Alpine

Alpine Meadows’ annual Snow Golf Tournament will tee off at 9 a.m. at the top of the mountain off the Summit Express chairlift Saturday, April 21. This highly anticipated spring event features the only mountaintop snow golf course around. It’s the best of both worlds: skiing or snowboarding combined with golf. What better way to spend a beautiful spring day than on the slopes for a game of snow golf?

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation is proud to announce that two of our Foundation athletes have received invitations to attend the Junior Worlds to be held in Valmalenco, Italy March 20-24, 2012.

It only comes once every four years, Leap Day. And today we get high winds and snow. Joe Childs from CarsonWeather.com said he recorded an 83 mph gust at 9:45 this morning.

With the coming snowstorm in this season of drought, I'm sure there are some of you out there (like me) who were looking forward to hitting the slopes today. By chance, there are $29 Leap Day specials at Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows and Diamond Peak. However, the wind has closed the upper mountain areas. The Leap Day curse.

New Lake Tahoe license plates are appearing on the vehicle fleets of major ski resorts and businesses in the Tahoe Basin, as support for the Tahoe plate program in California and Nevada continues this winter.

Heavenly Ski Resort helped launch the program in 1996 and has 140 vehicles plated for Tahoe. Northstar Resort, Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, and Tahoe Dave’s Skis and Boards have ordered new Tahoe plates.

Vail Resorts, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Kirkwood Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe, Calif., recognized by skiers and snowboarders as offering some of the best high alpine advanced terrain in North America.

Sochi, Russia is next on the list for orthopedic surgeon, Terrence Orr's medical volunteerism. As a physician with Tahoe Orthopedic & Sports Medicine, he will be previewing the future site of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games as part of his role as Head Team Physician for the United States Men's Alpine Ski Team — a position he has held since 1999.

In honor of great conditions and anticipation of more snow, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows are launching the new Tahoe Super 2 which offers two unrestricted days of skiing and riding at either resort for just $49 per day. Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows have recently been graced with blue skies, great groomers and incredibly fun snow conditions across 4,000 acres of open terrain, 31 lifts, 6 terrain parks and a jib pipe - offering 54 terrain park features. With several storms predicted in the next week, both resorts are expected to add to their 3-to-4-foot bases.

Extreme snow sports legend and Transformers film wingsuit stuntman JT Holmes has finished shooting promotional TV spots for the Tahoe Fund’s Plate for Powder program, which gives purchasers of California and Nevada

The snow forecast to hit the Lake Tahoe region during the next few days is expected to give the Tahoe Fund's Plate for Powder program a boost along with Sierra ski resorts and businesses. Drivers who purchase a California or Nevada Tahoe vehicle license plate will receive two free ski lift or Nordic tickets to the resort of their choice. New Tahoe plates cost $50 in California and $61 in Nevada.

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation will kick-off the 12th Annual Kinder Kup Race Series at Heavenly Mountain Resort, South Shore Lake Tahoe, on Sunday, January 22, from 8am to 2pm. Open to all skiers and snowboarders age six and under, the Kinder Kup series is designed to introduce young athletes to competition in a friendly environment. No previous race experience necessary and all abilities are welcome. Entry is $20 and includes a World Cup only competitor lift ticket if needed.

Ski resorts have long battled the problem of bringing first-time skiers back to the slopes. All too often the expense seems to drive them away. So the resorts teamed up to offer first-time lessons on the cheap, and most Lake Tahoe mountain resorts are taking part. Here's Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows take on it all.

The U.S. Forest Service and organizers of Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month are working together to promote and recognize the event at Lake Tahoe and elsewhere, highlighting the health benefits of winter outdoor activity.

Two of Lake Tahoe's most popular ski and snowboarding icons, Daron Rahlves and Jeremy Jones, have finished shooting public service ads this week for the nonprofit Tahoe Fund's Plate for Powder program (photos).

The Tahoe Fund announced today that 12 major Lake Tahoe-area ski resorts are offering two free Alpine or Nordic tickets for every purchase of a California or Nevada Lake Tahoe license plate between December 12 and April 15.

This weekend, beginner skiers and riders can take their first turns on the snow at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows for just $30 including a beginner lift ticket, rental equipment and lessons during the 12th Annual Learn to Ski and Board Weekend.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is asking for public input on the proposed Fallen Leaf Lake Trail Access and Travel Management project. The project would improve the recreation experience for residents and visitors to the Fallen Leaf Lake area, while protecting the natural, cultural, and historic resources of the area.
The project area totals approximately 12,960 acres on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe and includes 41.8 miles of existing trails. The project boundary extends from Pope to Baldwin Beaches on the north end to the south and west ends of Fallen Leaf Lake.

Zimride, the largest online ride-sharing service in North America, today announced that a new route between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe will open to the public beginning Thanksgiving day, bringing Bay Area residents convenient, inexpensive access to one of the country’s top winter destinations. To celebrate the route’s launch, Zimride is giving away $20,000 worth of free gas to riders on the route.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is asking for public input on the proposed Fallen Leaf Lake Trail Access and Travel Management project. The project would improve the recreation experience for residents and visitors to the Fallen Leaf Lake area, while protecting the natural, cultural, and historic resources of the area.

This my annual reminder that many nearby California waters will close to
fishing on November 15…that’s this coming Tuesday.

That’s only six days from now, so if you want to fish any of them, you better
hustle because you are running out of time.

Those waters will not re-open until the last Saturday in April next year
(April 28, 2012), and that is a long time to wait to wet your line.
Here is a partial list of some of the nearby waters that will be closing:

Alpine County:
The East Carson River (with the exception of the stretch from Hangman’s

By John Heil
California is expected to see a boost in its local mountain economies as a result of a new legislation that now permits year-long recreation opportunities on U.S. Forest Service ski areas. The Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2011, which was signed by President Barack Obama on Nov. 7, is estimated to create and annually sustain up to 600 extra jobs nationwide.

Tahoe's original ski resort, Granlibakken, near Tahoe City, is lodging central in 2012 with various ski and stay packages for seven area resorts.

“How much more warm weather and sunshine can we take,” laughed Kay Williams, deadpanning over last season’s epic seven-month winter and 700+ inches of snow. “Sure, various ski resorts like to be the first to open or last to close, but we want folks to know that we’re ready with early-season offerings.”

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation will host the 23rd Annual Ski and Snowboard Swap at Mont Bleu Casino and Resort at South Shore Lake Tahoe Nov. 18-19. Proceeds will benefit the Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides skiing and snowboarding programs and events for regional youth and local middle school and high school students.

By Aimi Xistra-Rich
The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation has announced two new programs for the 2011 – 2012 winter season under the Freestyle umbrella. The Foundation will offer two Freeride program options, the One-Day Program and the Full-Time Competitive Program. These programs are open to intermediate to advanced level skiers aged ten to 18 who have a passion for slopestyle, skiercross and halfpipe training.

This is my annual reminder for you to enjoy the spectacular displays of the colorful leaves on quaking aspen trees (quakies) at this time of the year.
If you would like to see and/or photograph those colors, here is a list of my top seven, personal favorite locations, all in Alpine County, Calif., in the Woodfords Canyon – Hope Valley – Red Lake areas.
To reach these locations, just drive south from Carson City on a combination of U.S. 395, Nevada S.R. 88 and California S.R. 88.

In Woodford’s Canyon:

--Heavenly reacts to the Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows mergerOctober, 1 2011 9:51 pm MST...

OLYMPIC VALLEY - Two of the largest and most-revered ski areas near the shores of Lake Tahoe are joining forces, ending years of rumors of a partnership that figures to create a mega resort offerin...

Squaw Valley USA, the iconic Lake Tahoe-area resort that has been home to some of the country’s top downhill skiers, is joining operations with neighboring Alpine Meadows. See story here. Here is the official press release dated today:

In honor of retired state archivist Guy Rocha's 60th birthday today, I want to aid him in one of his favorite pursuits, busting myths about Nevada.

In this case, locals commonly make the mistake of saying Brunswick Canyon when they are actually talking about Carson River Canyon. I make this mistake, and I see many instances of this also coming out in arrest reports and press releases from the Carson City Sheriff's Office.

Here is the fishing report for the week of Sept. 21-28. This report covers rivers, streams and lakes in Nevada, the Sierra, Northern California and Southern Oregon.

By Aimi Xistra-Rich
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation has opened registration for the 2011 – 2012 Alpine, Freestyle, Freeride and Snowboard Programs. With a variety of options from the One-Day Program to the Full-Time Competitive Program, the Lake Tahoe foundation has something for all ages and levels of skiers and riders. Registration packets are available online, at the HSSF building, or by calling the HSSF administration office. Those who register and pay in full now will receive the early registration pricing; prices increase $100 on November 1, 2011.