After spending 50 years on skis and visiting resorts and ski areas here and abroad in search of the perfect site--one which offers great snow and skiing, exception dining and exciting night life--I found myself this past season spending a week at the Hyatt Vacation Club’s High Sierra Lodge at Incline Village on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, Nevada and the search, for me, has ended. This place has it all—and a bit more. Here there is great diversity of resorts and terrain and scenery which rivals anything anywhere in this country.

From Incline Village skiers can easily access over 15 alpine resorts and areas in Nevada and California and also participate in cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, snowtubing and many other summer and winter activities on any of the 300 days of sunshine each year. Snowfall usually averages over 33 feet (396 inches) a season (that’s winter only.) A ski season lasts from mid November through April. Another big plus for the traveler is the proximity of the Reno/Tahoe International Airport located less than an hour from the slopes.

During my ski week we, (my son George and his wife Kelayna) were able to get in two days at Heavenly Valley Lake Tahoe and one day each at Mt. Rose, Diamond Peak, North Star at Tahoe and Squaw Valley USA we experienced excellent snow conditions at each area. It was in late March with clear blue skies and sunshine the entire week except for one half day when it snowed heavily at Mt. Rose, but a welcome snow it was. There was no other new snow during the week but with excellently groomed powder each morning which turned by mid-day into springtime corn snow we spent the remainder of the week chasing our shadows downhill. It was the kind of day any skier, much less anyone from the East could have asked for. We were able to ski on six consecutive days and visit five resorts and enjoy every minute spent on and off snow.

But while we were on the hill selecting ski terrain the non-skiers in the group (my wife, a Gold Medal shopper, my daughter-in-law's mother and grandmother) were back at the village checking out every shop and selecting which restaurants we should dine at each evening and later top the day off by taking our chances at the casinos. There is truly something for everyone in Lake Tahoe.

HEAVENLY VALLEY
After a late Saturday arrival in Reno and checking into the Hyatt we were eager to get to the slopes for an early Sunday morning of skiing, but where to go? The choice was unanimous—Heavenly Valley. So heavenly in fact that it was also the pick for the second day. Both days we parked immediately adjacent to the Stagecoach Lodge just a few feet from the Stagecoach Express four-passenger lift which opened to warm-up terrain via the Stagecoach and Stagecoach Return after which we rode to the upper portions of the mountain via the Dipper Express chair which lead us to more demanding black and blue slopes and great cruising terrain.

Because of the close proximity to our loading and the easy, familiar parking the Stagecoach Lodge was also the choice for the second day at Heavenly. The skiing was every bit as good as the previous day and skiing down the California Trail brought us to the Sky Express lift into the state California and a choice of runs from the 10,040 elevation and more terrain than we could explore in a single day. But with 29 lifts, 95 runs, 4,800 skiable acres, a 3,500 foot vertical, a 5.5 mile long run, a real tram and gondola and nine mountain eateries you just cannot touch on everything in one day—NOT EVEN TWO! But Tahoe will call us back and it will be Heavenly again.

MT. ROSE
On day three it was a 2-fer-Tuesday (2 full-day lift tickets for the price of one and seniors age 75 and over ski free mid-week, non-holiday) at Mt. Rose the closest Lake Tahoe resort to Reno; just 25 minutes from downtown. Its base elevation of 8,260 feet is at the top of the Sierra and the recipient of some of the best snow conditions even into late spring. Here we were in late March and winter was having its way on this particular Tuesday. Flat light and intermittent snow restricted us from getting into the areas intimidating chutes—thankfully. Although smaller, and a day area Mt. Rose does offer a variety of terrain to please every member of any ski group from any of the six lifts (two -6-person high speed, two 4-seaters and two triples) from two separate lodge locations.


DIAMOND PEAK
Diamond Peak, formerly named Ski Incline (you older Tahoe skier's will recall) was just a little more than a stone's throw from our lodging at the Hyatt. This allowed us a lazy, leisurely morning before donning ski attire for the 4th day, attire we soon discarded to get through another day my son described as a “Bluebird Day” –sunny, very warm with exceptionally clear snapshot views of the lake below. The Crystal Express high speed quad carries skiers to the 8,540 foot peak and with 75% snowmaking the 2 quads and 3 double chairs provide skiers with excellently groomed terrain rated 18% beginner, 46% intermediate and 36% advanced and a vertical of 1,840 feet (4th longest at Lake Tahoe) with some tree skiing and 30 runs guarantee a fun day on snow for the entire family.

Diamond Peak is primarily a family area and all runs funnel to the Base Area so you can be assured that the children will find their way down at lunch time. If you are staying at the Hyatt Regency take advantage of the free shuttle runs to Diamond Peak. If your accommodations are elsewhere in Lake Tahoe inquire about the free transportation to the area as it makes 15 stops before dropping off for a no lift line enjoyable day at Diamond Peak—“Your Tahoe Place.”

NORTHSTAR AT TAHOE
The biggest surprise of the week came on day 5 at Northstar at Tahoe and yes the skiing impressed us. We expected it to be great and it was. The surprise was the base expansion. The Village at Northstar boasts a large variety of shops and restaurants so if there are non-skiers in your group they will still be doing their thing long after you have called it a day on the mountain. But there is plenty to keep you occupied while you are exploring the 2,490 plus groomed and skiable acres with 83 trails and a vertical drop of 2,280 feet with 83 trails designed to comfortably fit every ability. The terrain breaks down as 13% beginner, 62% intermediate and 25% advanced with snowmaking covering 50% of the mountain which has 17 lifts to get skiers to any point on the mountain.

The day spent here was exceptional because we had Steve Jackson as our guide to chase around for the entire morning. This enabled us to explore terrain which, most likely, we would have never found. Once again early morning conditions on excellently groomed powder, except in some shaded areas (almost welcome to Eastern visitors) took us through Mt. Pluto’s moderately pitched slopes and then an afternoon on Lookout Mountain which was more challenging with its trees and steep inclines. Here again conditions make the skier. After a busy morning and 4 consecutive days on skis the more challenging terrain was an ego booster and a welcome treat even though burning thighs (mine at least) signaled that it was time to get to the bottom and call it a day. Chalk up day 5 at Northstar as a success and to be long remembered.

SQUAW VALLEY USA
Squaw Valley! The site of the 1960 Olympics. What a great way to end a ski holiday.
OK. Before I list the statistical information that Squaw Valley USA can boast about allow me to inform you that there is much more ski terrain than you can explore (4,000 acres); more lifts than you can ride (34); more trails than you will be able to descend (170 plus); more bowls to challenge (16); a 2,850 foot vertical and three terrain parks for snowboarders if you, the reader, like me have only one day to spend skiing here. What you will be able to do is experience an enjoyable day on snow (average 450 inches annually) with snowmaking (on 600 acres) and definitely a great night’s sleep.

Like any resort the terrain will be comfortable to all skill levels but first check the mountain map. Beginners have 25% of the mountain to practice their skills before taking on the intermediate areas which encompass 45% of the mountain., The remaining 30% of the area is an experts paradise. The ski season is from November to May.

As to what we skied I cannot really remember where the lifts took us. I can only assure you that after five days in the Lake Tahoe region, I for one, was not up to walking my way above anything that was not lift serviced or being carried to the 8,900 foot level of Squaw Peak and Sierra Bowl and the strong winds which forced us to look for cover. We did ski the upper portion of the mountain off the 8,700 foot Emigrant Peak, up and down Gold Coast Express, Mainline and ended the day on Mambo Meadows and Mountain Run which is lighted for night skiing.
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Ending a ski vacation at Squaw Valley is a great way to bid winter goodbye. It is one of the greatest ski resorts in North America, which like Heavenly and North Star offers every amenity any vacationer could ask for. If you are planning a vacation on snow this winter, you too will be more than satisfied to spend some time in the Lake Tahoe region. Big and small it has it all!

Note: Many thanks to Russ Pecoraro of Heavenly Valley; Milena Regos of Diamond Peak; Jessica Van Pernis at Northstar and Savannah Cowley at Squaw Valley for their courtesy and cooperation enabling me to gain access to their resorts which resulted in a great week on skis. Also a special thanks to fellow North American Snowsports Journalist Association member Curtis Fong “The Guy from Tahoe” for providing me with vital information resulting in contacting the area media representatives listed above.