Ski vacations: Check out Tahoe, Mammoth for maximum snow

By Lena Katz

“Let it snow, let it snow” is the anthem in California these winter months. After opening just in time for the Christmas holidays, California ski areas are hitting their stride with the winter storms. Here’s the latest news in white and wild California ski vacations.

Squaw Valley — synonymous with downhill skiing excellence since it hosted the 1960s Olympics — is surpassing itself in ‘09, much to the delight of skiers and fans. When hosting the second leg of the Free Ride World Tour, Squaw will open up the infamous Tram Face (now Nissan Tram Face), for the first time in history. Forty of the world’s best skiers and snowboarders will not only compete against each other, but also take on incredibly challenging terrain that’s rarely been skied before. Weather permitting, the event is scheduled for February 28th, starting at 9:30 a.m.

If you want more activity than just watching the pro show, make sure and hit North Tahoe’s annual SnowFest winter carnival, which takes place this year from February 27th through March 8th and includes all kinds of events, from a “polar bear” swim in Carnelian Bay to “human bowling” on a snow-covered civic golf course. For a full schedule check out www.tahoesnowfestival.com

Northstar Village welcomes many new shops and restaurants opening this season, and without a doubt the first one to check out is Baxter’s Bistro & Lounge, brought to you by the team behind Moody’s in Truckee. It’s completely different from its sister restaurant — the menu and bar are much more Euro-influenced, for starters — but with similar key components: styley yet inviting, killer eats by chef/owner Mark Estee, friendly ambiance that makes you want to come back every weekend.

Over at Sugar Bowl, a new variable terrain race course draws some of the best snow cross skiers in the region, including — or at least, the resort hopes — athletes in training for the upcoming X Games and Winter Olympics. The skier crossevent is a new addition to the Olympics, and this course is the only permanent training facility of its kind on the West Coast. The pros train in the early morning; afterward the course opens to the public.

All the South Lake Tahoe ski areas have improved their offerings this season: Heavenly adds to its tree skiing cache with three new trails, two rated black diamond in Ski Ways Glades and one blue square in Powderbowl Woods. All three are groomed runs that cut through treed sections giving skiers the chance to ski around, in and out, or straight thru the trees. Heavenly has also re-graded the 10,000-foot high Skyline Trail traverse, which runs from the California side of the mountain to the Nevada side.

Snow lovers know that no Californiaski destination is better than Mammoth for big mountain skiing, boarding and backcountry adventures — and starting this season, the destination’s making moves to expand its accessibility and mass-market appeal. For starters, they’ve proudly introduced daily airlift to Mammoth from Los Angeles on Horizon Air (as reported in fall 2008). Up on the mountain, the new snowcat tour series offers people a new, relaxed way to experience the peaks. Offerings include a sunset champagne tour, backcountry luncheon and multi-course dinner at Parallax, 9600 feet up the mountain. Snowcat tours are offered through April 1st.

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