Spring snow conditions arrive with spring break

Spring break and spring weather arrived simultaneously this week.

After a cold and pretty miserable March weekend, we had balmy May-like temperatures late this week with more nice weather coming.

For those who enjoy spring skiing, now there’s plenty of snow in the mountains at all the Lake Tahoe area resorts. For example, Sierra at Tahoe, which did not have its prime intermediate cruising slopes in West Bowl open until the snows really fell in March, has received 17 feet this month. Needless to say, skiers, boarders and managers are all thrilled.

The resort will host its annual Boarding for Breast Cancer on Saturday (March 31). Sierra, Heavenly and Kirkwood all have special three-week Tahoe South promotions wrapping up this weekend. Given the wonderful conditions—although it was 55 degrees at Heavenly late Thursday afternoon—there’s plenty of great snow for April spring skiing.

It’s also a great time to snare deals on lodging or stay and ski packages. With the massive March snowfall, traditional spring and summer activities will be delayed so properties will be eager to attract skiers and boarders to fill up their rooms.

In addition, the resorts are now selling season passes for 2018-19 that include all the skiing you can do this spring. If you just got hooked on snow sports, it’s an ideal time to buy next season’s pass and enjoy it now.

Over on the north side of the Lake, Northstar has spring conditions with a high of 56 on Thursday and a predicted low just 33. Spring conditions prevail all over the mountain. Like other resorts, it has a variety of events planned as its season ramps down.

Over on Highway 89, Alpine Meadows now has more than 30 feet of snow fall with a base of more than 10 feet—again spring-like conditions with daytime highs in the 50s. Alpine and its sister resort, Squaw Valley, are planning to stay open through Memorial Day (last year, Squaw ran weekend operations until July 4th). They are running a spring 4-pack special at just $59 per day.

One of our delights has been skiing on the morning on uncrowded slopes, barbequing lunch and then bicycling along the Truckee River between Alpine Meadows and Tahoe City. The resorts add in the opportunity to paddleboard on the Lake or go cruising in a boat.

As May dawns, there’s also the possibility of chasing golf balls at the Truckee courses (Old Greenwood, Gray’s Crossings, Tahoe Donner or Northstar—given the environmental constraints, it’s unlikely that the Squaw Creek course will get open before June).

The resorts have a variety of spring events planned and, as with most resorts, will have special Easter activities on Sunday.

Off Highway 80 at Donner Summit in Norden, Sugar Bowl also has spring conditions with the entire mountain open. More than 300 inches of snow has fallen at the summit. Sugar Bowl uses demand pricing for online sales more than two days in advance so skiers can save 45-50 percent.

For resorts around the Lake, highs are predicted in the 50s with low temperatures in the 30s—not below freezing except higher on the mountain. So classic spring conditions with deep snow bases.

–By Tim Hunt