The hoped for snow storms in California finally materialised earlier this week when, after ac foot or two fell over the weekend (not enough(, a much more impressive dump arrived Monday/Tuesday allowing resorts top claim accumulations of up to 1.8m (six feet) transforming fairly bare slopes.
That said although the situation is less desperate than it has been for the first two months of the season, resorts are hopping for more top be able to get back to normal winter operations.
After three days of snowfall, Squaw Valley has received five feet of snow in 72 hours on the upper mountain, and Alpine Meadows has received six feet in 72 hours at the summit.
"As a result of the phenomenal snowfall, more than any other Tahoe resort, both Squaw and Alpine Meadows have been able to open substantially more terrain – with 1,550 acres and 21 lifts now open between the two resorts (650 acres at Squaw, 900 acres at Alpine Meadows)."
Across the lake at Northstar the resort reports four feet / 1.3m of snow has fallen at the summit in the last week. They now have 15 lifts open and 57 trails open. In both resorts, the natural snow has to the existing machine-made coverage.
At South Lake Tahoe Heavenly Mountain Resort has received two to three feet / 1m of snow since last week and is expecting additional snow over the next few days. Heavenly is Lake Tahoe's highest resort and they are currently operating 24 of 30 lifts, accessing 30 trails and more than 19 miles of terrain, and anticipate being able to open more terrain soon.
The expanded figures remain only a small part of the usual skiable terrain at all resorts.
In Mammoth Mountain to the south the snow started falling on Friday and as of 8am Monday morning, Mammoth had picked up four feet / 1.3m of snow and more is expected over the next couple of days. The much needed powder will, the resort expects, allow Mammoth to open all lifts and terrain by the end of this week.