A long ski season ends Sunday (May 7) for Sugar Bowl ski resort.
It was both a long and memorable ski season for Sugar Bowl and all Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Due to huge snow storms in January and February, and several in early March, eight Lake Tahoe ski resorts had already received 600 or more inches of snow.
Historically, the average annual snowfall at upper elevations in the Lake Tahoe-Truckee region is 450 inches. Five Lake Tahoe ski resorts (Sugar Bowl, Northstar, Mt. Rose, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, Boreal Mountain) received 700 or more inches for the 2016-17 season.
Heading into Saturday, Sugar Bowl has accumulated 788 inches. The only U.S. ski resort with more snow than Sugar Bowl is Mt. Baker in Washington state, which has 808 inches. However, unlike Sugar Bowl, Mt. Baker recently closed. And with a chance of more snow this weekend, Sugar Bowl could reach the 800-inch mark.
“This season has literally been the winter that keeps on giving,” said Jon Slaughter, director of marketing and sales at Sugar Bowl and nearby Royal Gorge Cross Country. “We are closing in on the 800-inch mark, and the skiing and riding continues to be phenomenal. For those who haven’t made it up this spring, it’s not too late – the winter season is still underway!”
Sugar Bowl received 309 inches of snow in January and has offered numerous powder days for skiers and snowboarders throughout the 2016-17 season. Despite the huge snow total, this is only the fourth highest seasonal snow total in Sugar Bowl history.
The record is 880 inches in 1982-83, followed by 829 (1983-84) and 848 (1992-93). The most recent snow total high was 2010-11 when Sugar Bowl reported 689 inches.
Thanks to its enormous snow totals this year, Sugar Bowl extended its season twice, the final time deciding to offer one final ski weekend – May 6-7.
The resort will be running five lifts, including the gondola on its final weekend. Located off Interstate 80 at the Norden exit, Sugar Bowls currently has more than a 19-foot snow base stacked up atop Donner Summit.
“I think we will see a great turnout today with the sunshine and then a good final push on closing day,” Slaughter said. “There is a culture of coming out to celebrate the end of the season here at Sugar Bowl. I expect to see lots of costumes and ski blades.”
Following this weekend, only three Lake Tahoe ski resorts will remain open – Mt. Rose, Donner Ski Ranch and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows.
Mt. Rose remains open for most of May, closing for good on Memorial Day (May 29). Located on Mount Rose Highway in Nevada, Mt. Rose is operating on a reduced schedule. The resort will be open Thursday through Sunday and close the other three days until Memorial Day.
The 761 inches this season shatters the old Mt. Rose mark of 600 inches in 1994-95. The ski resort has recorded 500 or more inches five times in its history.
Located near Sugar Bowl on historic Highway 40, Donner Ski Ranch will be open one more weekend – May 13-14.
In March, Squaw Valley announced it would offer skiing and riding on July 4 for the fourth time ever. Now the famed Lake Tahoe ski resort is venturing beyond Independence Day for the first time in its history.
Beyond the Fourth of July, Squaw Valley is planning to operate the Shirley Lake Express chair on Saturdays for 2017-18 Tahoe Super Passholders. Discounted daily lift tickets will also be available.
Neighboring Alpine Meadows has stopped running lifts every day of the week since Sunday, and goes to weekends only through May 14.
Winter and summer will blend together as Squaw Valley emerges from a historic winter that saw 714 inches of snow, equaling nearly 60 feet. Squaw is committed to offering skiing and riding every day through May.
Closing dates for Lake Tahoe resorts.
- Homewood: April 16
- Kirkwood Mountain: April 16
- Tahoe Donner: April 16
- Granlibakken: April 17
- Soda Springs: April 23
- Sierra-at-Tahoe: April 23
- Diamond Peak: April 23
- Northstar: April 23
- Boreal Mountain: April 23
- Heavenly Mountain: April 30
- Sugar Bowl: May 7
- Donner Ski Ranch: May 14
- Alpine Meadows: May 14
- Mount Rose: May 29
- Squaw Valley: TBA
