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| Heavenly Lake Tahoe - Credit: Vail Resorts |
The heart-soaring combo
of lake and mountain is something that has appealed to me for decades, ever
since visiting Lake Geneva in Switzerland and Lake Annecy in France. That’s why
I have been trying to get back to Lake Tahoe for many years. I first visited in
1991 when I managed a few days skiing at Northstar, Squaw Valley and Diamond Peak (then called Incline),
staying at the delightfully rustic and hip King’s
Beach in North Tahoe.
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| Twin Pines Lake & Ski House credit Clear Creek Tahoe |
Having decided to
re-visit Tahoe at last – and catch up with an old friend who still lives there
in the gentrifying town of Truckee – I was also keen to add South Lake Tahoe to the equation. Landing in
Reno, I could see the pendant pistes and peaks of Mt
Rose calling me to the slopes. But I had to make one stop off first at Clear Creek Tahoe, a five-star golf
community currently in development. Not to play golf – although the Coore and Crenshaw greens were
clear enough to get in a round – but to check out the progress on the 2136-acre
scenic Sierra setting before moving on to Twin Pines, their
private Lake & Ski House at South Lake
Tahoe, five minutes from the 4,800 acres of Heavenly Mountain Resort.
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| S'mores at Clear Creek Tahoe |
Attracting buyers from
the Bay Area, around California, Texas, and as far afield as China and Japan,
around 55 lots have already been snapped up, with another 236 on the master
plan. Five huge homes are under construction with amazing views over the Sierra
Nevadas and there are two cute cabins ready for guests to stay in. The current
golf clubhouse has a pro shop, restaurant, patio, pub and outdoor grille which
will eventually be supplanted by an even grander Clubhouse Campus with a spa,
pool and wellness facility. Slated to open this summer is the Family Recreation
Centre which will include tennis courts, basketball and pickleball court, pool
and water slides. And golf will resume as usual in the spring.
Wow factors for Clear Creek Tahoe include five-star
hotel hospitality care of Franck Savoy who is the son of famous French chef,
Guy Savoy, owner of Guy Savoy Michelin star restaurants in Paris and Las
Vegas. “I used to work for the Four
Seasons in New York - and before that in Paris,” says Franck. “My
background is in hospitality, hotels, and restaurants and I want to bring that
here. I compare this place to a hotel, and I want it to be resort-style,
private, with a hospitality focus.” He believes that golf clubs are no longer gentleman’s
clubs and must have a broader appeal to the whole family.
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| Twin Pines Ski and Lake House designed by Julia Morgan - credit Clear Creek Tahoe |
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| Amazing architecture at Twin Pines Ski and Lake House - credit Clear Creek Tahoe |
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| Twin Pines boat - coincidentally with my name on it! - credit Clear Creek Tahoe |
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| Sunset from the dock at Twin Pines credit Clear Creek Tahoe |
I stayed at the Twin Pines guest
house for two decadent nights, skiing Heavenly
by day, watching the sunset over Lake Tahoe with a glass of pinot on the jetty
early evening, and dining in the lake house by night. On Saturdays Twin Pines hosts
live music (the talented Tammy Tam Tam when I was there) around the cozy fireplace from 2-6pm, along with après ski drinks and appetizers.
Lots at Clear Creek Tahoe start at $225,000 and it is in Nevada so taxes, building costs, maintenance, and living overheads are much lower than in California. And there are significant tax benefits, too. Golf membership costs around $40,000 initial buy-in and then approximately $7000 per year in dues.
Lots at Clear Creek Tahoe start at $225,000 and it is in Nevada so taxes, building costs, maintenance, and living overheads are much lower than in California. And there are significant tax benefits, too. Golf membership costs around $40,000 initial buy-in and then approximately $7000 per year in dues.
If you want to stay
right on the lake next time you visit Tahoe – but can’t afford to buy a
property at Clear Creek Tahoe or a
membership at the golf club – there’s Edgewood,
right next door to Twin
Pines. I scouted it out one morning for coffee and would recommend it for
its incredibly beautiful lakeside position and sumptuous mountain-modern
architecture. Surrounded by its own golf course, the setting is really tranquil
with what locals – including my ski instructor - told me is a great restaurant,
bar, and bistro. There’s also an outdoor heated pool, hot tub and firepits
overlooking the lake.
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| Owen and Sam with glorious Lake Tahoe in the background - love the bright suits! |
Always on the lookout
for colourful ski outfits, I bumped into Owen Nitka and friends who were
celebrating a 30th birthday on the slopes at Heavenly. “This is
the weekend of ‘South Lake Sammy’s’ birthday,” Owen told me. “We do the same
trip with 15-20 people every year, but this year is Sam’s 30th!” Their San Francisco-based ‘ski squad’ are mostly Epic Pass holders who ski Heavenly around seven days per season
and also love the snow and terrain at Kirkwood.
“It’s a three and a half hour drive from San Francisco and we had a few surprise
visits from Sam’s Chicago and Minneapolis crew,” said Owen. The group alternates
between rental houses, gondola-friendly Heavenly hotels or the casinos just
over the Nevada border: “The casinos are one of the best deals. Cheap, clean
rooms, next to the village and free parking.”
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| Heavenly DJ Cat - Courtesy of Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe |
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| Fireside beer bevvies - courtesy of Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe |
Owen’s favourite runs are on the Nevada side of the resort:
“Long runs with great pitch and some big bowls. For bluebird days, like this
past weekend, you can tour the whole mountain on the blue cruisers. Ridge Run
is the most impressive view in all of Tahoe. Lots of people stopping to take
photos.” Après ski revolves around Tamarack Lodge, at the top of the gondola,
which has a fun Happy Hour. “Outdoor food, drink and DJ playing out of the back
of a snowcat,” Owen describes. “On a sunny day, it gets to be a pretty raucous
time.” It’s called Unbuckle
and features fun games as well as dancing. Every day at 3pm TAP
is another on-snow après attraction just nearby, with free craft beer samples
from local breweries and vouchers for discounted refills and appies at the
lodge. When Owen’s troupe makes it back down to base they gravitate to the
Village for a variety of food options and live music, Tahoe Brewery for pizza
and craft beer, and to the casinos for later entertainment. Maximizing their Epic Pass advantages, they also ski other
Vail Resorts in Utah or Colorado every winter
and, this year, are trying out Whistler
in a group of 20 for a long weekend.
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| How to combine business with pleasure at the Tahoe Mountain Lab - credit: Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe |
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| Greg leading the way and matching the sapphire lake in the background! |
I was skiing that day with Greg Lyons
who is an instructor with a long list of carving credits: PSIA Level 3 Alpine,
Level 2 Telemark, Children’s Specialist Level 2, President PSIA Western Division,
Staff Trainer for Heavenly. He’s also
been there for 30 years since driving a friend there back in 1987 and opting to
stay himself (although the friend didn’t)! Along with George Fish, a fellow
Brit and the GM of Heavenly
Adult Ski School, we skied around heavenly groomers in brilliant sunshine,
checking out the glades of the Milky Way in the afternoon: think black pitch
with undulating topography over a wide basin with well-spaced trees. Another
fave area was the bump-blessed Sam’s
run – named for the 97-year-old who died recently but who spent his life
clearing brush voluntarily in the glades, continuing well into his 90s. Greg
also pointed out Maggie’s,
a locals’ secret stash which stays pristine long after powder is tracked out
elsewhere – urging me not to tell anyone! Shush!! Lunch was fabulous that day
at Booyah’s,
at the top of the Tram on the California side, which has wonderful views, great
soups, salads and sandwiches, and a surprising, high altitude co-working space
right in the lodge, called Tahoe
Mountain Lab. Pretty cushy place for an office at 8250 ft with ‘board’ meetings
on the chairlift I presume.
My last night at South
Lake Tahoe was spent right at the base of Heavenly
Village where the Marriott
rules the roost, running the ski rentals, with two hotels sandwiching all the
amenities. I stayed at the Grand
Residences, which was perfectly poised in the centre of town and had lovely,
luxurious and large rooms and great hot tub. Right next door, I discovered the
cutest driftwood-decorated diner - called Driftwood Café - with great salads,
wraps, service and a remarkable price:portion ratio – always a good thing to
discover in a ski resort!
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| Tabletop S'mores at the The Loft, in Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe (credit: The Loft) |
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| Central ice skating rink - credit: Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe |
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| Credit: Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe |
Atmospherically,
Heavenly
Village has it all – everything kids want including huge outdoor central
skating rink with music, bungies, cinema – and masses of après for adults, from casinos and
nightclubs to fine dining and shopping. And, with so many choices, rather than
missing out on all the best venues and activities, you can book a VIP
Private Guide – not just for the skiing, but also for après!
As well as local breweries - spawned from the very first one, Sierra Nevada, which was founded three hours
away in Chico where we used to go for craft beer-battered fish and chips in
1991! - Tahoe is famous for moonshine. In the heart of the Sierra Nevada
Mountains, on the California side of the lake, is the home of Tahoe Moonshine Distillery. Located at
6,200 feet, a unique blend of quality ingredients and high altitude adds tantalizing
tastes to each tipple. Rachelle Atherton, who introduced me to Loft,
recommends their distilled gin - it makes delicious Grey Hounds!
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| Incomparable view and groomer at Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe |
Heavenly
2017-2018
Winter News
'Miracle March' is in full effect at Tahoe with 13 inches of fresh in the last 24 hours and a total of 247 inches snowfall so far this season.
'Miracle March' is in full effect at Tahoe with 13 inches of fresh in the last 24 hours and a total of 247 inches snowfall so far this season.
Video Ski and Ride School Lesson
Heavenly takes ski and ride school to a whole new
level! Guests will be toured around the mountain by a ski and ride school
instructor while learning how to use a portable video camera to capture
first-person video and photography of Heavenly’s secret stashes, powder pockets
and stunning views. Guests will get to keep their memory card full of their
day’s footage after the lesson has ended.
LAT 38 – The California Rooftop Bar
California Lodge’s new roof top bar, LAT 38, is the
ultimate posh happy hour scene. With a mountain-modern feel, stringed café
lights, a unique warm drink menu, cozy fire pits and acoustic live bands, this
is the best place in South Lake to enjoy an après drink (i.e. the “Dirty
Snowman”) and appetizer after a day on the mountain.
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| Scenic Tram at Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe |
Get energized in the tram to pop-up live music,
sample wines and local brews while watching the sun set at Lakeview Lodge or
participate in the Heavenly Winter Olympics-themed activities…there’s something
for everyone during the Surprise and Delight moments taking place throughout
the season.
Cross State Lines
The only ski resort in North America, to span across
two states, Heavenly allows skiers and riders to experience the absolute best
of both California and Nevada terrain. Guests can snap photos next to the new
“Welcome to California” and “Welcome to Nevada” signs that boast this feat.
Pink Heavenly
On March 24, the first annual Pink Heavenly takes
place in collaboration with the Barton Wellness Foundation, where participants
are encouraged to dress in pink and raise funds for the Cancer Wellness Center
by asking family and friends to sponsor their ski day. The event culminates with
a party at California Lodge from 2-4 p.m. featuring live music, food and
drinks, games, prizes and giveaways.
With so many choices, skiers and riders are a short
hop away from non-stop fun. You can find Reno-Tahoe International Airport’s
flight tool here.
With nine airlines now providing air service, this is truly the Gateway to
Tahoe.
· Coast-to-Coast
East Coast outdoor enthusiasts will now spend less
time in transit and more time enjoying the scenic views of the Sierra Nevada.
JetBlue Airways offers the only daily non-stop service between John F. Kennedy
International Airport in New York and Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
· Chicago-to-Tahoe
Chicago O’Hare offers twice a week non-stop service
in Late December until the beginning of April via United Airlines.
· Denver-to-Tahoe
Frontier Airlines begins new non-stop service three
times a week in late November.
· SoCal-to-NorCal
SoCal skiers and riders can now take advantage of 10
daily non-stop flights out of Orange County, Long Beach and LAX:
o Alaska Airlines is offering service between Orange
County, CA and Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
o Jet Blue is offering service between Long Beach, CA
and Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
o America, Southwest and United Airlines offer a
combined eight daily flights between Los Angles (LAX) and Reno-Tahoe
International Airport.
· Dallas-to-Tahoe
With Southwest Airlines, guests are now able to fly
from Dallas Love Field into Reno-Tahoe International Airport. The service is
offered weekly.
· Atlanta-to-Tahoe
Southerners are now able to access Lake Tahoe’s
variety of activities with ease. Delta Airlines offers daily non-stop service
between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport and Reno-Tahoe International Airport
from December 21 – January 7. Then the service will be offered weekly, on Saturdays
only, between January 13, 2018 and March 25, 2018.
· Texas-to-Tahoe
American and Southwest airlines offer service to
Reno-Tahoe from both Dallas Fort-Worth (DFW) and Dallas Love Field (DAL).
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| Ski School at Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe |
Ever wish you could request a ski
and ride coach on the fly? Guests can now find an on-demand ski and ride school
kiosk up on the mountain at the base of East Peak Lodge. Request a coach for
one hour and evaluate if a second would be worthwhile.
Every December, Heavenly
Holidays transforms the Heavenly Village
into a holiday winter wonderland with lights, decorations, music, ice sculpting
and more. It all cumulates on New Year’s Eve, with a live band and brightly-lit
Gondola that descends over the crowd, signaling the start of the New Year and a
festive fireworks show.
Après
Heavenly is all about après – from
first chair to last call, our guests truly go all in. This season, there are more
après options than ever before! Every day beginning in December, themed après
parties and happy hour will take place from 3:30-5:30 p.m. with Booyah Grill’s 96
microbrew selection, California Bar’s tequila and tacos, LAT 38’s rooftop bar
and warm drink menu, Stagecoach’s local vibes
and Boulder Lodge’s family feel.
South Lake Tahoe’s Spring Loaded Celebration
Heavenly and Tahoe South are coming together to bring guests and the
community a loaded two-week lineup of spring events including live music, loud
outfits and various sun-fun filled festivities from March 23 through April 1.
Spring Loaded kicks off with Pink Heavenly, a two-day cancer awareness event.
It continues with Gunbarrel 25 on March 31, an Easter egg hunt on the mountain,
pond skimming, specials during college basketball finals, a live karaoke
contest, food and bartending contests, a snowboard rodeo and more!
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| The ultimate downhill disco - credit: Heavenly Lake Tahoe |
DJ CAT
Heavenly upped the ante in
December 2013 by partnering with Aaron Hagar to retrofit a retired grooming
machine into a custom-built mobile DJ station, complete with 52 high-output
speakers, provided by Kicker Audio, and 1,200 watts of power. The DJ CAT will
be bringing the party to the mountain every Friday and Saturday at East Peak
Lodge all season long.
If
endurance is your pursuit, don’t miss out on the 14th annual Gunbarrel 25 on March
31! Taking place on Heavenly’s famous mogul run, The Face, this long-time
tradition challenges participants to lap the run 25 times. Those who chose to
up the ante can compete for the quickest finishing time and earn their name on
the famous Gunbarrel 25 plaque that hangs in the neighboring California Lodge.
Giving Back – Heavenly’s Epic Promise
Vail Resorts commits to a zero net operating
footprint by 2030. This includes zero net emissions, zero waste to landfill and
zero net operating impact on forests and habitat. Heavenly plans to achieve net
zero emissions through the following initiatives:
· Recycling: Goal is to increase recycling diversion
and optimize capture with enhanced signage and employee training program
o Examples:
§ 1000+ gallons of fryer grease per year are recycled
with Reno Rendering
§ Recycle 30-50 tons of scrap metal annually
§ Recycle pine needles to create erosion-fighting soil
cover
· Snowmaking: Making snowmaking investments in
low-energy technology, fan gun technology
o Example: Heavenly has already invested several
hundred-thousand dollars in more efficient snowmaking equipment and technology
upgrades over the last six years
· Community Outreach: Working with Tahoe community
members to be successful
o Examples:
§ The Tahoe Fund – ski pass $1 donations have raised
over $208,000 since inception which go to assist environmental improvement
projects around Tahoe
§ Sponsor Earth Day Celebration for the past 10 years
§ Tahoe Transportation District: Free ski shuttles to
all four base areas with 300,000 riders annually reduces emissions
· Other
o Lighting audits
o Infiltrating storm water runoff
o Reporting erosion hot-spots
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| Me (in my favourite Alchemy of Ride jacket) at Heavenly Lake Tahoe in Feb |
Rentals
For everyone renting ski or snowboard equipment in Lake Tahoe, Ski Butlers ski rental delivery service is a must. For the same price or less than most resort ski shops, Ski Butlers makes renting ski and snowboard equipment hassle-free. Packages include delivery of boots, skis, snowboards, poles and a personalized fitting by a ski technician. Helmets and other accessories are available too. It's a great way to avoid long lines at busy ski shops, allowing more quality time on the slopes and less money spent on airline luggage fees. Based on customer reviews, Ski Butlers has earned the coveted TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for providing personalized service at North Lake Tahoe (including Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Northstar and Sugarbowl) and South Lake Tahoe (including Heavenly, Kirkwood and Sierra at Tahoe).
Season Passes
For everyone renting ski or snowboard equipment in Lake Tahoe, Ski Butlers ski rental delivery service is a must. For the same price or less than most resort ski shops, Ski Butlers makes renting ski and snowboard equipment hassle-free. Packages include delivery of boots, skis, snowboards, poles and a personalized fitting by a ski technician. Helmets and other accessories are available too. It's a great way to avoid long lines at busy ski shops, allowing more quality time on the slopes and less money spent on airline luggage fees. Based on customer reviews, Ski Butlers has earned the coveted TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for providing personalized service at North Lake Tahoe (including Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Northstar and Sugarbowl) and South Lake Tahoe (including Heavenly, Kirkwood and Sierra at Tahoe).
Season Passes
These are no longer just for locals - they are also cost-effective for ski tourists who notch up several ski trips per season at a variety of resorts. Newest resorts to join the Epic Pass collective include Telluride, Crested Butte, Okemo, Mt Sunapee, Kicking Horse, Fernie, Kimberley Alpine Resort, Nakiska, Mont Sainte Anne, and Stoneham. For the latest information on resorts, pricing, pass deadlines or to purchase season passes, visit EpicPass.com.
·
Epic Local Pass™: Epic Local pass
holders can ski the best of Tahoe with limited restrictions and receive a total
of 10 days at Whistler Blackcomb, Vail, Beaver Creek, and Stowe with holiday
restrictions. The Epic Local provides guests with unlimited, unrestricted
skiing or riding at Breckenridge, Keystone, Wilmot, Mt. Brighton, Afton Alps
and Arapahoe Basin with limited restrictions at Park City Mountain, Heavenly,
Northstar and Kirkwood. The Epic Local Pass pays for itself in just over three
days. Epic Local passes for children and college students are also available.
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| Terrain Park at Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe |
·
Tahoe Value™: Ski or snowboard seven days a week at Heavenly and six days a
week at Northstar and Kirkwood. The Tahoe Value Pass has holiday restrictions
at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood, with Saturdays excluded at Northstar and
Kirkwood. Pass holders can purchase discounted lift tickets valid at Heavenly,
Northstar and Kirkwood Resorts on restricted days.
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| Kirkwood, Feb 19 2018 - courtesy of Vail Resorts |
·
Epic Pass™: Ski
unlimited and unrestricted from opening day to closing day. The Epic Pass pays
for itself in just over four days of skiing or snowboarding. Enjoy full access
to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado
(and now also Telluride);
Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe; Afton Alps
in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; Stowe Mountain in Vermont; Wilmot
Mountain in Wisconsin; Whistler Blackcomb in Canada; and Perisher in Australia
for the 2017-2018 season. The Epic Pass grants limited access to Arlberg in
Austria; Les 3 Vallées, Paradiski and Tignes-Val D’Isère
in France; Skirama Dolomiti in Italy and 4 Vallées in Switzerland. No
restricted dates. Check out my Globe
and Mail article on this at: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/travel/activities-and-interests/vails-epic-pass-offers-several-grand-european-ski-adventures/article32885130/
Fun Facts
· At 4,800 acres, Heavenly has the most skiable
acreage in California
· The 2016-2017 winter season was the deepest on
record with a season-to-date total of 659”
· Heavenly is the only resort in North America to span
across two states
Social Media Tags
· Facebook: Heavenly Mountain
· Instagram: @skiheavenly
· Twitter: @skiheavenly
· Hashtags: #skiheavenly
#heavenlysnow
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| Tamarack Lodge - credit: Heavenly Lake Tahoe |
