Skiing

P.s. is it worth the extra drive to Mammoth from here?

I'm not a skier myself, but from what I hear around town (Orinda) Tahoe is the place people go for skiing. Of course, most of them stay for the weekend--some have their own places up there. Next time I'm picking up the kids I'll ask some of the moms.

Yep, Tahoe is the place! I used to be able to do it in a day trip and am looking for alternate lodging options now that it is a haul. I know that people sometimes day trip to Kirkwood but it is still 6 hours roundtrip for okay skiing. Maybe I just need a friend with a cabin there.

Yep, Boreal is definitely Newbie paradise. I don't know of too many people who ski at Donner, because it is a bit off the beaten path. But I guess that is what makes it cooler.

Thanks for the feedback, @Nightowl. I'm more curious as to transport/lodging - aka what do people do who don't have property up there and can't afford to stay in hotels every weekend?

Good calls on all the ski runs, Tahoe is great for many things!

Yep, Boreal is definitely Newbie paradise. I don't know of too many people who ski at Donner, because it is a bit off the beaten path. But I guess that is what makes it cooler.

Thanks for the feedback, @Nightowl. I'm more curious as to transport/lodging - aka what do people do who don't have property up there and can't afford to stay in hotels every weekend?

Good calls on all the ski runs, Tahoe is great for many things!

Hey, I was working on something else for this E-how site and I came across this article that tries to answer your queston. I am not so sure it is helpful but I am passing it along anyway, just in case:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2022232_cheap-hotels-lake-tahoe.html

Hmm, that helps some...I really think I just need a friend who lives up there so that I can justify getting a season pass. True, hotels can be pretty cheap there though if you are not too picky. I can't wait to go back.

Yeah, that article was kind of lame--its kind of hit or miss with that site. They're pretty good for really, really specific things like "how to prune begonias" but not so good for general stuff.

I know I am answering my own question here, but this is actually a really good time to get some good ski/stay packages - early season tends to be cheaper and Tahoe is slated for a great snow year given La Nina's help - rainy summer = good, snowy winter I suppose. Heavenly, while not my favorite mountain, is particularly inexpensive AND they just joined the Northstar/Sierra partnership, so now you can get a season pass to all three mountains. I am debating whether I want to make the trek next weekend. Check it out:

http://www.skiheavenly.com/plan-your-trip/vacation-deals-and-packages/offer-explorer.aspx

Alright, here's an update: first ski weekend of the season is BOOKED, at Heavenly Mountain Resort, and I highly highly recommend looking into it at this time of year given the prices. I am actually paying a grand total of $169.50 for two nights' lodging at one of the local motels next to the gondola, and two full days of ski lift tickets for TWO adults, which is virtually unheard of. I'm not sure how the conditions are but I do know that they are being hit with snow all weekend, the first manifestation of my aforementioned prediction of a good ski season. This is definitely a good deal...

Sounds like you're set. I'll pass that on to those friends of mine who have managed to graduate beyond the bunny slopes.

Yep! Although impending storms this weekend could make for either lift closures due to high winds, or excellent snow conditions. Let's hope for the latter only.

Hopefully you're headed out with an interesting group of friends. That way if they close the lifts you guys can still hang out--that can sometimes be fun too.

Oh yes...that is the other thing to note. Heavenly almost needs to be two separate vacations - either South Lake Tahoe partying, or great skiing. The two don't always mix, so just be forewarned. I've had some rough mornings there after all-too-late nights at the $5 blackjack tables.

It's definitely a different form of apres-ski!

Sounds great! Looks like the weather did its part. (Hopefully not too windy!) Can't wait to hear about it.

Well, the weather went a little bit above and beyond the call of duty, and it was so windy that they had to completely close down the Heavenly gondola, which apparently is very wind-sensitive. I got a full refund on my tickets and still got the discounted rate on the room, and we jumped in the car and had a great day at Northstar around the other side of the lake.

Conditions at Northstar were impeccable for pre-Thanksgiving. They had fourteen runs open and had just gotten several feet of fresh powder. It was actually pretty funny hearing everyone around us complaining about how sore they were from working so hard, which seemed to be the theme of the day. And Northstar has a GREAT ski village setup. It's no Squaw, but it definitely scratched the itch for the first run of the season.

Sounds like it went well and by the look of the weather it sounds like it is going to be a good autumn and winter for skiing. Its cold enough where if it rained we could get some snow up here by where we live. In the ten years we've been up here we've woken up twice to snow. Once in 2001 and once two years ago. It's silly but there is a certain wonder in it.

I love it when I wake up to snow - as long as it's in a location where it's supposed to snow. Tuesday morning in South Lake Tahoe was pretty exciting. It really felt like a winter wonderland as we trodded along the snow-covered roads through the pine trees, the silence of winter overpowering the other elements.

However, I tend to get mad when I wake up to snow on the ground in a place that is supposed to be a warm-weather location. This happened last winter in Sacramento and just didn't feel right - it was like I was on a tropical vacation and trying to get a refund. My adverse reaction probably has everything to do with the fact that I moved to California to get away from the cold weather.

There is something very cool, on the other hand, about waking up in a blizzard and ending the day on the beach, as was the case on Tuesday. I still can't get over that.