 24 hours.
I can't find any evidence of it now, but Squaw (Pallisades now?), used to do lift-pass and lodging deals for places in Reno. For a couple of years we stayed at the Silver Legacy casino and it wasn't expensive. Some afternoons or evenings we stopped for the buffet at Boomtown on the drive back. Google suggests that's still there.
Our last trip over the Summit was a much more relaxed affair. Spectacular scenery from The California Zephyr train from Denver to SF.
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Highway 50 and even I 80 can require chains. Tahoe tends to get big dumps where you won't want to be driving and many dry periods where you won't need chains.
If it is a ski only trip, I'd fly into Reno or even Sacramento rather than SFO.
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| MEfree30 wrote: |
| Highway 50 and even I 80 can require chains. Tahoe tends to get big dumps where you won't want to be driving and many dry periods where you won't need chains. |
Having lived in the SF Bay area for some years, I don’t think anyone who hasn’t live there can EVER appreciate what “snow-mageddon” is like. Plus, how frequently it happens there!
Basically, if there’s a “real storm” in the forecast, you don’t want to be on the road! There’s a reason the pass is named “Donner” pass. 
Even minor storms can turn the 4 hr drive into 6-8 hr drive! Been there, done that. More times than I care to remember.
If you can help it, you want to be doing the drive only on a day that’s clear and dry. You’ll enjoy the view better too.
| Quote: |
If it is a ski only trip, I'd fly into Reno or even Sacramento rather than SFO. |
Sacramento still leaves you on the wrong side of the pass. No real advantage there. Reno is a much better airport for ski only trip. I don’t know what it’s like now. But when I used to live in San Jose, sometimes a group of us would have people driving up while others flew from San Jose into Reno, and we met up together. The ‘fliers’ were always fresher than the ‘drivers’.
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| US_EU wrote: |
The Marriot's location is great and parking is so convenient... the food options, from what I remember, are pretty bad in that whole village - there's a giant supermarket about 100 yards away so we stocked up there with snacks - they have a great Deli for sandwiches, etc if you get tired of high food cost and low quality.
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Yeah not any more. Part of the roof fell in with snowfall at the Raley's and they failed to agree a new lease apparently.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Last season I got stuck in I80 trying to get to Palisades for hours on MLK Jr weekend. Left SF about 6pm and got turned at Emigrant Gap maybe about 11pm. They'd closed the road and the few hours prior had mostly just been sitting in traffic waiting for everyone to be told to turn around. Some quick / questionable thinking led to trying US50, which had just reopened after a truck had gone off the road earlier in the evening.
Managed to get through to SLT by about 3am after watching multiple vehicles lose control and drift into snowbanks, and then drove around the lake to Palisades to get to the hotel at about 430am. The snow was fantastic and it was worth it.. but if I had to do it again, I'd have gone a day earlier and worked from the hotel on the Friday.
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@GeorgeVII, Thank you very much - have noted (written down in the old fashioned way) your recommendations - especially the roads report one!
Used to driving in Florida and California so hopefully wont be too stressful!
Definitely want to get to Kirkwood!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@MEfree30, Flying from UK and visiting family in SF before and after ski trip - so have not really got the option of flying to Reno.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@abc, Will definitely be keeping an eye on weather before driving to Tahoe - have 16 days total so would rather be safe!
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@Dippy, good luck with the weather.
Don’t know the kind of “deal” you have with your hotel booking. Tahoe hotels are quite accustom to deal with road closures. So if you’re unlucky enough to be delayed with storms, call the hotel and let them know you’ll be coming in late. Some hotels may give you a reduction for the night you can’t get there. Same if you need to leave early due to unfavorable weather forecast. They may elect to do nothing, but it doesn’t hurt to at least ask.
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You know it makes sense.
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@abc, Thank you - thats all noted.
Have booked via booking.com (booked it months ago and it give me free cancellation option) but would have paid for booking in full a while before travel so just hope weather kind to us!
Will be travelling early March.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| DaddyLouLou wrote: |
Lastly, across the road from the Heavenly gondola base, the Flatstick Pub is well worth a visit. Superb selection of beers, and very filling pizzas.
Where are you staying? |
I prefered McP Taphouse & grill
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Gored wrote: |
I prefered McP Taphouse & grill
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I also liked McP's, but the Flatstick was... different. 'Local' beers from CA and NV only. That said, Pliney The Elder in McP's was amazing.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thats great - my hubby will love that - as long as they do a decent California wine (red) I'm happy!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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The snow in Sugar Bowl was OK yesterday and all the roads were completely clear of snow ice. The resort was not busy so was great for family skiing.
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Thank you - just hoping they get some decent snowfall by end of February! only waited 25 years to get there and now the snow seems better in the Alps than Tahoe!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Dippy, That appears to be the case at present. However everyone here anticipates lots of snow during Jan & Feb, in all the Tahoe resorts. Apparently thats the norm according to my d-i-l who grew up here. Northstar looked very open as we drove past today on our way to a day on the beach at Lake Tahoe.
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@CaravanSkier, Thank you so much - got just over 2 months yet I know so trying not too worry!
Dont want my No.1 bucket list trip not to happen!
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@Dippy, Fingers crossed for you!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Dippy, Palisades has a blog with a discussion of historical snowfall in El Niño years, check it out for some reassurance. Right now, Tahoe is "gettin there", with main runs and gentle runs open...call it halfway open. But that's not unusual for this point on the calendar.....its way too early to freak out. In the unlikely event there is insufficient snow when you arrive, you'll still be at Lake Tahoe in the Sierras, one of the most beautiful places in the world. And thin snow in Tahoe typically means nice weather/vis, silver linings. You'll be fine.
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| Scooter in Seattle wrote: |
| Lake Tahoe in the Sierras, one of the most beautiful places in the world. . |
It really is stunning. The water in the lake yesterday was so clear and with the sunlight on it it was amazing. With snow around the edges the water was extremely cold but people were swimming, it looked very inviting.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Thank you both for reassurances - I have visited Lake Tahoe in summer, and yes it is stunning - hence wanting to return for skiing.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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We have been to Tahoe more than a dozen times usually at the end of January for two weeks, it has always snowed when we have been there and we have never failed to get some good skiing in. The first year we went (1998) there was “no snow” up until about a week before we went, it then dumped a couple of feet. Whist we were there it dumped another 8 feet. We have always had 4 wheel drive with all season tyres and have never failed to get in on 50. The first year we went we had a Dodge Caravan AWD, the chain guys knew and just waved us through chain control. As stated previously, if you need chains with 4WD you are best to stay in.
I would hope that you get included parking with your hotel, Heavenly have introduced paid parking at the California Base, from the website it looks to just be at the weekend and is free if there are 4 of you in the vehicle. From your location I would drive up Rocky Point Road or Pioneer Trail and Keller to get to the California base parking area.
I like stagecoach lodge as a way onto the mountain as the parking there is adjacent the run (assuming it has not changed since our last visit in 2013). It is fairly sheltered and runs when the rest are on wind hold too.
Also you can look at Caltrans webcams here. https://cwwp2.dot.ca.gov/vm/iframemap.htm
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Just looking at the snowfall hitting the Sierras and wondering how your trip went... This storm is producing up to 10 feet of snow (is that even possible...??) ... in March... incredible.
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You know it makes sense.
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| US_EU wrote: |
| Just looking at the snowfall hitting the Sierras and wondering how your trip went... This storm is producing up to 10 feet of snow (is that even possible...??) ... in March... incredible. |
10 feet of snow, incredible even by Tahoe standard.
In March, nothing special. March is the month of storms.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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5 feet of snow is a lot of snow. In most other part of the country, that’s a big deal. But in Tahoe? That happens every other year!
Hope the OP is not on the road. (He did say “flying out end of Feb”)
It will be fantastic skiing in a couple days. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@US_EU, the Vail resorts (Heavenly, Kirkwood & Northstar) typically don't stay open very late. IME, I'd say not beyond late April. Before this storm, Northstar was slated to close in mid April but of course that could change. In last year's historic season NS was not open in mid-May when I was there so I went to Palisades which stayed open into July, for example. As for the Ikon resorts, Palisades has already said they're open through Memorial Day (May 27 this year) and I wouldn't be surprised if they went into June. I would expect the same for Mammoth.
So far, this storm is a typical big Tahoe storm, not historic.
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... really?
10 feet at Donner is typical?
That's funny, I can't seem to find anything close to suggest that...
I'm just expressing my enthusiasm for a good dumping of snow - I didn't expect so much blow back... (excuse the pun)
I'll stop - hope you enjoy the winter!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Scooter in Seattle wrote: |
So far, this storm is a typical big Tahoe storm, not historic. |
Not historic. But far from “typical” either.
It’s going to be a few days before the resorts can dig themselves out to open all the fun terrains.
The OP will have some good skiing regardless. Whether he had to change his schedule due to the road closure and lift closure, that maybe a slightly different story. (That kind of unpredicatability is very “typical” of Tahoe skiing though  )
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I’ve just looked at the webcam looking at my brothers driveway bear truckee and it’s been cleared and the wall of snow is at least 7 feet high. And it’s level across the whole garden from the look as the summer house has disappeared !
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There has just been an avalanche on 50, I assume it will be around Echo Summit.
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Could be worse than stuck in valley at Kirkwood this weekend with chair 6 now spinning! 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I rented a car from Reno two years ago and drove to South Lake Tahoe. It was a Jeep with all season tyres and it was fine. They clear the road very quickly following a big dump so the chance that you'll need to use chains is really slow. If that happens it's better to just wait till the road is clear.
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Reno into South Lake Tahoe is often fine, when us50 over Echo Summit or sr88 to Kirkwood are a different proposition completely.
CHP are quick to hand out penalties for non compliance with chain restrictions and the 25mph* speed limit that goes with them. Certainly on 88 it seems to be - back to black - before lifting restrictions, so if you don’t have chains or 4WD with marked snow tyres you could find you spend hours waiting for a mostly black road to have the restrictions lifted.
Also a risk you could be at resort and find restrictions in place unexpectedly when you come to leave.
* The 25mph limit applies to everyone not just vehicles with chains fitted!
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FAQ
