skiing

The season's first significant snowfall covered the Sierra Monday with nearly a foot of powder at Lake Tahoe area resorts and 3-5 inches at lake level.

Anticipation for additional snowfall along with summer investments pays winter dividends at Tahoe South this season. Millions of capital expenditures at the three area ski resorts this year will complement revitalization efforts throughout town to create new options on where to stay, play and dine during the 2013-14 season.

It’s now officially Fall and it's that unique time of the year again.
This is when the days are very noticeably shorter, the weather is much crisper and Old Man Winter is lurking just around the corner, with all of his cold, frost, snow and ice.

If you were not aware of it, The Sierra Nevada Mountains got their first snow of the year this last Saturday! Winter is on its way!

So, if you would like a last try at fishing some of our higher altitude lakes before they freeze up or are closed for the 2013 season on November 15, here are some suggestions on where to go:

LAKE TAHOE — Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort has launched a new online store and is encouraging guests to purchase online. The new store has been designed to provide a user-friendly experience with improved navigation and functionally throughout. Customers can now easily shop for season passes, rental equipment, lift tickets and more.

Elaine and I just returned from a memorable visit to a very special place: It was our second visit to that remote, far-north locale. The first time was about 15 years ago, when Elaine and her late husband Jim McGee and I went there to film Canadian fishing experiences for our weekly TV show.

With less than 100 days until the beginning of the 2013-2014 Lake Tahoe ski and ride season, now is the time to purchase the best-valued season pass to Tahoe’s three premier mountain destinations, Heavenly, Kirkwood and Northstar. The Tahoe Local and Tahoe Value Passes offer access to more than 263 trails, 14 terrain parks and 10,270 acres all on one pass; but the current season pass prices are only guaranteed through September 2, 2013.

Where to Retire magazine has picked Carson City as a top retirement destination. The capital city is profiled in the September/October issue, available nationwide on Aug. 13.

Carson City possesses qualities important to today’s retirees, said Where to Retire Managing Editor Annette Fuller.

Minden resident Krista Lukas has published her debut poetry collection "Fans of My Unconscious." She will read from her collection at two venues in June: the Mile High Jazz Band’s Jazz and Poetry event at Comma Coffee in Carson City on June 11, 7:30 p.m., and the Ventana Sierra Advanced Writers Conference at Western Nevada College in Carson City on June 14 at 6:30 p.m.

The book is published by The Black Rock Press, University of Nevada, Reno, 2013.

CARSON CITY — Scott Parker has joined the Carson City branch of AAA as the branch manager. He will oversee the 10 employees and office operations related to insurance, travel and memberships of the century-old-plus company. He started on Jan. 14.

Parker, who hails from Medford, Ore., has a long history of management in the insurance industry. This includes a 26-year stint with Farmers Insurance Group in different capacities. He last worked as a district sales manager after serving as a reserve district manager and agency owner as an independent agent.

Alpenglow Sports has teamed up with Tahoe Cross Country to present the first-ever Lake Tahoe Nordic Festival Friday, February 8 through Sunday, February 10. All events are free, open to the public and take place at Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area in Tahoe City, California. A full schedule of events is available at www.tahoenordicfestival.com.

Granlibakken Conference Center and Lodge has answered the arrival of 2013 and ideal conditions at Lake Tahoe with the area’s most attractive ski and stay packages now through spring.

As soon as the snow started to fly in Hope Valley, David Beck had the feeling that the short-lived "retirement" lifestyle he had been tolerating was going to be over very soon if he could have his way. He had the feeling that all he needed was to recover a little bit from his new knee replacement, and soon he could be out again mushing behind a full set of huskies on the snowy trails of Hope Valley.

It’s turning out to be one of those winters that isn’t very mountain bike friendly. Freezing temperatures are keeping the roads icy in town, and there is bicycle-stopping deep snow in the nearby mountains. Thankfully there is another way to enjoy our local trails if you’re willing to let go of the handlebars and grab some poles.

With several early-season Lake Tahoe snowfalls, including 24 inches in the past two days, and plenty of cold weather days and nights, Sierra-at-Tahoe resort will open its mountain from top to bottom including the West Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 15.

West Bowl offers long cruisers and intermediate to advanced runs, along with unbeatable views of Pyramid Peak and Desolation Wilderness. Beginners to experts now have the opportunity to enjoy over 2,212 feet of vertical terrain, three terrain parks, and lessons for all ages and ability levels.

RENO, Nev. — Thirty-two Wolf Pack student-athletes representing 12 teams have applied for graduation at the University of Nevada this winter. Ceremonies for the 2012 Winter Commencement are set for Saturday, Dec. 8 at Lawlor Events Center.

Prestigious snow carvers from around the world will call North Lake Tahoe home February 8-12, 2013 for the region’s first-ever Carve Tahoe competition, with the judging take place February 13, 2013.

The weeklong international snow sculpture contest is specifically geared for spectators who will view firsthand 20-ton blocks of pure snow shaped and carved into breathtaking masterpieces. The competing teams are the best of the best – selected from the event’s top applicants and representing more than 20 countries.

A traditional Lake Tahoe holiday stay at Granlibakken resort means skiing, snowplay, zipline, board games by the fireplace, spa treatments and relaxing. It’s also a sumptuous feast prepared by resort staff, a rollicking atmosphere of good cheer amid an authentic lodge setting with roaring fire and best of all, no dirty dishes or clean up, rather a take home box for any leftovers.

Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort will open for the 2012-13 season on Thursday, Nov. 22, offering Easy Rider Express lift, Rock Garden lift, and three surface lifts, giving guests access to four trails including, Broadway, Easy Street, Echo, and Lower Sleighride. Building on the reputation as one of the nation’s top terrain park resorts, Sierra Resort™ will offer a small to medium jib park on Broadway consisting of multiple features including new boxes and rails, giving eager guests a chance to get their park legs back underneath them.

Lifts began turning at Heavenly Mountain Resort at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning, signaling winter's return to Lake Tahoe. Early-season storms combined with the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system have given Heavenly the ability to stage its earliest opening since 2004-05. All access to the mountain at this time is through the Heavenly Gondola and Tamarack Express.

Value-added skiing and boarding has been passed down to three Lake Tahoe area resorts. Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort season passholders can now enjoy free skiing or riding at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows from opening day until December 21, 2012, as well as from April 15, 2013 until closing day.

Powerful early-season storms combined with the area’s largest and most advanced snowmaking operations have allowed Vail Resorts’ Lake Tahoe mountains – Heavenly Mountain Resort, Northstar California Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort – to open early with 111 acres. Heavenly and Northstar will open on Wednesday, Nov. 14 with a combined seven lifts and eight trails, totaling 51 acres.

With Lake Tahoe area ski lifts just days away from turning for the first time this ski and ride season, it is not too early to start planning holiday vacations, especially with the wide variety of holiday activities and great vacation packages Heavenly Mountain Resort, Northstar California and Kirkwood Mountain Resort are offering.

Lake Tahoe ski resorts are celebrating the arrival of the first snow storm of the season, with several inches having fallen and more on the way. Mother Nature's fall delivery sets the winter season in motion for a promising ski and snowboard season.

The Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Foundation at Lake Tahoe has opened registration for the 2012 – 2013 competitive and development ski and snowboard programs. With a variety of options from the One-Day Program to the Full-Time Competitive Program, the Foundation has something for all ages and levels of skiers and riders. Registration packets are available online and at the HSSF building.

Although you might not feel it, the weather is starting to change in North Lake Tahoe. Days are still warm, with temperatures averaging in the 60s, but nights are dropping to approximately 35 degrees. It’s the time of year that the region’s upper elevations may even see a dusting of snow.

“We’ve been reviewing all the long-range forecasts,” said Chief Marketing Officer Andy Chapman of the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association. “And if Mother Nature keeps up her end, we should have above-average snowfall this winter.”

Imagine working at the place where you normally play. Heavenly Mountain Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort in Lake Tahoe are giving candidates that opportunity by hiring 1,500 employees and 750 employees, respectively, for the 2012-13 winter season. On Saturday, October 20, the annual job fair will be held jointly for Heavenly and Kirkwood at the California Main Lodge at Heavenly from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Visitors to America’s favorite lake, as was designated this year by USA Today, can expect a winter of major content as Lake Tahoe South resorts are poised with prime attractions, sizzling special events and a combination of unmatched outdoor recreation and nighttime amenities.

“The destination is on a major uptick with a record-breaking summer and the ongoing economic recovery,” said Carol Chaplin, executive director at the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. “Plus, there’s an enthusiastic outlook as local weather indicators point toward a season of big snow.”

With Nov. 16 as its opening day, the countdown is on at Heavenly Mountain Resort. From intense competitions and events to the return of the halfpipe, excitement is stirring at Lake Tahoe’s largest winter playground.

At Lake Tahoe, football is underway, the colors are starting to change, the days are getting shorter, and the smell of fireplaces are starting to fill the evening air.

Vail Resorts, Inc. which has three ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe area, announced Thursday an unprecedented partnership with Verbier, Switzerland, that will enhance the already incredible value of Vail Resorts’ Epic Season Pass, providing three days of free access to the Verbier ski resort, including Les 4 Vallées, the largest ski area in Switzerland, for new and renewing 2012-2013 Epic Season Pass holders.

Fans of the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s Take Me Fishing campaign took to Facebook this summer, to participate in Nature’s Waterpark Showdown. 
Each fan was invited to help determine the top eight natural “waterparks,” or state parks, for boating and fishing in America.  They could also enter for a chance to win the grand prize: a vacation to a state park for a family of four.