Heavenly set to open Saturday

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California will kick off the ski season six days earlier than initially planned, with both Lake Tahoe ski resorts opening Saturday, Nov. 14, according to a Monday announcement from Vail Resorts.

Several inches of snow fell at lake level between Sunday and Monday, and another storm is expected Monday night.

Saturday’s openings will be the earliest for the resorts since 2012, according to the announcement.

Kirkwood Mountain Resort received 18 inches of new snow at its summit overnight. Resort officials have yet to determine if they will open Kirkwood prior to its scheduled Nov. 21 opening.

Heavenly plans to operate the Gondola, Tamarack Express and Dipper Express, accessing upper California Trail and Orion’s. Northstar will open top-to-bottom, spinning the Big Springs Gondola, Vista Express, Arrow Express and Comstock Express accessing West Ridge, Luggi’s, Skid, Pinball, Lumberjack and Lower Main Street, according to the announcement. Northstar will also operate a surface lift near the Big Easy Chair to offer children’s ski and snowboard lessons.

“We’ve already received about three feet of snow overall this season which, combined with around-the-clock operation from the West Coast’s two largest snowmaking systems, has created a great early-season base and the best snow surface conditions at Lake Tahoe,” said Pete Sonntag, Tahoe region vice president and chief operating officer, in the announcement.

More information is available at www.skiheavenly.com and www.northstarcalifornia.com.