sightseeing

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Opening day at Heavenly Mountain Resort is planned for Friday, November 20, with ski and snowboard operations exclusive for all pass holders until December 8.

This year there are many changes due to COVID-19 and Vail says their goal is to prioritize pass holders, including those who have the Epic Day Pass. Those with passes need to reserve their day on the slopes as does the general non-pass holding public.

There will be no ticket sales at the Vail ski resorts this season and all is conducted virtually except for sightseeing rides.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California Resort announced Tuesday they have changed their opening days due to unusually warm November weather that limited their snowmaking production.

They were both planning on opening this Friday, Nov. 22. At this time, Heavenly will target Wednesday, Nov. 27 and Northstar will target Friday, Nov. 29 to open for skiing and snowboarding. Kirkwood will announce an opening date in the coming days.

Kicking off its 2019 season, V&T Railway will hold a special Mother’s Day train on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12. Guests will experience a 24-mile round-trip ride through the historic Comstock, departing Carson City (Eastgate Depot) at 10 a.m. and will arrive in Virginia City at approximately 11:30 a.m., before returning to Carson at 4:15 p.m.

Tickets are $45 for adults, $40 for seniors and $25 for children ages 3 to 16. Children two and under ride free when they sit on a parent's lap. Tickets can be purchased online at www.vtrailway.com or (877) 724-5007.

The Silver Rush, a new 4,159-foot long zip line opening this summer at Heavenly's Epic Discovery, will take users from tree-to-tree at speeds up to 40 miles per hour. Overlooking the Carson Valley, Silver Rush is comprised of five segmented zip lines; the final of which flies guests over the waters of East Peak Lake.

Once the ride is completed, guests enjoy a scenic ATV ride back to the top of the Gondola. It is a three-hour long experience.

Zephyr Cove Resort will remain open for business as soil impacted by a 2011 underground fuel release is removed from an area near the south beach volleyball courts starting Monday, September 12.

Even though those driving by and visiting the resort will see the activity, impact to operations is expected to be minimal. There may be some disruption to parking and the volleyball area but watercraft rentals and sightseeing boats will continue to operate during the excavation.

An Incline Village woman was rescued from the cliffs above Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay on Thursday after she slipped while climbing down the mountain.

Jane Rylander had been climbing in the steep cliff bands from Vikingsholm parking lot down towards the main castle. She slipped and slid down the embankment becoming stuck on the cliff band. She was not injured but could not climb up or down and was in the need of rescue.

Heavenly Mountain Resort has switched gears from winter to summer and they're kicking off summer in South Lake Tahoe over Memorial Day Weekend. The Heavenly Gondola will be running 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 23-25 for sightseeing, dining and hiking on the mountain.

This is just a peek into activities at the top of the mountain since they won't open for full summer operations until June 12 when they'll start seven-day-a-week Gondola rides, unveil their new four line Hot Shot Zip Line, and open two of of the ropes courses, Discovery Forest and Boulder Cove.

Recently the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, in conjunction with South Tahoe Refuse & Recycling, conducted a “drive and drop” at the LTVA’s California Visitors Center, and curbside collection on regular pick-up days. Once again we were overwhelmed by the generous response from our South Lake Tahoe community. Together we collected over 1,500 pounds of food and toys to benefit Christmas Cheer all Year, plus over $1,200 in cash, $1,000 of which was donated by the Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe.

Heavenly Mountain Resort has upped the ante on summer fun, introducing new adventures at the top of the Heavenly Gondola for Summer 2014. Summertime guests will have the opportunity to swing through the trees and fly through the air on new experiences including the Boulder Cove and Black Bear Challenge Courses, the Discovery Forest Canopy Course and the 3,300 foot-long Blue Streak zip line. On Friday, June 13, Heavenly Mountain Resort will open these expanded offerings to the public seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through September 1.

Heavenly Mountain Resort, Northstar California and Kirkwood Mountain Resort, opened up sales for their 2014-15 season passes.

Starting at $409 with as little as $49 down and the balance due in the fall, skiers and riders have until April 13 to secure the best available price for winter 2014-15 season passes and six buddy tickets.

After an action-packed winter season at Lake Tahoe, Heavenly Mountain Resort is switching gears and opening with summer activities this Memorial Day weekend May 25-27. Heavenly will run the Heavenly Gondola for sightseeing, dining, family activities and hiking. Operating times will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A dedication ceremony of the new Genoa Vista Trail will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 at at the north end of the trail on Foothill Road across from Carson Street. The event is open to the public and participants are encouraged to walk or bike the 1.3 mile trail to 1862 David Walley’s Hot Springs Resort and Spa where refreshments will be served.

Powerful early-season storms combined with the area’s largest snowmaking operations have allowed Vail Resorts’ Lake Tahoe mountains – Heavenly Mountain Resort, Northstar California Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort – to open early with 111 acres. Heavenly and Northstar will open on Wednesday, Nov. 14 with a combined seven lifts and eight trails, totaling 51 acres.

A water taxi service based at Camp Richardson Resort connects locals and visitors to lakeside marinas, enhancing economic activity on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. The service offers stops at three marinas providing access to recreation, sightseeing, dining and shopping.

Heavenly Mountain Resort on Friday will begin operating the Heavenly Gondola seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for sightseeing, hiking and dining. The Tamarack Express Chairlift will also operate, accessing miles of hiking trails with the best views of Lake Tahoe.

A ride on the Heavenly Gondola transports Lake Tahoe sightseers to the Mid-Station Observation Deck, a 14,000 square-foot platform nestled among massive granite boulders nearly 3,000 feet above the lake. Offering unparalleled views of the Desolation Wilderness, Carson Valley and, of course, the sparkling waters of Lake Tahoe, the Observation Deck also features Café Blue, an outdoor dining area serving coffee, beer, cold beverages, hot chocolate and snacks.

OK, so it hasn't been the best snowsport season so far, but hold on, more snow is coming with storms over this weekend and we'll be able to ski off-piste without worrying about slightly hidden rock and logs. And on top of that, it's spring skiing, always the best of the year. Forget those crowds of December and January, don't recall those icy January days when the wind howled. It's spring skiing, lightly clad with plenty of sun for sitting on the lodge deck.

Vail Resorts, Inc. ski and snowboard season passes for the 2012-2013 winter season go on sale today and feature the best prices in the industry.