 Poster: A snowHead
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I want to take advantage of all the snow!! Also I want to take my son for a 18th birthday present. I live outside NYC. I want to fly somewhere and willing to rent a car to get to a mountain but will so a shuttle. My main concern is I will probably last about 4 hours on the mountain, but my son will be skiing by himself the rest of the time. We are used to skiing in New England. New York, Vermont, Maine. I guess I’m just looking for recommendations where I can leave my kid alone and not really worry. I can leave him alone and then pick him up the end of the day. No problem. I have never skied out west and I’m worried about if I leave him alone - it won’t be safe, he likes skiing in the woods, etc.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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How competent is the son? 18 should be old enough to make adult decisions. I'm biased but I'd say Kirkwood is the best place as not too big to get lost, not likely to get cliffed out in most of the main runs ( although there are places to get into trouble if you want). Plus not too many heel balancing straightlining dickheads which you get at other places as not overly groomed.
But if you do get a storm the road might be closed and/or a number of lifts.
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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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Thanks! I forgot to mention I am a big groomer guy. I want to spend my time on very wide open groomed terrain - intermediate
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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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(Just saw your comment about you-it just reinforces Heavenly in my view)
Fun idea. But the fact is, he can stay out of, or get into trouble no matter where you end up going. Maybe a little trail map study on the flight west wouldn't be a bad idea. Once you've picked an area, scout out some places for him to go before you split up so you'll be less worried and he'll be more confident.
Some general thoughts which can be zoomed in on as you figure it out:
Fly to Reno if you can do so directly; shorter drive vs SFO or OAK. Get a car. Stay where you want, it's North Shore (Palisades, Northstar) or South (Heavenly, Kirkwood). I'm leaving out the smaller areas and there are some good ones...Sugar Bowl sort of fits your bill. But you're coming all that way, do it right.
I'd have you stay in South Lake Tahoe and maybe even at the Village base of Heavenly. There you can take the gondo up into the area. When you're done, you could hang out in Tamarack Lodge while he wears the rest of himself out, or take the gondola back down to town and he could too, later on--so no need for the "pick up". The view from Heavenly is second to none; it has the best cruising and the best trees of Tahoe. He could ski Milky Way trees while you cruise on the adjacent run (and observe, if you must), and ride the chair together. Then use the car and make the beautiful drive out to Kirkwood for a more old school experience. More steeps there, also nice trees, not great cruising. A slower pace there, not in a bad way.
Nothing against Palisades, I've been skiing there for 50 years now. If you have the time, a day trip up the west shore on CA-89 through Emerald Bay is a stunner, if its open. As for Northstar, I think it is kind of white bread/corporate if you will. I just think the duo I mentioned gives a first-timer the Full Tahoe Experience.
You didn't specify timing. Palisades stays open into May (minimum Memorial Day this year) and sometimes July and the others mostly do not (and I recently checked this data). All these areas can be crowded but as spring rolls on, much less so.
It is still winter at this point, but Spring skiing in the Sierras is the best.
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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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Here's a few shots of Heavenly. A nice Nevada-side groomer; a view of the lake; low-angle Nevada-side trees with the Carson valley to the east. Steeper trees on the California side, by Ellie's, and at Kirkwood.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Thanks for the advice on Heavenly! I am thinking about coming in two weeks for some mid week skiing.
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How many days you planning ? Assume you don’t have a current lift pass that’s valid at any of the Tahoe resorts?
Is anywhere offering ski the rest of this season with purchasing next years pass?
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@haggishunter, Epic is not. Dunno about Ikon yet.
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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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@Scooter in Seattle,
Thank you for your advice on earlier forums - just returned from a glorious 12 days skiing, Heavenly, Kirkwood & Northstar.
Drove to Tahoe the Thursday morning of 'The Storm' so had a few epic days of snowfall.
Stayed at the Marriott next to Gondola so very convenient - however the Gondola was on wind hold for at least 50% of our stay.
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Jeez, I was driving 4hrs each way for a day skiing at glenshee on my own at 17.
A couple of hours on his own in the same resort????
This makes me feel very, very old and sad (and I’m not that old!).
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@Dippy, cheers. Yeah, that gondo is really susceptible to wind as you discovered. I’m headed down there in mid April myself, can’t wait.
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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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@Suburbandad, Not sure if you've been to Tahoe before, but the town itself is an absolute shytehole.
The skiing is OK but are you sure it's worth flying all that way to a seedy and tired resort?
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@red 27, which town are you referring to?
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You know it makes sense.
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Presumably SLT. It's a bit of an architectecturally mixed sprawl with a big traffic problem and had a big hole at Stateline for years following the financial crisis but I suspect average house prices would indicicate it's far from a slum. Gotta be bear and fire aware though.
It's just got a new concert/ hockey arena.
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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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“Town” ignores Truckee, a great town, and Tahoe City, a good one. SLT isn’t great, but it’s no reason not to go there. There are plenty of places to stay in perfectly good spots away from Highway 50. The villages at Palisades and Northstar are also nice, if you like that sort of vibe.
And yes, California isn’t called the Bear Republic for nothing.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Getting warm here now - SLT forecast calling for 50s (F) this week. Hope you got here before the big warmup. Spring skiing can be great, but it’s not powder skiing. And calling “Tahoe” a shytehole is a bit harsh. I get it - none of the numerous towns around the Lake aren’t like the picture postcard cute Austrian ski villages, no question about it. But for a start “Tahoe” isn’t one place unless you’re referring to the actual lake. There are a dozen or so ski resorts around the lake, and a number of towns. Some are nicer than others, for sure. They each have their own vibe and charm, though - just ask a local about how they like it.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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All of the development in SLT by Stateline is quite tastefully done. A lot nicer than some resorts in the Alps that I have been to. 9/10 would visit again.
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FAQ
