Who Stole Winter? Lake Tahoe ski resort stalwart talks about drought impact

You have to adapt to changes in life or you won't survive, a Lake Tahoe area ski resort management executive and Tahoe South stalwart John Rice told business leaders this week at a Lake Tahoe Community College forum.

"Change is happening, Clearly we're in a drought, whether it's here for short term, or long term, time will tell," said Rice, the vice president and general manager of Sierra-at-Tahoe, long considered one of the nation's best managed, economically and environmentally efficient ski resorts. "The ski industry has the most to lose in a drought."

Rice told the group of Lake Tahoe area business leaders that even with a base elevation of 6,640 feet, with a top of 8,852 feet, two degrees difference in temperature can make all the difference. The high pressure systems experienced this fall, winter and spring kept winter storms away from Lake Tahoe. And even when temperatures did grow cold, Tahoe went without any impressive moisture.

"I can't control the jet streams or inversions, but I've tried," Rice told the group of Lake Tahoe leaders in his trademark candor that has made his straight shooting style and sense of humor legendary among ski professionals.

He noted that many of this year's skiers who arrived at Sierra and other Lake Tahoe resorts had not planned as far ahead as they once did. The result was a crush of last minute skiers looking for the most snow and a place to go who lost confidence after learning of Lake Tahoe's dismal snow pack. The fourth straight year of less than ideal snow conditions has been devastating, he said.

"I can't help but think of the people who work at Sierra. When we closed March 16 it was the earliest we've ever had to close, and we were open just 94 days, the fewest ever," said Rice. As part of his presentation, he outlined what Sierra-at-Tahoe is doing now to deal with drought:

1) Do our part to reduce our carbon footprint. Get people thinking about being green.
2) Summer Grooming - Gives them the ability to open with less snow with good trail management and construction.
3) Snowmaking. Sierra makes 4% of their snowpack. With a normally average snowfall of 480" per year it hasn't been needed before.
4) Snow farming - Moving snow from parking lots and from under trees that is spread out on ski slopes for more coverage.
5) 'Bucket Brigade' - Employees cared enough about staying open that they took buckets and starting moving buckets full of snow around themselves.
6) Honest Snow Reporting - People appreciate the truth and won't come back to a resort if they think they've been mislead. "We are now reporting in inches of snow when we used to report in feet," Rice said.
7) Alternative Winter Experiences - Sierra added the plaza for more outside enjoyment other than on skis or boards. They've added concerts, races and games, tubing, Paint & Sip and more. "When Mother Nature gives you lemons, have a beach party," said Rice.
8) Accentuate the lifestyle - they added fire pits that have been very popular for people to hang around.
9) Summer Adventure Parks - The Forest Service has allowed winter resorts to add summer activities that relate to the outdoors. Rice said people can expect more of this to come.
10) Sierra is adding weddings, special events and wine tastings to name a few of new uses for the area when snow isn't as it should be.

11) Offering family time - s'mores and time creating memories unplugged.

Resorts are adding ice skating, bike parks and inside adventures like Boreal's Camp Woodward. A resort in Vermont even added an indoors water park but for reasons different than Tahoe....it gets too cold outdoors so lift ticket purchases allow guests to use the indoor water park.

Sierra-at-Tahoe is a member of Powder Alliance, a group of western ski resorts. A season's pass at any of the resorts gives buyers three days at each of the other resorts. Rice called it 'snow insurance' because users can go to where there is better snow than their home resort.

"We can't control the jet stream but we can control our footprint, our commitment to making things work and by having an action plan versus just talk," said Rice.