One gondola, access to 6,000 skiable acres.
What ’s even better than ski at one ofLake Tahoe’sbiggest resorts ? Skiing attwoof them , connected by a cozy gondola . A $ 65 million project that ’s been decades in the devising has eventually open atLake Tahoe . The young “ base ” toBase Gondolalaunched December 17 connecting the resort ofPalisades(formerly Squaw Valley ) andAlpine Meadows . The connection makes the Palisades - Alpine combination one of the largest ski resorts in North America with more than 6,000 skiable acres .
Skiers and snowboarderscan hop aboard one of the gondola ’s 96 eight - person cabins to take a 16 - minute ride cover 2.4 nautical mile between the bases ofPalisades and Alpine Meadows . Advanced riders ( but no sightseers on metrical unit , sorry ) can disembark at the gondola car station atop the KT-22 ridgepole at Palisades to take on some of the most renowned terrain in the West . While the gondola does n’t get at any new ski terrain , it will give riders another manner to get to the Palisades peaks and spread out the lines on busy days .
The views from the car over Lake Tahoe and theGranite Chief Wildernessare spectacular . And it ’s even better without being blasted by malarky or Baron Snow of Leicester like you would on a ski lift . The smallish gondola car can palpate a minuscule claustrophobic for some people when pack with eight heavily apparel passenger and their equipment , but front out the large window to enjoy the scene can calm a spry - vanquish warmness . Alternatively , you could just stare at your earphone if meridian bother you .
Courtesy of Palisades Tahoe
The greatest welfare from the gondola , aside from contribute more uphill content ( about 1400 passenger per hour ) is to lend choices for skier and snowboarder . Crowds slowing down your 24-hour interval at Palisades ? Just hinge on the gondola over to Alpine to scarper them . And move over changing snow condition on the mountains , you may be able to escape icy or bathetic conditions at one mountain to examine your hazard at the other . For example , the snow on Alpine ’s south - facing slopes will weaken up far before Palisades ’ northern oriented icy runs . Or split your squad between great deal to start the twenty-four hours and regroup after compare experimental condition . Keep in mind though , that on high wind and nose candy days , the gondola can temporarily close up , so do n’t get stuck on the side aside from your car or you might have to wait quite a while for a shuttle between the haunt .
The gondola is also expected to reduce route dealings on the often - congest Highway 89 between the two resorts and the repair estimates 100 fewer elevator car per day will make the trek .
Tahoe ski fans will also be glad to see new lift improvement atHeavenlyandNorthstar . Heavenly ’s North Bowl Lift has been upgrade from a fixed - grip , three - person electric chair to a high - speed detachable quad , increasing capacity by more than 40 % and slenderize the combined drive time of the Boulder and North Bowl lifts . The drive on North Bowl used to take between 12 and 15 minutes and is now only about five moment , a much appreciated saving particularly on bad weather days . The upgrade is expect to also quash wait times at the Stagecoach and Olympic lift and will provide better access to some coveted ski terrain . Northstar ’s newly upgraded Comstock Express face lifting supervene upon a four - person chair to a high - speed six - person hot seat that will increase uphill capacity on this pop lift by nearly 50 % .
Photo by Kate Abraham
So whether you ’re skiing or snowboarding atNorth Lake Tahoeat Alpine , Northstar and Palisades , or on the south side at Heavenly , expect this season to get dissolute accession to more terrain with these young improvement .
Base to Base Gondola Grand Opening Ceremony|Photo by Kate Abraham
