Snow's here, time to hit the slopes this weekend
Tahoe is off to its best opening for snowsports in years with most resorts operating on a limited basis, but many offering top to bottom runs. Snow is good, not fluffy but not wet so it's like powder days at many mountain resorts.
Heavenly Mountain Resort has opened the California side with the Tram, Gunbarrel Express, Powderbowl Express, Patsy's, Sky Express and Canyon Express. Dipper Express started turning the bull wheel Wednesday. Kirkwood opened Wednesday with Chairs 5 and 6 and 1 and 11 to follow soon. At Sierra-at-Tahoe, now an independent resort after the sale of its sister area Northstar-at-Tahoe to Vail Resorts, operations are open top to bottom. Mt. Rose is also open.
Check resort Web sites for the latest conditions, which lifts are open and lift prices.
— Sam Bauman