Some Sierra Ski Resorts to Open by Thanksgiving

—By Bay City News Service

Ski resorts in the Tahoe and Mammoth areas are gearing up for winter visitors after getting some snowfall the past couple of days.

The National Weather Service recorded 10 to 20 inches of snow on Monday in the higher peaks of the Tahoe region, forecaster Eric Kurth said.

Lake Tahoe saw 10 to 15 inches of snow, with heavier snowfall west of the lake, he said. Donner Pass on Interstate Highway 80 got a total of 19 inches Monday, he said.

Most of the snowfall has ended, and dry weather is expected later in the week, Kurth said.

Boreal Mountain Resort in the Lake Tahoe area will announce Wednesday when they will open for the winter season, Interactive Services Coordinator Tucker Norred said. The resort recorded 10 to 12 inches of snow as of 8 a.m. Monday and could open on Friday at the earliest, he said.

Thirteen inches of snow fell at the base of Alpine Meadows since Sunday, and 19 inches fell on the upper mountain, Alpine spokeswoman Melissa Brouse said.

The resort is scheduled to open Dec. 13.

At Squaw Valley, which is slated to open Nov. 27, 7 inches of snow fell at the base and 18 inches fell in the upper elevations since Sunday, Brouse said. Neither resort plans to open any earlier than scheduled, but Brouse said that could change depending on what Mother Nature decides to do.

Further south, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area recorded 10 to 12 inches of snow Monday, eight days before its opening day of Nov. 7, spokeswoman Joani Lynch said.

Crews at the resort are making their own snow and hoping to open with 12 to 18 inches of snow at the base, Lynch said.

"Mammoth is one of the highest mountains in elevation for ski resorts in California. We get earlier snow and are able to hold on to it," Lynch said. 

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