Spring Skiing

Sun, slush and re-fuelling on the patio is what I think of when I think of spring skiing. And with record snowfalls keeping the resorts open through Memorial Day weekend, we thought this was the year to give spring skiing a go. We booked a wonderful condo suite right in Squaw Valley village for a great discounted rate, dug out our ski gear and headed out. At the last minute I threw in our winter jackets, and that proved to be a good move: this version of spring skiing was more like "Manuary" complete snow squalls, full winter gear and even a wonderful dump of powder. Squaw Valley proved to be a great choice with varied terrain to suit all skill levels and enough action in the village to keep everyone entertained at the end of the day. The outdoor pool and sauna at the top was open, and would be fabulous on a slightly warmer weekend...perhaps July 4? Many Tahoe area ski resorts are opening Independence Day weekend for one last blast of skiing (yes there really was that much snow) plus lots of other great activities. Ski and swim in the same day? You bet!

Weekend Getaways: Skiing in the Sierras...and driving with chains

Our California 'winters' make it easy to forget that a snowy weekend getaway is as close as a four hour drive, but make no mistake: the Sierra Nevadas are currently buried in snow. All that rain the past week has meant several feet of new snow in and around Tahoe, and we went to check it our for ourselves this past week. Most resorts have excellent learn to ski and advanced level lesson programs for both adults and kids, often complimentary or very low cost when you rent equipment. We chose a lodge close to the Donner Summit, which is the first ski area on your drive from the Bay Area, and it took about 4 hours to reach the parking lot. Going all the way to Tahoe you can add another hour, depending on the weather.

We were hit with about five feet of snow over our three night stay, and saw more than a few people who had left home clearly unprepared; picking their way through the snow in running shoes and in one case, shorts!

While our drive in was clear, coming home it was a bit snowy, and this meant tire chains, a new phenomena for us. It is mandatory to carry chains in your vehicle at this time of year (unless you happen to have a 4 wheel drive with snow tires), and signs on the highway indicate when chains must be put on. There are pull off areas along the side of the road for their installation. People also appear magically on the roadside when chains are required, and for about $30 they will be happy to install them for you. Not a bad idea unless you know what you are doing, and when it is dark and hailing out, $30 seemed like a great deal. When the chain requirement is lifted, the same routine begins all over again. Although taking them off is much faster and simpler, be prepared to get rather wet and dirty - the snow had turned to brown slush on the road by the time we had the OK to remove ours, and it was a bit of a messy job. (A bag to put your dirty chains in is a must). However, since we were now able to go faster than 25 mph - which is the speed limit for most cars with tire chains - we were happy to remove them. All this made the trip home take about 6 hours, so make sure you check the weather (www.onthesnow.com) and the road conditions (www.dot.ca.gov) before you set off.

Fun in the snow

When most people think Northern California and snow, they think Tahoe. And while the Lake Tahoe area certainly offers many great options - Heavenly, California's largest resort; Squaw Valley, home to the 1960 winter Olympics; and the snowboarding mecca Sierra-at-Tahoe among them - it is far from the only show in town. Shasta Cascade, Mammoth Lakes and Central Sierra all offer great winter options for skiing, boarding or just enjoying a winter wonderland.

With so many choices, and just as many opinions on which is the best destination, I won't even attempt to run down them all, but rather point out some great websites to help you decide on your perfect winter get away.

First and foremost, of course, is the weather. Check out the conditions before you leave; depending on your route and destination, you'll also need to know if you will require tire chains or other gear for your car. www.onthesnow.com provides snow and weather conditions at the resorts, while www.dot.ca.gov provides detailed highway conditions.

Next up, a little research on what type of resort you want - diamond runs, family friendly, great apres ski, back country or boarding options, or perhaps a bit of everything. At www.californiasnow.com you will find a nice overview of the different destinations, with site specific links. At www.californaiskiresorts.com you will find a very well laid out site providing resort information, conditions, lodging details, reviews and summaries to help you decide which destination will best suit your needs.

The season can start as early as November and runs well into spring, so there is no excuse to get out and enjoy the California snow!