Heavy Snow in California Leads To Early Openings
Heavy Snow in California Leads To Early Openings
Published : 24-Oct-2012 05:00
Squaw Valley Yesterday
Resorts in California have been reporting heavy snow over the past 36 hours and expect that up to a metres (40 inches) of new snow may have fallen by the time the current storm is expected to end tomorrow.
After last winter's historically low snowfall in the region (which followed record snowfall in 2010-11) the resorts are hoping that this is a sign that long term weather predictions for 2012-13 of at least above average snowfall will prove correct.
In North Lake Tahoe the first snow storm of the 2012-13 winter season has already delivered 90cm (36 inches) of snow and in celebration of this good fortune, Squaw Valley will run the Searchlight chairlift this Thursday (October 25) from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. to offer skiing and riding with a voluntary $20 donation lift ticket with all proceeds going to the Squaw Valley & Alpine Meadows Teams Foundation.
"With the excitement of this abundant first snowfall we want to give our customers a taste of winter," said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. "We hope everyone will take this opportunity to get out on the slopes in celebration of the new snow and to help support the Squaw Valley & Alpine Meadows Teams Foundation."
In addition to natural snowfall in South Lake Tahoe too, Heavenly Mountain Resort has fired up their snowmaking system, the largest on the West Coast, ahead of a scheduled opening in a few weeks' time. The resort has begun making snow at the top of Gondola, on California Trail and Orion's Run. If Mother Nature doesn't come through as anticipated, under optimum conditions, Heavenly can cover 73 percent of its 97 trails in machine-made snow. In more visual terms, Heavenly can produce three-and-a-half feet of snow over one acre in an hour. That's enough snow to blanket a football field with eight-and-a-half feet during an average three-hour game.
"Last season, our guests saw how important snowmaking is to the overall ski and ride experience," said Pete Sonntag, Heavenly's general manager. "This early natural snow is encouraging and is, hopefully, an indicator for a big season of snowfall ahead. But, if that doesn't happen, our guests can be confident in our commitment to provide the best possible snow conditions."
"Historically, almost every year that Heavenly has experienced significant snowfall in October, the following winter was above average. The average October snowfall total is 3.06 inches, with October 2004 experiencing the most recent largest snowfall for the month (24"). The 2004-05 winter recorded the fifth biggest snowfall season on record. With outlets like Accuweather calling for a return to normal snowfall for winter 2012-13, Lake Tahoe's high annual snowfall average should position Heavenly for a big winter," said a resort statement.
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