Winter Starts Now!
The Bull Wheel
By: Curtis Fong “The Guy From Tahoe”
December 2022
The start of Winter came early with a couple of early season storms that led to Mammoth, Mt. Rose, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood opening before mid-November and perfect timing for Warren Miller’s 73rd film, DAYMAKER, that premiered at Harrah’s on November 12… Must have been my 30th year of emceeing the show, with Robbie Huntoon producing the annual Tahoe area premier for the past 40 years… Yes, “Winter Starts Now” and “If you don’t do It this year, you’ll be one year older, when you do.”
It’s hard to believe that I will be as old as Warren Miller Productions has been making films…And this marks my 61st year as a skier… In my Ski Bum life, I recently tabulated skiing at over 120 different ski hills in U.S., Canada and in Europe… Funny – Not Funny… I have been solicited to be a contributing columnist for SeniorSkiing.com and don’t know if I should be honored or upset… LOL -Ha Ha… The Good news is that I now qualify for Senior Ski Passes… Okay, I’ll take that!
By Thanksgiving weekend, Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw & Alpine Meadows), Sugar Bowl, Boreal, Donner Ski Ranch (weekends) also opened their slopes to skiing and riding… And, even though there hasn’t been another major storm, to date, they were all able to open more terrain… And, thankful that we not subjected to the usual Thanksgiving openings on machine made snow, aka… White Ribbons of Death.
I made it out to Kirkwood for a couple of days of making turns on early season offerings as they are planning their 50thyear celebration to go off on December 17… I was there in the early -mid 70’s as the first on-hill photography concession and served as the Advertising and Public Relations Manager in the late 70’s – early 80’s… I will be attending this special day with lots of folks who also called Kirkwood their home in the day… So, skiing at DA Wood brings back so many great memories of fun with friends and helping to build the resort to what it is… And, Oh, Northstar will also be celebrating it’s 50th year…
What’s new this year? Lot’s of improvements and investments at our local resorts coming out of post pandemic winter years…To start with there’s an updated Skier/Rider Responsibility Code… Now up to 10 points: On Slope Safety is still the number 1 concern… so here it is… #9. Will be interesting in terms of enforcement… But, it serves as a CYA…
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe has updated their Lakeview Lift to a high speed Express; Heavenly is updating their North Bowl chair to high speed Express, shortening the 13 minute ride to 5.5 minutes; and Palisades Tahoe has their Base to Base Gondola, connecting Alpine and Squaw, scheduled to open in mid-December and they have redesignated some runs to double black diamond status…
The BIG news… Sierra at Tahoe is rising from the ashes of the Caldor Fire and scheduled to open on December 3… I was able to make it out to Sierra the one weekend they did open last April to help celebrate their 75th year… It was great to help celebrate and see all the friends that call Sierra their local mountain…
Here is Sierra’s Update Link: https://www.sierraattahoe.com/blog/general/caldor-fire-update/
I am anxious to ski and rediscover my favorite runs off the West Bowl this season and can’t wait to support their combined efforts with the USFS in removing burnt forest tree stands to open their mountain. Sierra also has a warm spot in my heart having served to help put on the South Tahoe Winter Carnival in the early 80’s, and was the Director of Marketing of Sierra Ski Ranch, working with Vern & Bobbie Sprock, as well as with Kathy & Peter, in the mid 80’s…
So, for now, it’s an early and good start, but we need a refresh before the late December holiday crowds impact Tahoe skiing and riding… Get your turns in while you can and continue to Pray for Snow!