Winter is getting an early start at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, where cold temperatures have allowed crews to fire up the resort's snowmaking system ahead of the upcoming ski season.
Mt. Rose says it is the first resort in the Tahoe area to begin snowmaking this season and is among the first in the country to do so. The resort is targeting a Nov. 6 opening, weather and conditions permitting.
Mike Pierce, the resort's marketing director, said the latest cold snap gives crews an opportunity to make as much snow as possible before the season begins.
"It’s always exciting to see the first taste of winter, and as an added bonus, to be able to crank out snowmaking in force over the next couple of days. We plan to make as much snow as possible with this latest cold snap and then be ready for all future opportunities to crank up the system."
Mt. Rose's elevation gives it an advantage when it comes to making snow early in the season. The resort's base sits at 8,260 feet, the highest base elevation in the Tahoe area, and its slopes primarily face north and east.
The resort's snowmaking system also depends on the right weather conditions. Temperatures need to be below freezing, humidity needs to be low, and ideally, those conditions should last for more than four hours.
Before opening to skiers and snowboarders, Mt. Rose plans to build enough snow to provide a quality experience from the start. At least one of its signature intermediate trails must reach an average snow depth of 10 to 14 inches, allowing for more than 1,000 vertical feet of groomed skiing and snowboarding.
Crews are currently focused on opening the Lakeview lift, which serves terrain in the Kit Carson Bowl. Additional trails and lifts are expected to open as conditions allow.
The planned Nov. 6 opening remains dependent on weather and mountain conditions. For now, the resort is taking advantage of the latest cold temperatures to get a head start on winter.
