Lake Tahoe ski areas planned opening dates

After a winter of historic snowfall and atmospheric rivers, what will 2017-18 have in store?

That has yet to be seen, but many resorts around the Lake Tahoe Basin are making plans for opening even without that "one good dump."

Planned opening days:

Heavenly Mountain Resort - Nov. 17
Kirkwood Mountain Resort - Nov. 22
Sierra-at-Tahoe,- mid-November
Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows - November 17
Northstar - Nov. 17
Mt. Rose - Nov. 4
Boreal - Nov. 8
Homewood - Dec. 8
Diamond Peak - Dec. 14

The 2018 Winter Olympics will see local snowboarders and skiers on the slopes of Pyeongchang, South Korea February 9-25, 2018. The buzz is high that South Shore athletes Maddie Bowman, Hannah Teter and Jamie Anderson could return again with medals around their necks!

South Shore resort changes and features this season:

Sierra-at-Tahoe has provided a foundation for some of the world’s best athletes. Olympic gold medalists Jamie Anderson (one of six athletes selected for "New Spirit of United" campaign as the US Olympic Committee's official airline), Maddie Bowman and Hannah Teter all call Sierra home and plan to compete on the world stage yet again at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Sierra-at-Tahoe is the spot to catch athletes training on any given day. January is National Learn to Ski/Snowboard month and the resorts provide packages, lessons and clinics to learn and improve skills. For those new to the sport, Sierra-at-Tahoe expanded its beginner area with SMART TERRAIN, ® which includes banked turns and shaped features that naturally guide skiers and riders into turns and stops to efficiently master the fundamentals while gaining confidence. The resort offers deals from $49 for first timer skiers/riders including a lift ticket accessing beginner terrain, two-hour lesson and equipment rental.

Heavenly Mountain Resort will take ski and ride school to a new level with video lessons. Guests will be toured around the mountain by an instructor while learning how to use a portable device to capture first-person video and photography of Heavenly’s secret stashes, powder pockets and stunning views. Skiers/riders will keep a memory card full of their day’s footage after the lesson has ended. Heavenly offers a free taste of craft brew on the mountain under Tamarack Chair daily from 3-4 p.m. Guests will also receive coupons for discounted beers and bites at Tamarack Lodge.California Lodge’s new roof top bar, LAT 38, is the posh après scene with a mountain-modern feel, stringed café lights, a unique warm drink menu (i.e. the “Dirty Snowman), cozy fire pits, acoustic live bands, and appetizers. Tahoe South and Heavenly Mountain Resort will host the prestigious Mountain Travel Symposium, the largest and longest running annual gathering of mountain travel professionals in the world, April 8-14. The event appeals to tour operators, ski clubs and councils, meeting planners and tourism partners within the ski industry as well as year-round travel. Sponsors of a bi-state collaboration include Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel and South Tahoe Airporter.

Kirkwood Mountain Resort, known for its deep powder, steep runs and cornices, welcomes the season with the expansion of “Expedition: Kirkwood.” The flagship program includes courses, clinics and camps to elevate safety and hone skills for navigating the resort. The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) Classes include a three-day introductory course to the avalanche phenomena: training students to prepare for and carry out a backcountry trip, understand basic decision making while in the field, as well as the concepts of a companion rescue. With various camps and clinics offered for all ages and skill levels, the ‘Ladies Only’ packages allow ripping women to excel at their sport in a new adventure. This experience is about escaping, developing friendships, seeking adventure and tackling a variety of terrain and conditions while working on selection, tactical approach and off-piste technique.

Vail Resorts, operators of Heavenly and Kirkwood, has committed to a zero net operating footprint by 2030. This includes zero net emissions and operating impact on forests, landfill and habitat. Initiatives at Heavenly include recycling; erosion-fighting soil cover; snowmaking investments in low-energy technology; storm water runoff; community outreach, events and financial contributions; and free ski shuttles.