Storm just what ski resorts needed before Christmas
Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:02 pm
Storm just what Sierra ski resorts needed before Christmas period
Martin Griffith
December 20, 2005
Reno (AP) -- It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Lake Tahoe ski resorts after a weekend storm dumped up to 3 feet of snow.
Resort operators said the timing of the storm - the strongest of the season so far in the Sierra Nevada - couldn't be better because the week after Christmas Day usually is one of their busiest of the year.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort reported 2 to 3 feet of snow from the storm. Alpine Meadows ski resort just north of Lake Tahoe reported 19 inches to 27 inches.
"This is fabulous timing and we're totally happy with it," said Tracy Miller, spokeswoman for Kirkwood. "It gives us plenty of snow to work with."
Jody Churich, spokeswoman for the Alpine Meadows and Boreal resorts, said the snow would allow her resorts to open more lifts by Christmas, conditions permitting.
On Monday, four of nine lifts were open at Boreal and seven of 11 were in operation at Alpine Meadows.
While 100 percent of Kirkwood's terrain is open, most Sierra resorts have offered only limited operations since a relatively dry start to the season.
"It's definitely the kind of snow that's building a fantastic base," Churich said. "It's setting us up perfectly for Christmas. It's what we want for a white Christmas for sure."
But the National Weather Service's forecast for later this week could cause rain to fall on ski resorts' parade.
It was calling for a snow level of 7,000 feet when the next system pushes through the Sierra on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The last storm's snow level started out at 4,500 feet before climbing to 6,500 feet.
"The resorts are going to have some issues with the next system," said Scott McGuire, spokesman for the weather service in Reno. "Their lower runs, unfortunately, are going to get a decent amount of rain. However, higher-elevation resorts should be good to go."
Elsewhere, the storm left up to 3 feet of snow at the Mammoth Mountain ski resort near Yosemite National Park and 2 feet at the Heavenly resort on Lake Tahoe's south shore.