 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm in San Francisco with work end of Feb/start of March and have booked a lodge up in Heavenly for a weekend.
Have heard great things about the place so looking for any insider tips. Will be a small group of us from experienced skier/boarders to day 3 or 4 beginneers. We're staying a couple of minutes walk from the gunbarrel/tramway lifts so will access the hill from this area rather than the gondola.
Thanks!
M
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Traditionally, the Sierras (which are not lightweight) do not get their snow until mid to late January on, with February and March many times their biggest months, even April in a good year. In such a year there's snow well into June for which I've seen a remaining 15 plus anchored feet of base a good many year. California really needs snow (and rain) right now. That said, Heavenly offers great skiing across-the-board, breathtaking, jaw dropping vistas............., uniquely the Sierras - lots of pine trees which do scent the air especially on sunny days, good, solid (as ever high moisture content) snow and if your accomodations are a scant walk from Gunbarrel, it will be a breeze. Assuming you will rent ski equipment, do it at South Lake Tahoe, not down in SFO. The restaurants are very good especially the casino restaurants such as Harrahs just down the street in Nevada who can afford to not charge as much for dining as gambling is where they make their money, as well, seeing that Nevada is a non taxed state at the state level.
If your booking is for the weekend and you're departing/driving out of San Francisco I implore you (in other words, I am telling you outright) to get out of SFO ideally around 10:00 in the a.m. having allowed the morning commute to pass. If you put yourself on the road after 1:00 p.m. you will most certainly not be amused. Take 80 to Sacramento then split to 50 and always watch your speed, be it on 80, 50 or anywhere else. The CHP (California Highway Patrol) take a dim view of speeders, etc. and as any native Californian will tell you the CHP have this lovely ability to somehow be everywhere, even alleys. I will attest to that............, I lived in NorCal for seven years, two of which in the Sierras in Alpine. On your return, if possible, stay over Sunday night and leave Monday morning. Really. Seriously. Have the lodge give you a deal which they should and be wise via a relaxed drive back on Monday a.m. The drive back to the Bay Area on Sunday night is serious business, all the more if there is a storm. Actually, stay over an extra day or two (you only live once) and at least on the last day or as well the day before, drive up on either the West or East shore - preferably the West shore by about six to eight miles plus to Emerald Bay - Bliss. You really need to check out an hour or two of the lake and it's most attractive on/from the West shore................ You will be blown away.
Watch the weather. Check with the CHP or CALTRANS before you go as to the status of 50 from Placerville on................ If a storm is at hand the Sierras can easily get three, four, five plus feet in twenty-four hours which is great for skiing but just the opposite for driving. Make sure your car is tip top beginning with the tires, wipers and fluid too.
And before you bust out of San Francisco for good be certain to walk over to Sausalito at least once taking the ferry back. Sausalito is a great respite either in the early morning or late afternoon - evening to visit for breakfst and dinner. The ferry's wonderful. Just be very well bundled up! Also go out to Ocean Beach and hang out there at least once if not more - again very well bundled up. So many visitors never do.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Wed 3-12-14 23:17; edited 2 times in total
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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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Heavenly is great - stunning lake views from the slopes.
I'll be in Tahoe in mid December: praying for some snow!!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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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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I loved Heavenly. Really enjoyed taking advantage of the all-you-can eat buffets in Harrah's and free drink and sandwiches while playing the tables in Harvey's!
Skiing, especially among the trees on the Nevada side, was memorable.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yeah, spent 2 weeks in Heavenly and surrounding resorts a couple of year ago. Great ski area, some brilliant bump runs if that's your thing, interestingly different night time scene to the usual resorts to.
I was actually slightly disappointed with the views I have to say. Its very pretty, but I think all the hype had built it up too much. The views are not a patch on the Alps IMO.
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| Quote: |
I was actually slightly disappointed with the views I have to say. Its very pretty, but I think all the hype had built it up too much. The views are not a patch on the Alps IMO.
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They are very DIFFERENT to the Alps which I think is the point. The views to the lake on one side and the desert on the other are just a very new experience and memorable I think.
With just a weekend you'll have more than enough to do in Heavenly. I had a week and enjoyed trips to Kirkwood and Squaw as well as Heavenly. Particularly the boat trip across the lake with breakfast on board to get to Squaw. A really nice change from the Alps.
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The views from the top, with desert on one side and the incredible blue of lake Tahoe, are amazing. If you are a competent skier try Mott Canyon it is an experience to remember.
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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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Top local tip - drive to Kirkweed every day.
Seriously go there at least one day - day you drive home is probably best as you can drive 88 back to the central valley and back to the bay via Dublin. Way less traffic and the Hope Valley and Carson Pass on the way up to Kirkwood is stunning.
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@dave +1; have been in tahoe with rain almost top to bottom (in Dec or Jan, so it does happen). Went to Kirkwood, pow, pow, pow. Also if you have energy and desire to look at other places, kirkwood first, squaw, second Alpine third (for me). 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
Top local tip - drive to Kirkweed every day.
Seriously go there at least one day - day you drive home is probably best as you can drive 88 back to the central valley and back to the bay via Dublin. Way less traffic and the Hope Valley and Carson Pass on the way up to Kirkwood is stunning. |
Kirkwood is where I shall be this time round. Then over to Utah, and then back to Tahoe to hit Squaw just after new year. A week doing business in Canada, followed by Whistler, then home. I'm rather looking forward to this trip, as should munter!
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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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I really liked Squaw and Kirkwood but also enjoyed Sierra at Tahoe which never seems to get a mention. Small ski area and although not that steep has some great tree skiing... and not very far from Heavenly.
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@nickr, agreed about Sierra. I went there several times and the tree skiing was superb on a snowy day (not exactly powder, though, more like wet cement!). Mainly intermediate cruising but one or two epic bump runs near the top. Easy access, by regular bus, from South Lake Tahoe.
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You know it makes sense.
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Spent a few weeks over there and did all the Tahoe resorts and Mt Rose in Nevada.
Loved the view from the top of Heavenly where you could see the brown expanse of the Nevada desert and Carson City in the distance on one side and the greenery and dark blue colors of the lake on the Californian side.
One of my favorite resorts was Homewood. Small and with and old lift system but was very quiet and is the closest to the lake. Here's a picture I took of it.
Lift prices are expensive and don't come down the longer you stay as in Europe but beware of special deals that each resort has. Some offer 2 for 1 or give free tuition on certain days etc.
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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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| snowheads68 wrote: |
Spent a few weeks over there and did all the Tahoe resorts and Mt Rose in Nevada.
Loved the view from the top of Heavenly where you could see the brown expanse of the Nevada desert and Carson City in the distance on one side and the greenery and dark blue colors of the lake on the Californian side.
One of my favorite resorts was Homewood. Small and with and old lift system but was very quiet and is the closest to the lake. Here's a picture I took of it.
Lift prices are expensive and don't come down the longer you stay as in Europe but beware of special deals that each resort has. Some offer 2 for 1 or give free tuition on certain days etc. |
Thank you Snowhead68.......... You get it...., you got it. You did it right. The Sierras are altogether unique unto themselves, no sense in comparing. Homewood, like Alpine (Meadows) and Sugar Bowl or even Northstar is a secret place many of us who know the state and Tahoe region don't talk about, instead letting all the 'know-it-alls' flap their lips about two primary Tahoe joints. Don't get me wrong those two joints are great and hardly by accident and v. much worth time there................, but some of the others we simply out of selfishness keep a lid on in most circles. Case in point........., your photo of Homewood where I've grouped up many times with friends is off the charts, but alas, not a uber facility, therefore it suffers in the minds of the 'know-it-alls', as if they ever knew or could ever be bothered to ski "there".
Then there's Mammoth which is hard to get to either way one slices it - from LAX, above all SFO - but what a piece of work it is. Wow. Anyway, as stated, the Sierras are unique and I hope anyone who spends time within the entirety of the Sierras regardless of what they are used to takes the range on its own terms. Hell, the Alps alone are vast and I would never compare the White Highlands to that of the Jungfrau even though both are in Switzerland and butt up against each other, for that matter place the Dolomites up against any other region.
Your photo of Homewood alone should awaken even the most jaded...................... To ski there on any day, especially certain days is a real treat such as what I suspect was possibly in March.
Again, good on you. You get it, you got it.
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Poster: A snowHead
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@equinoxranch, I feel I might have annoyed you a tad by drawing a comparison between the Alps and Tahoe. That certainly wasn't my intention and I wasn't saying the area wasn't amazing, because it is. We skied at Heavenly, Squaw, Kirkwood, Sierra, Northstar and Mammoth and they were all brilliant areas and I have great memories of our time there.
I don't see why you can't compare the views in one region to another though. Yes, the Sierras are very different to the Alps, like they are very different to the Colorado Rockies around Winter Park, Breckenridge, Steamboat etc.and it's because they are different that allows us to form an opinion about which is more aesthetically pleasing and in my opinion the Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites etc tend to offer more dramatic scenery than the Sierras.
BUT that is not to say that they aren't beautiful. For the record, I'd take Lake Tahoe over a rainy view of Manchester in England every single time!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| nickr wrote: |
I don't see why you can't compare the views in one region to another though. Yes, the Sierras are very different to the Alps, like they are very different to the Colorado Rockies around Winter Park, Breckenridge, Steamboat etc.and it's because they are different that allows us to form an opinion about which is more aesthetically pleasing and in my opinion the Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites etc tend to offer more dramatic scenery than the Sierras. |
You can't COMPARE views if they're completely different!
I can compare and say Heavenly has better views than Sierra-at-Tahoe, because one has an open view while the other doesn't. So one is BETTER than the other. But to compare the view of say Squaw vs Heavenly gets quite tricky even when they're looking at the same lake. At different time of the day, one maybe better than the other and vice verse.
To compare two entirely different types of view, the Alps vs Lake Tahoe (I don't mean Sierra ranges) is totally pointless. You're "comparing" mountain view vs water view. They're not really comparable.
You may have a strong personal preference of mountain over ocean. But that's not a valid comparison.
It's apple vs oranges.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@abc, to compare means to measure the difference between two things. We are COMPARING the difference between mountain landscapes. At Heavenly you are stood on top of a mountain and surrounded by mountains, mainly, with a large lake at the bottom which is also surrounded by mountains. I see that as apples and apples.
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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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| nickr wrote: |
| @abc, to compare means to measure the difference between two things. We are COMPARING the difference between mountain landscapes. At Heavenly you are stood on top of a mountain and surrounded by mountains, mainly, with a large lake at the bottom which is also surrounded by mountains. I see that as apples and apples. |
That's where you and I disagreed.
Heavenly is not "surrounded by mountains". Almost the entire one side is the view if the lake!
(OK, more mountains further away, beyond the lake. But that's only if you make a point of ignoring the lake in the foreground. And if you're skiing down the lake side, the lake fills the entirely field of view, kind of hard to ignore )
You don't have to prefer the water view. But to say it's just another mountain view is entirely missing the point.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Agreed. I think I must be missing the point.... lets move on.
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I'm heading out to Heavenly solo for the second week in February - miraculously my wife gave me a pass, but I've not been able to convince any of my mates to go yet 😢. Could anyone clue me in on the après / nightlife / restaurants? I'm staying near the main gondola. thanks!!
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the casion's...
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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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| equinoxranch wrote: |
| Homewood, like Alpine (Meadows) and Sugar Bowl or even Northstar is a secret place many of us who know the state and Tahoe region don't talk about, instead letting all the 'know-it-alls' flap their lips about two primary Tahoe joints. |
Seriously? Northstar or Alpine secret? On what planet? Homewood is lovely but it is tiny and definitely a ski hill rather than a "resort". I've really never cracked what's great about Heavenly bar the views and proximity to a big town but I'm glad it's there to suck people in.
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Been to most of the Tahoe ski areas, was ok, but don't really get the hype around them especially Heavenly. Prefer the Alps in every way.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I never really liked heavenly (Don't care much for views), squaw used to be cool back in the 80s but went back there a few years ago and was horrified with that base village they had built. Kirkwood much more my taste. But prob wouldn't go back to the tahoe area again. Way too crowded with kids thinking they are rad skiers.
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