Heavenly starts making snow; season pass allows Northstar and Sierra-at-Tahoe access

Super-cold temperatures have allowed Heavenly Mountain Resort to begin making snow at nights this week.

Signaling that the Lake Tahoe snowsports season is just days away if temperatures continue to cooperate, the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system gives Heavenly’s guests confidence that they will be skiing and snowboarding on Heavenly’s opening day, scheduled for Friday, Nov. 19, weather and conditions permitting.

Under optimum conditions, Heavenly can cover 73 percent of its trails in machine-made snow, by far the most in the Lake Tahoe basin. In more visual terms, Heavenly can produce three-and-a-half feet of snow over one acre in an hour. That’s enough snow to blanket a football field with eight-and-a-half feet during an average three-hour game.

Heavenly has begun making snow at the top of the Gondola and on California Trail.

With news Monday of Vail Resorts acquiring Northstar, the resorts have announced a ski deal that allows season-ticket holders access to three Lake Tahoe resorts. Heavenly offers the $379 Heavenly season pass; which now includes access to Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe (with blackout dates).

Heavenly is also offering its “Refer a Friend” program, open to all adult Heavenly Pass holders, as well as Heavenly College Pass holders.

It offers $20 in “mountain money” redeemable at all on-mountain dining and retail establishments for each referred friend who purchases a Heavenly Pass, Heavenly College Pass or Epic Pass.

And everyone benefits: The referred friends receive a $20 discount on the $379 Heavenly Pass, reducing the price to just $359. Pass holders can refer as many friends as they want, and will be paid for each successful purchase in a one-time payout, sometime in mid-January. Referred friends cannot have owned a Heavenly Pass in the last two years (2008-09 or 2009-10).

Here's a rundown of the season pass offerings:

Epic Season Pass: The revolutionary Epic Season Pass features unlimited, unrestricted skiing and riding at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado and Heavenly in California/Nevada at $629 for adults and $329 for children (ages 5-12) through Nov. 7, when sales end. Epic Pass holders will now also receive unlimited, unrestricted access to Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe - eight great resorts in total for the 2010-2011 ski season.

Epic 7-Pack: New this season, the Epic 7-Pack features seven days of unrestricted skiing and riding at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Heavenly at $479 for adults and $239 for children through Nov. 7, when sales end. The Epic 7-Pack can now be used at Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe for the 2010-2011 ski season as well.

Northstar-at-Tahoe 2010-2011 Season Passes:

Double Whammy Unlimited-Adult: The Double Whammy Unlimited Pass offers unlimited, unrestricted skiing and riding at Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe resorts at $799 for adults. Existing pass holders will be able to exchange their Double Whammy Unlimited Pass for the Epic Season Pass ($629) and receive a refund for the difference in the price (over $100 in most cases).

Double Whammy Unlimited-Teen/Child: Offering unlimited, unrestricted skiing and riding at Northstar and Sierra, the price of the teen ($449) and child ($119) pass will remain unchanged. Teens will have the option to upgrade to an adult Epic Season Pass. Children will have the option to upgrade to a Child Epic Season Pass or a Child Heavenly Pass.

Double Whammy Limited: The Double Whammy Limited offers skiing and riding at Northstar all season long with 10 restricted dates and unlimited, unrestricted skiing at Sierra at $519 for adults and $299 for teens. Adult pass holders will now receive skiing and riding at Heavenly, with the same restricted dates as Northstar. Teens will have the option to upgrade to a Teen Heavenly Pass at $309.

Double Whammy Value: The Double Whammy Value offers skiing and riding at Northstar and Sierra with some restricted dates and no access to Northstar on Saturdays between Dec. 18, 2010 and March 26, 2011. Pass holders will now also have access to Heavenly with the same restricted dates. The pass price is $419 for adults.

Northstar Only Pass: The Northstar Only Pass offers skiing and riding at Northstar on weekdays only at $319 for adults; not valid at Heavenly.

Sierra Only Pass: Will remain valid at Sierra; not valid at Heavenly, Northstar or other resorts.

Heavenly Pass: Ski and ride at Heavenly all season long at $379 for adults, $309 for teens and $199 for children. Some restricted dates apply. Heavenly Passes will now offer access to Northstar and Sierra with some restricted dates; not valid at Northstar on Saturdays from Dec. 18, 2010 through March 26, 2011.