 Poster: A snowHead
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Found an absolute bargain to Heavenly for 10 nights at end of Jan so promptly booked it. Anyone got any tips / advice on the best "other" resorts to try out in the Tahoe area also where to go for apres? We've hired a 4x4 so getting around should'nt be a problem and we're staying at the Best Western Station House Inn near the gondola.
Any pointers would be gratefully received.
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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What was the deal? How much?
| nickr wrote: |
| Anyone got any tips / advice on the best "other" resorts to try out in the Tahoe area? |
Alpine Meadows
Homewood
Mount Rose
Kirkwood
Don't bother with Squaw Valley. It's good but the resorts above are better/cheaper/quieter.
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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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nickr, yeah what was the deal?! 
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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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Best Kirkwood, Squaw, Alpine. Homewood, Flatstar & Sierra usually the only things skiable on a big storm day. Rose chutes nice and Sugarbowl has a reasonable reputation and a kickass tuning shop. Drive to Kirkwood is stunning but can bea interesting winter driving experience (2 passes).
Heavenly village is a bit ho-hum but McP's pub next to the big pit is ok. Casinos either you like em or you don't but Harrahs or Harveys does a decent buffet. Lakeside is a smaller more local casino a bit away from teh biggies with good value meals and drinks and a bit more of a Tahoe feel. Some decent locals bars and restaurants out west on Emerald Bay Road from the Y.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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a site for lift ticket deals
http://www.slidingonthecheap.com/
Squaw, Alpine Meadows and Mount Rose would be my first choices, Northstar (also known as flatstar) and Sugar Bowl as second choices. Out of the last two Northstar would be easier to get to but Sugar Bowl would be the better to go to.
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hd, in what way are the resorts better and quieter than Squaw? Just curious. nickr - a small breakdown of the tahoe resorts: Heavenly - a good place to stay, more night life than the others, great bumps if Gunbarrel is bumped out, and the views are fantastic. Kirkwood - great if you can get there, usually the best snow. Sierra - too many snowboarders and intermediate day trippers but not bad during the week. Mt Rose - worth it if the Chutes are open and also for ladies days.
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Diamond Peak - small, but has a good kids ski school. Homewood - the place to go on a powder day since all the locals go to Squaw, good lake views. Alpine - back country access, a little more personal than Squaw. Northstar - good tree skiing, less flat now the backside is open, does sell out at weekends and holidays. Boreal - terrain park, lots of snowboarders. Sugarbowl - a good family mountain, more intermediate terrain. Tahoe-Donner - a great place for beginners and kids.
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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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And Squaw - steep and quite technical, great beginner area at the top of the mountain. But I'm really biased.
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Thanks for the tips guys, just been checking the weather reports and it looks like Tahoe is getting hammered - hopefully the good start to the season will continue!
hd - got a deal with Virgin Ski. Direct flights from Heathrow to San Fran, 4x4 hire, accomodation at Station House Inn for 10 nights (B&B) plus 8 day Tahoe Interchangeable Lift Pass for £1150 each. Seems a good deal to me anyway, having spent a lot more than that last year for 10 days in Colorado.
Really fancy a trip to Mammoth, but realise it's a bit of a hike. Any opinions on whether its worth the trek for a day?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Mammoth is a trip own its own in my view. We spent a week there and barely scratched the surface.
I am not sure that I would do that drive for the limited time you would get.
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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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| skinanny wrote: |
| hd, in what way are the resorts better and quieter than Squaw? |
Squaw was consistently the busiest of the resorts we visited for all of the days we were there (not just at the weekend). Queues were present for many of the lifts and any fresh snow didn't stay untracked for very long. Also the lift pass was the most expensive. Mount Rose was empty, freshies galore, much better snow quality thanks to its extra altitude, and the Chutes rocked. I loved Homewood as well due to its tree runs and amazing lake views (and empty + fresh tracks despite it being several days since the last snowfall). Alpine Meadows was an all-round fun varied mountain.
Having been to Tahoe once and sussed it out, if/when I go again I would spend maybe 3 nights in resort at Kirkwood, a day at Heavenly and then a week staying by the lake in Tahoe City and day-tripping Mount Rose, Homewood, Alpine Meadows, Sugar Bowl and perhaps Northstar. I wouldn't go back to Squaw.
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homewood is awesome with good conditions - really great tree skiing. And the chutes at mount rose are also great with good conditions - lift served 40 degrees is just fab. Squaw is busier but the terrain, I think, makes it worth a visit.
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FAQ
, its always worth checking.
