OT - Where to Ski in NOCAL?

Hellgate · 02-15-2002, 06:27 PM

I'm going to be in San Jose in March for work and want to get some tele turns in. What is a good local type area to ski near Tahoe? I'm not into the big Vail, Aspen type places. Taos, Crested Butte, etc is more my taste.

I've skiied everywhere but NOCAL. What do you guys think?

Thanks in advance.

island911 · 02-15-2002, 06:30 PM

Very Northern CA is best. . they call it Oregon.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Tahoe and Heavenly spring to mind.

pwd72s · 02-15-2002, 06:44 PM

San Jose? That's a LONG way from where I would suggest...where the first woman to win Olympic gold in the downhill skied when she was in high school... That would be Jean Saubert, 1964 Olympics. HOODOO ski bowl, middle of the Cascade Range, Oregon....just a bit off the South Santiam pass, aka US hwy, 20...

stew · 02-15-2002, 06:50 PM

kirkwood on the south shore or squaw valley on the north.
my 2cents.
x norcal boy now happy in oregon.

pwd72s · 02-15-2002, 07:00 PM

Heck stew, if you moved from Cali to Hood River? You moved from skiing to windsurfing?

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

Learned to ski in the Tahoe basin. Still my favorite spot in the world. Been to Taos, to Austria, Vail, etc. The lake views are awesome!

Alpine Meadows has nice terrain, good coverage, everything from Cornice to Flats. Nice trees too. Better protection if it is windy.

If you like Taos, then Sugar Bowl might be a good fit. Recently renovated.

Squaw Valley is worth the day, some of the best extreme skiing and is much more friendly than in the 80's. Cold on windy days, though.

Northwood is groomers delight. A bit artificial, but if you are of that certain age, or have kids, it'll do.

Squaw, Alpine and Northwood are the North Shore "Big Three".

Heavenly in South Shore is great, needs lots of snow though. You can ski from CA to NV and back, lake views are the best.

Another south of South Shore spot is Kirkwood - even more Taos-like. but you must stay in South Shore.

We're headed back to North Shore (Tahoe City) this April (went over New Year's as well). Drop me a note if you want more explicit advice.

Happy Turns,

Don

Hellgate · 02-16-2002, 03:57 AM

Thanks everyone. This trip is will be Heavenly. Yes I know it's huge but it is the ONLY place that has child care for infants! I can't believe. My son will be 18 months for the trip but every place in the Tahoe region, except Heavenly, requires the child to be 2 years old.

Oh well. This will be his last year in day care. We'll put him on boards next Spring at 2.5.

Thanks again!

stew · 02-16-2002, 05:13 PM

thats right pwd72. i came here to windsurf and never left, its been about ten years now and i haven't looked back. we do have some great sking here . mt hood meadows has almost 200 inches this year and it isn't over yet.