Sierra-at-Tahoe announces first opening date since the Caldor Fire ripped through it

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - It has taken a large team of dedicated individuals with relentless dedication, working long hours over the last 441 days to bring Sierra-at-Tahoe back from the ruins created by the Caldor Fire to the anticipation of a new ski season.

The Sierra-at-Tahoe Ski Resort announced this weekend they will be ready for the 2022/23 season and reopening on December 3 (weather and Mother Nature permitting). The resort's 75th anniversary season was supposed to be last year, but with only being able to open for a day of celebration, the true party begins in just a few weeks.

The Caldor Fire was devastating to hundreds of residents in Grizzly Flats to the west of Sierra-at-Tahoe, but in 15 days the 3,000-degree fire roared up the mountain, taking aim at the 2,000-acre ski resort. The fire did not leave much untouched and affected 1,600 acres, damaging lift towers, and haul ropes. As the resort described on its blog, Caldor disintegrated terrain park features and four brand new snowcats and practically melted the Upper Shop — a maintenance building that housed many of the crews' tools and personal belongings, some that had been passed down through generations. Communication lines have been replaced, 15 million board feet of timber have been removed, and over 700 acres of fire-damaged trees mitigated.

The late Paul Beran, who was director of mountain operations before passing away this past summer said, “This will be a place of new adventure and rediscovery, West Bowl will now truly be a bowl.”

Instead of what was lost, this next season will be a celebration of what survived and what the new terrain will present to the skiers and riders.

The long days, endless hours, triumphs, setbacks and an unwavering dedication to getting the job done, the once impossible is now here.

Mitigation efforts officially wrapped up this week and as the teams remove the last pieces of heavy machinery and timber from the slopes, this momentous occasion is cause for celebration.

"More details to come on Opening Day operations, as we put the finishing touches on your beloved mountain — so we can all return to the place," announced resort staff on Facebook Sunday.

Even seasoned Sierra-at-Tahoe skiers and riders will have to adjust and get the new trail map to refer to until memorized.

"A heartfelt THANK YOU to Atlas Tree & Landscape with support from the El Dorado & Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation Districts and the U.S. Forest Service, you are our forever dream team," the Facebook post continued.

Follow the resort's social media and website for more information as opening day gets closer. New season pass information is also available on the website.