Like many Tahoe ski resorts, Diamond Peak still has enough snow for a good day on the slopes.
It’s been a down season for Diamond Peak ski resort, which has received only 113 inches of snow this season. That total is far from its average and pales in comparison to a year ago when Diamond Peak was getting bombarded with snow this month – nicknamed “Februburied.” (SEE TAHOE SNOW TOTALS BELOW).
Tahoe ski resorts have received no snowfall in February and the forecast isn’t calling for any significant snow the remainder of the month or by early March. However, officials at Diamond Peak are making no apologies for what many skiers and snowboarders might misjudge as poor conditions.
“Conditions on the groomed runs at Diamond Peak are actually fantastic right now – even after such a long dry spell,” said Diamond Peak spokesperson Paul Raymore. “In contrast, the conditions off-piste are nothing to get super-excited about. I’m not recommending that folks get out and explore the normally-phenomenal tree skiing and riding that we offer at Diamond Peak. But you can do it, there’s enough snow coverage still, it’s just not amazing.”
Snowmaking: Many Tahoe ski resorts kickstart the season by making snow in November and early December. In seasons like 2018-19, the snowmaking guns could be put away for the season, thanks to Mother Nature bringing the real stuff.
Yet this season, Diamond Peak and some other Tahoe ski resorts have resorted to making snow at times, supplementing the existing snow pack.
“Diamond Peak has been strategically making new snow in February when conditions permit, utilizing our highest-efficiency fan guns to add snow to areas that may need a little extra,” Raymore said. “We’ve been selective, because despite the perception out there due to the extended dry period we’ve seen in Tahoe, the snowpack is actually holding up very well on the slopes of Diamond Peak.”
Family-friendly Diamond Peak, located in Incline Village, employs a Slope Maintenance team that has been it’s not-so-secret weapon this season. Diamond Peak has been utilizing its Pistenbully’s Snowsat snow depth monitoring system to keep its conditions good.
“The technology gives the Diamond Peak grooming team the ability to monitor snow depth levels below their snow cats in real time during grooming, which allows them to move snow around from one area to another area that might need more coverage,” Raymore said.
Closing date: Like practically every Tahoe ski resort, Diamond Peak doesn’t anticipate closing early this season. The closing date remains April 12.
“With the snowpack we currently have and the snow management tools Diamond Peak has in its arsenal, we’re confident we will be open though our scheduled closing date, if not even later, depending on what Mother Nature delivers in March,” Raymore said. “That being said, we are all doing our snow dances and saying our prayers with the hope for a change in weather patterns and another ‘miracle March’ like we had two seasons ago.”
SNOW REPORT (season totals, Feb. 24)
- Squaw Valley: 207 inches
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: 204 inches
- Alpine Meadows: 198 inches
- Northstar California: 197 inches
- Boreal Mountain: 196 inches
- Sugar Bowl: 194 inches
- Kirkwood Mountain: 192 inches
- Soda Springs: 192 inches
- Heavenly Mountain: 183 inches
- Mt. Rose: 178 inches
- Homewood Mountain: 166 inches
- Diamond Peak: 113 inches
- Tahoe Donner: 111
