 "The only powder to get high on, falls from the sky." - Dave R |
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Well it seemed to me that Heavenly was the biggest operation around Tahoe, and it gave me mixed feelings.
They are the biggest in terms of acreage, vertical drop, maximum elevation, number of lifts, and are obviously loaded. The marked runs span the California/Nevada border, and there are base stations in each state within the boundaries of the "City" of South Lake Tahoe.
Terrain here varies catastrophically. Marked gates give you access to some very steep terrain - get it wrong here, and you could die - trees, rocks and small cliffs make the stuff for experts only. They would be great fun in the powder although the run out at the bottom would be hard work initially. Without powder they were also a laugh, and got the old adrenalin going.
At the other end of the scale, a number of runs between lifts or at the top of lifts are very long and very flat (in some cases up hill). Skiers need strong arms to do these sections, and boarders will need to walk.
Some spots (on the right of the piste map) were nice particularly between the trees, with some good cliff drops and fallen trees to jib. I did this run about 3 times in the afternoon having discovered it late. With only one day spent there, these were certainly the high points of the day. Who knows, with more time spent in the area, what delights would have turned up.
One of the best things was the views. On the California side, when facing North, you can get excellent views of Lake Tahoe itself. And on the Nevada side, you seem to be standing on the last mountain in the range, as you look 8-10,000 ft straight down to the floor of the desert valley.
