Lake Tahoe ski resorts begin making snow, plan pandemic changes before season opens

The days may be warm, sunny and dry in the valley, but certain spots around Lake Tahoe in the mountains are starting to look a little like winter.Since Sunday, multiple resorts have been taking advantage of weather conditions that make it possible to fire up their snowmaking machines. “We are seeing overnight temperatures in the teens which give us the ability to turn on our snowmaking system,” said Russell Carlton, Vail Resorts spokesperson.Vail Resorts includes Heavenly and Northstar California which together creates “the largest snowmaking system on the West Coast of the United States,” according to Carlton.Advances in technology allow the resorts to monitor sensors on each individual snowmaking machine in order to begin snowmaking as soon as conditions allow for different areas of the mountain.”Think of it like a smartphone app. It allows us to turn on from home … and make snow efficiently,” Carlton said.Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows also began making snow this past weekend, as it adapts to the impacts of the pandemic. The resort is spending approximately $1 million at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows to increase physical distancing and sanitizing across both mountains, according to a news release.The pandemic is also leading multiple resorts to institute a reservation-based system for lift tickets. More information can be found on resort websites.Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is aiming to open the 2020-2021 winter season on Nov. 25.Vail Resorts is looking at an even earlier opening at Heavenly and Northstar exclusively for pass holders on Nov 20.Kirkwood has scheduled its opening day for Friday, Dec. 4.

The days may be warm, sunny and dry in the valley, but certain spots around Lake Tahoe in the mountains are starting to look a little like winter.

Since Sunday, multiple resorts have been taking advantage of weather conditions that make it possible to fire up their snowmaking machines.

“We are seeing overnight temperatures in the teens which give us the ability to turn on our snowmaking system,” said Russell Carlton, Vail Resorts spokesperson.

Vail Resorts includes Heavenly and Northstar California which together creates “the largest snowmaking system on the West Coast of the United States,” according to Carlton.

Advances in technology allow the resorts to monitor sensors on each individual snowmaking machine in order to begin snowmaking as soon as conditions allow for different areas of the mountain.

“Think of it like a smartphone app. It allows us to turn on from home … and make snow efficiently,” Carlton said.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows also began making snow this past weekend, as it adapts to the impacts of the pandemic. The resort is spending approximately $1 million at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows to increase physical distancing and sanitizing across both mountains, according to a news release.

The pandemic is also leading multiple resorts to institute a reservation-based system for lift tickets. More information can be found on resort websites.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is aiming to open the 2020-2021 winter season on Nov. 25.

Vail Resorts is looking at an even earlier opening at Heavenly and Northstar exclusively for pass holders on Nov 20.

Kirkwood has scheduled its opening day for Friday, Dec. 4.