There's a first time for everything. After a historical season, novelty skiing — and riding — will be in full effect this Fourth of July in Lake Tahoe. If May skiing didn't satiate your snow appetite, there's more, lots more. The last time I spent the 4th in Tahoe I tubbed down the river, wakeboarded, and hiked. This time, I can do all of the above...and SKI.
Several mountains are cooking up extravaganzas, with Squaw spreading theirs over four days. Here's the lowdown on four mountains but if I missed yours, check their website to see if they're open for the 4th. Unforgettable fun awaits.
With record-breaking season snowfall now totaling 810 inches,
Squaw currently boasts a 14 foot base and fully snow-covered peaks.
Open lifts include: Funitel, Gold Coast, Shirley Lake, Links, Cable Car, and Siberia.
You can expect full
Apres style with
pool parties, daily BBQs at High Camp, live music, an arts & crafts festival and more.
Lift tickets are $49 for adults; $12 for kids 12 and under, and free with a 2011/2012 season pass
. Here are
complete details
and here's the daily rundown.
Friday:
- 10am-6pm. Fine Arts & Crafts festival
- 6-8:30pm. Free KT concert series featuring The Police, Rolling Stones, and U2 cover bands
Saturday:
- Ski and ride: 8am to 2pm
- 10am-6pm. Fine Arts & Crafts festival
- 1-3pm. DJ pool party at High Camp
- 12-2pm. Live music at Gold Coast
Sunday:
- Ski and ride: 8am to 2pm
- 10am-6pm. Fine Arts & Crafts festival
- 1-4pm. DJ pool party at High Camp
- 2-4pm. 21st Annual Lake Cushing Crossing , the resort’s acclaimed pond skimming event
- 7:30-9:15pm. Big Head Todd and the Monsters , alternative blues-rock band on KT Sundeck
- 9:15pm. Fireworks show
Monday:
- Ski and ride: 8am to 2pm
- 1-3pm. DJ pool party at High Camp
Alpine's "Peak to Shore" event encourages you to ski the Alpine slopes in the AM and paddle board at Homewood's West Shore Café & Inn in the afternoon. For Alpine devotees there will be skiing, boarding, slopeside parties and live music Saturday through Monday. Ride from 9 am to 2 pm then transition to party mode from noon to 4 pm when base lodge fires up the slopeside barbecue, complete with live music and games.
2011/12 passholders ride and party for free. Pre-purchased holiday weekend lift tickets start at $37 but social media savvy Alpine is hosting a “4th of July Fan Quest” challenge in which guests have a chance to reduce daily rates to $25.
For every 1,000 new fans Alpine gains on Facebook until June 30, they will knock $3 off the balance due. Fan at
www.facebook.com/
AlpineMeadowsSkiResort
. Here are
complete details
.
For something more family-oriented, visit Heavenly with scenic gondola rides, sightseeing, hiking, rock climbing, ice cream and snow tubing. Tamarack Lodge is home to the highest-elevation, full-service ice cream bar at Lake Tahoe and a brand new 500-foot-long summer tubing hill. Get the Summer Season Pass for access; adult passes are $52 and children, teens and seniors pay $42. Kids four and under are gratis.
Arguably the best mountain in South Lake, Kirkwood's opening Chair 6 for Saturday and Sunday festivities. That includes skiing, riding, and hiking. Be aware that Chair 6 is for intermediate to expert only. Chair 6 will be open from 7:30am — 2pm, then BBQs, bars, and live music will take over. On Sunday there will be a fireworks show at 9pm. Here are the full details .
Be safe, be brave, and in the name of your country — shred!
Samantha Durbin ( sami.7x7@gmail.com ) is a lifestyle writer who honed her blogging skills as Editor of FabSugar.com . Samantha graduated from The Fashion Institute of Technology, also writes for San Francisco magazine and Gilt City , and shares her musings via her poly-blog network, led by SFonFire .
