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Story by Brett Rhyne - Photos courtesty of Nothstar-at-Tahoe Resort and Dan Wallisch Photography
There are, believe it or not, some people who flee winter as if it were an oncoming train. As the first icy fronts plow in from the Pacific and dump their frosty loads, their first instinct is to hightail it, to scurry away from the impending plunge in temperatures and darkening skies towards warmer climates, to places where the only things frozen are the margaritas and open-toed shoes aren’t an invitation for frostbite.
But while they sway in their hammocks imagining the rest of us huddled under electric blankets and bundled in layer upon layer of Gore-Tex and wool, little do they know that we’re not counting down the days until we can bury our toes back into the summer sand on Tahoe’s beaches. No, we’ll have plenty of fun sliding down the snow-blanketed slopes without them.
Of course, you’d think a place that can boast an average of 34 feet of snowpack each year would be grey and frigid, suitable only for those content to shiver their nights away in igloos. But thankfully for those of us who choose to call it home, Tahoe is a place where winter usually stays on its best behavior. The fast-moving storms bring their snowy goodness to the mountains, but they’re gone before any kind of wintry gloom can set in, leaving behind sunshine and epic conditions that anyone with a taste for testing gravity can enjoy. And that’s something adventure-seeking locals have done each year since Walt Disney (yes, that Walt) helped open the first resort at Sugar Bowl in 1938. It wasn’t until Squaw Valley played host to the Winter Olympics in 1960 that our little snow-covered secret was spilled and Tahoe became the legendary and cosmopolitan destination it is today.
And legendary it is. More than two-dozen resorts can be found clinging to the peaks around the lake. Ranging in size from small mom and pop operations with a couple of creaky chairlifts to mega resorts with high speed gondolas and four star slopeside restaurants, Tahoe’s resorts offer something for everyone. You can glide down smooth groomers, get neck deep in backcountry powder, make your turns Telemark style, catch air in half pipes, lose yourself in the woods on kilometer after kilometer of cross country trails and huck yourself off cornices. But if all that sounds too extreme, don’t worry. You can snowshoe, dogsled, ice skate, tube and even get around by horse drawn carriage.
But the sun-drenched forecasts and legendary terrain are really only part of why Tahoe is such an epic ski destination. Once you pull off the planks and step out of the bindings, you’ll find an après ski scene that makes the action on the mountain seem downright tame. And much like the variety of runs on the slopes, Tahoe’s nightlife offers a little something for any speed. Do you enjoy launching yourself off cornices or perfecting McTwisty-something-or-others on the half pipe? Then you’ll find plenty of divey hipster enclaves and live music. Are you a full on snowbunny with designer label bibs color-coordinated with your skis? There’s a few blinged out dance clubs with your name on the list. Like easy turns down groomers and shaking your fist at snowboarders? Then check out the action at the swanky casinos and old school showrooms. And if you feel like you need a little more action, the neon lights of Reno beckon just a short drive away in the valley below.
Winter in Tahoe is always an adventure. Embrace it. Head to the high country and see what an intoxicating mix sun and snow can be. With the light glinting off the blue lake below, the wind running through your hair and the trees passing by in a blur, you’ll never want to leave winter behind ever again.
This year, visit Reno-Tahoe on the cool side of the calendar, when the winter wonderland absolutely glows. To check out Reno/Tahoe winter sport
videos, click here.
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