Reno to South Lake Tahoe in February

I am considering my first trip to Tahoe, for two full days of mid-week
skiing.

Trying to decide between Heavenly on South Shore, or Apline Meadows on
the North.

Taking Heavenly first - they claim that driving from Reno to the hotels
around Heavenly should take only 1 1/4 hours. How accurate is that
claim? Of course, assuming roads are open!
Is a 4WD vehicle a must to travel through Rt 50, etc?
And what is a realistic estimate of the drive from Reno airport to the
Heavenly Gondola?
Two hours? More? I understand the time can vary wildly, but any better
estimates appreciated.

We are all intermediate level skiiers, but do like to sample atleast a
few of the easier "tough" slopes.

Am trying to decide between Heavenly (lots of motels/things to do
around this area), or Alpine (will stay in Truckee).
Any comments appreciated.

wrote:
I am considering my first trip to Tahoe, for two full days of mid-week
skiing.

Trying to decide between Heavenly on South Shore, or Apline Meadows on
the North.

Taking Heavenly first - they claim that driving from Reno to the hotels
around Heavenly should take only 1 1/4 hours. How accurate is that
claim? Of course, assuming roads are open!

That's pretty accurate.

Is a 4WD vehicle a must to travel through Rt 50, etc?

No, although chains are often required.

And what is a realistic estimate of the drive from Reno airport to the
Heavenly Gondola?
Two hours? More? I understand the time can vary wildly, but any better
estimates appreciated.

We are all intermediate level skiiers, but do like to sample atleast a
few of the easier "tough" slopes.

Am trying to decide between Heavenly (lots of motels/things to do
around this area), or Alpine (will stay in Truckee).
Any comments appreciated.

If you want tough, try Squaw Valley.

Timing is about right....
But your two resorts are on the opposite ends of the spectrum....
Heavenly is a cruiser and tourer paradise, with some steeps both
sides, but mainly intermediate cruiser stuff.
Alpine has some, but much smaller, shorter, steeper, twistier.
Seems if you don't have advanced skiers in the party, you should
consider Heavenly and Northstar, which is a mirror image of Heavenly in
terrain, but totally different experience....

wrote in message
oups.com...
I am considering my first trip to Tahoe, for two full days of mid-week
skiing.

Trying to decide between Heavenly on South Shore, or Apline Meadows on
the North.

Taking Heavenly first - they claim that driving from Reno to the hotels
around Heavenly should take only 1 1/4 hours. How accurate is that
claim? Of course, assuming roads are open!
Is a 4WD vehicle a must to travel through Rt 50, etc?
And what is a realistic estimate of the drive from Reno airport to the
Heavenly Gondola?
Two hours? More? I understand the time can vary wildly, but any better
estimates appreciated.

We are all intermediate level skiiers, but do like to sample atleast a
few of the easier "tough" slopes.

Am trying to decide between Heavenly (lots of motels/things to do
around this area), or Alpine (will stay in Truckee).
Any comments appreciated.


4 wheel drive is nicer as you do not have to install chains. But non-4
wheel is acceptable and just carry chains. Normally only need chains of 4x4
when it is snowing, or just finished snowing. About right on the times.
You drive south out of Reno and come in the back side of Heavenly. For
intermediates, Heavenly is better than Alpine and Squaw. Lots more cruiser
runs. And you can take a day trip and drive over hy 88 and 89 to Kirkwood
for nicer powder snow. Even if staying in Reno, I think they run shuttles
over to Heavenly.

wrote:

We are all intermediate level skiiers, but do like to sample atleast a
few of the easier "tough" slopes.

Alpine is definitely an area with more runs for advanced skiers.
Heavenly is outrageously expensive, while Alpine has been keeping their
prices, except for holidays, much lower. Not sure about this year.

Personally, I'd much rather stay in Truckee than South Shore.

There are some other choices around Truckee as well, you have Boring
Ridge (Boreal Ridge) and Flatstar (Northstar).

We also like going to Mount Rose, which is the closest ski area to Reno,
especially if it's a low snow year. Mount Rose is very high (7900'
base), and often has snow when other areas don't. Alpine Meadows has a
base of 6910', Heavenly has a base of 6540'. It can make a big difference.

On 5 Dec 2005 08:39:12 -0800, wrote:

I am considering my first trip to Tahoe, for two full days of mid-week
skiing.

Trying to decide between Heavenly on South Shore, or Apline Meadows on
the North.

Taking Heavenly first - they claim that driving from Reno to the hotels
around Heavenly should take only 1 1/4 hours. How accurate is that
claim? Of course, assuming roads are open!
Is a 4WD vehicle a must to travel through Rt 50, etc?
And what is a realistic estimate of the drive from Reno airport to the
Heavenly Gondola?
Two hours? More? I understand the time can vary wildly, but any better
estimates appreciated.

We are all intermediate level skiiers, but do like to sample atleast a
few of the easier "tough" slopes.

Am trying to decide between Heavenly (lots of motels/things to do
around this area), or Alpine (will stay in Truckee).
Any comments appreciated.

I've been out there a grand staggering total of twice; went north the
first time, and south the second. The third through Nth trip will be
to the north end. My GF and I rank Alpine in the coolest 5 areas
we've ever skiied. Kirkwood was a frank disappointment; interesting
terrain, but crowded, and even if the snow started out better, it was
still skiied out by late morning. We caught Heavenly in a really
nice spring storm,so can't really judge it objectively, but (although
we had a great day skiing the trees with almost no company and with
snow that started good and only got better) we're in no hurry to get
back. Head north, go to Alpine, seek out terrain that'll challenge
you (real easy to calibrate that at Alpine, btw), and you should be
wrecked enough by sundown that you don't care about the nightlife or
lack thereof.

bw

wrote:
Tahoe Taking Heavenly first - they claim that driving from Reno to
the hotels around Heavenly should take only 1 1/4 hours. How accurate
is that claim?

Quite!

November 2004
MILES TIME
258.1 12.6 Depart Nugget
317.7 14.1 Arrive Horizon
59.6 1.5 hours (Construction delay near Carson City)

November 2005
234.8 22.7 Depart Reno
288.9 23.8 Arrive Horizon
54.1 1.1 hours
__________________________________________________ _________________
In Los Angeles, "short distances" ARE miles!
http://geocities.com/dancefest/ - http://geocities.com/iconoc/
ICQ: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/19098103 --- IClast at SFbay Net

"SMS" wrote in message
...
wrote:

We are all intermediate level skiiers, but do like to sample atleast a
few of the easier "tough" slopes.

Alpine is definitely an area with more runs for advanced skiers. Heavenly
is outrageously expensive, while Alpine has been keeping their prices,
except for holidays, much lower. Not sure about this year.

Personally, I'd much rather stay in Truckee than South Shore.

There are some other choices around Truckee as well, you have Boring Ridge
(Boreal Ridge) and Flatstar (Northstar).

We also like going to Mount Rose, which is the closest ski area to Reno,
especially if it's a low snow year. Mount Rose is very high (7900' base),
and often has snow when other areas don't. Alpine Meadows has a base of
6910', Heavenly has a base of 6540'. It can make a big difference.


There will be plenty of snow everywhere in February. I can't guarantee it,
but I'd be willing to bet on it.

Do not even consider Boreal on the northside; unless you're looking for the
white trash version of ski parks. Northstar, Sugar Bowl, Homewood, and
Squaw offer wide range of personalities and none will make you think you're
hanging out at a trailer park reunion. There is a minimum of night life in
Truckee ...

The drive from Reno to Truckee is easy. I've only needed chains a couple of
times. Practice putting on chains at home before needing to do it when it's
16 degrees F and snowing or icing up.

I haven't been to the South Shore since the mid 70's so I can't offer
anything on that option. If you have any questions about Northstar, Sugar
Bowl, Homewood, or Squaw, just ask. There's only one dot in my real email.

Regarding Squaw - they claim to have intermediate ski trails - but also
that the whole mountain is unmarked.

I've always had this question - given that going down the wrong fork
on a mountain could lead to double-diamond areas (atleast that is on
other mountains), how does Squaw handle this - how does an intermediate
skiier know where to go, to stay out of tough slopes?

wrote:
Regarding Squaw - they claim to have intermediate ski trails - but also
that the whole mountain is unmarked.

I've always had this question - given that going down the wrong fork
on a mountain could lead to double-diamond areas (atleast that is on
other mountains), how does Squaw handle this - how does an intermediate
skiier know where to go, to stay out of tough slopes?

Is this something new? I seem to recall trail signs when I went to
Squaw back in '98. The trail map also had all runs marked. Check out
http://www.skimaps.com/Squaw_Valley_USA_skiarea250.html