Lake Tahoe Area Extends Ski Time

Don’t put away your ski equipment yet. Although spring has arrived, many of the 16 ski resorts that ring Lake Tahoe are still open.

A late winter storm dropped more snow on the Sierra Nevada two weeks ago and helped extend the season. The major resorts expect their mountain slopes to be skiable through April.

Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows even plan to keep their lifts and downhill runs operating until the end of May.

This will be the first year for May skiing at Olympic Valley (Squaw Valley), site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. It’s one of California’s most popular ski resorts, boasting 27 lifts that transport skiers to half a dozen mountain peaks.

How long Lake Tahoe’s ski areas remain open depends not only on weather conditions but on the number of skiers who continue to use the slopes. The resorts cannot afford to keep their hundreds of seasonal employees without an adequate volume of schussers.

Several Ski Packages

Helping to encourage longer spring skiing are several ski packages offered by the resorts and area hotels, including two of the fancy casino hotels along Lake Tahoe’s South Shore.

At Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, for instance, interchangeable lift tickets for two days of skiing at Heavenly, Squaw Valley or Kirkwood are part of a $150-per-person “Ski Getaway” that features deluxe accommodations for two nights (double occupancy). The package is good through April 30; call toll-free (800) 648-3361.

Also offered throughout April at Caesars Tahoe is “Ski Spectacular,” a trio of packages that include lift tickets and accommodations. A three-night stay with two days of skiing at Heavenly costs $249 per person, double occupancy; a seven-night deal is $549 per person, with an interchangeable lift ticket valid at five major ski resorts. For reservations, call toll-free (800) 648-3353.

Even without a hotel/ski package, you can buy a Ski Lake Tahoe interchangeable lift ticket that’s good at all five of the largest ski areas: Heavenly, Kirkwood, Northstar, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. The ticket costs $150 for five days of skiing, $180 for six days, and is available at any of the five ski resorts.

Each resort also offers its own ski package, such as Heavenly’s $319 for three nights’ lodging (double occupancy in an economy motel), lift passes for four days of skiing and round-trip air fare from Southern California. You can fly from Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario, Orange County or San Diego to the airport at South Lake Tahoe, which is served by American Airlines.

The package costs $36 less if you fly into Reno-Cannon International Airport, also served by American in addition to USAir, Delta, America West, Continental, United and Skywest. The airport is 55 miles from Heavenly at South Lake Tahoe, and it’s $24 for a round-trip shuttle from Reno to the resort.

Optional Car Rentals

An option is to rent a car in Reno; an economy model for four days costs $100 with Heavenly’s ski package.

Heavenly is the nation’s largest ski resort and has an aerial tramway that rises to 8,250 feet. Lifts carry skiers to even deeper snow at the mountaintop elevation of 10,000 feet.

Ski package rates (through April 22) vary according to type of accommodation and length of stay. Call Heavenly central reservations for details and booking toll-free (800) 243-2836.

Thirty-five miles inland of the lake, in a scenic valley at 7,800 feet, is Kirkwood, a ski resort that’s a favorite of families. Accommodations are in half a dozen condominium complexes close by the lifts and in village facilities that include four restaurants and bars.

Ski packages vary from three to five nights, midweek or weekend, in standard or luxury lodgings. Prices for a three-night midweek getaway start at $148 per person double occupancy, with a lift ticket for three days of skiing. Call Kirkwood Central Reservations: (209) 258-7000.

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority also has lodging and ski-package information; call toll-free (800) 822-5922.

Families Like Northstar

At the northern end of the lake is Northstar, a ski resort that resembles an alpine village and is popular with families. Six-passenger gondolas transport skiers to a day lodge at 7,100 feet, where lifts continue to higher runs.

Condos and hotel-type rooms near the lifts are preferred lodgings at Northstar, as are homes in the woods. Call the Northstar-at-Tahoe reservation desk, toll-free (800) 533-6787. Packages are custom-designed according to length of stay, type of lodging and ski requirements (lifts, lessons, equipment rental).

The best-known ski resort at Lake Tahoe’s north end is Squaw Valley, which features wide-open bowl skiing rather than trails. The longest run is three miles down the mountain to the resort base at 6,200 feet.

First-time-ever skiers can sign up for the free “Fun in the Sun” program, which includes rental equipment, lift ticket and an introductory ski lesson. It’s offered weekdays to anyone 13 years or older.

Everyone under 13 and over 65 can ski at Squaw Valley for $5; an all-day lift ticket for other ages costs $32.

You can stay in lodges at the base of the ski resort or in area condos, homes, B&Bs; and motels. Call Squaw Valley USA Central Reservations at toll-free (800) 545-4350. Nearest the slopes are Squaw Valley Inn, Olympic Village Inn and Squaw Valley Lodge, where nightly room rates are from $90 to $140.

Nearby, in Tahoe National Forest, is Alpine Meadows, another of Lake Tahoe’s Big Five ski resorts. Its varied bowl and trail terrain are favored by intermediate and advanced skiers, who also enjoy the sunshine and warm temperatures of springtime.

Ski packages with lift tickets and lodgings in the area can be arranged through the Tahoe North Visitors and Convention Bureau, toll-free (800) 824-6348.

Round trip by car from Los Angeles to South Lake Tahoe is 920 miles via California 14, U.S. 395 and 50; one-way flight time is 2 1/2 hours, with one stop en route.