还记得去年冬天吗?? More than 30 atmospheric rivers dumped record-setting snow across the Sierra Nevada and Southern California mountain ranges. 滑雪胜地报告的季节性降雪总量为50至70英尺, 巨大的积雪一直拖到夏天. At 巨大的山, skiers and riders carved up the slopes for a full 275 days from November 2022 to early August 2023. Be sure to check with individual resorts’ websites before making plans, 开放日期将根据目前的雪况而定.
“Last winter, California resorts experienced their second snowiest season on record, and almost 8.3 million skiers and riders took to the slopes,” says Mike Reitzell, president of 加州滑雪这是一个非营利性行业协会. “滑雪和单板滑雪非常受欢迎, 巨大的积雪条件只会增加体验.”
Snow fans are hoping for a repeat as California ski resorts gear up for their opening dates. 猛犸象山将于11月11日第一个开放. 10. 虽然没有人知道今年会下多少雪, we do know that the Sierra Nevada received its first significant white stuff—four inches on Donner Summit—on Oct. 25. Now’s the time to dust off your gear, buy your season pass, and plan your ski vacation.
Reitzell says that California’s resorts are “gearing up for another phenomenal year” by installing new high-capacity chairlifts, 装修的餐馆, 升级美容和造雪设备, 提供新的通行证选择, 并增加了新的登山活动，比如新的 奥林匹克规模的室内溜冰场 在猛犸湖.
One big change this season for Tahoe skiers and riders headed to 太浩栅栏, Heavenly, Northstar, 柯克伍德:周末和节假日, 你需要提前预约停车. Many spots are free and some have a price tag attached, but all require reservations. 在工作日，你可以随时开车过来停车.
“This new system is not trying to limit the number of people at the resorts. It’s more about trying to spread out arrival times,” Reitzell says. “We’re trying to reduce traffic congestion on mountain roads like Highway 89, which were not built to handle the kind of traffic that occurred on weekends during the big snows last year.”
For resort-goers, the reservation system has advantages, Reitzell says. “There’s no longer any need to rush to arrive at the resort by 8 o’clock in the morning. 滑雪者可以花10美元参加.m. 预定并知道他们有预定的停车位. That should alleviate traffic problems that were caused by everyone trying to get to the resort at the same time.”
At Heavenly and 北极星加州, weekend and holiday reservations will be free for cars with four or more occupants; a flat fee of $20 will be required for cars with three or fewer passengers. At 太浩栅栏, you can pay for a reserved spot to guarantee your parking well in advance—a convenient choice if you know what days you plan to ski. 如果你是最后一刻才做决定, you can try your luck for a free reservation on the Tuesday before the upcoming weekend. 如果你三振出局，只要等到下午. You don’t need a reservation after 12 noon at Heavenly and Northstar and 1 p.m. 在帕利塞德塔霍湖.
Here’s a look at other changes, upgrades, and improvements at 10 California ski resorts:
巨大的山猛犸湖
加州最高的度假胜地——11,053 feet at the summit—is replacing its aging Canyon Express (Chair 16) with a high-speed six-seater lift, 这样可以减少在峡谷小屋的等待时间. 猛犸也花费了5美元.500万美元用于扩大和自动化造雪系统. Non-skiers can take advantage of Mammoth Creek Park’s new ice rink, L.A. 猛犸湖的国王冰和一个新的高山过山车 伍利地铁公园. 老少皆宜的骑行穿越曲折, curves, 直道速度可达每小时25英里.
太浩栅栏奥林匹克谷
在过去的两年里, 太浩栅栏 has invested more than $6 million in snowmaking infrastructure upgrades across both Palisades and Alpine Meadows, 这意味着整个季节都会下雪. 度假村还增加了5辆新的雪车, 总数达到53人, 北美最大的船队. The three-person Red Dog chairlift has been replaced with a high-speed, six-seater lift.
北极星加州, Truckee
北极星新咖啡厅/酒吧的The Village， Vous, is a casual gathering place serving all-day snacks and beverages from morning lattes to après-ski wine. 本季新推出的还有移动电梯票务技术 我的Epic应用. 通过应用程序, 游客可以在手机上存储通行证或电梯票, 把手机放在口袋里, 免提扫描, so they can skip the ticket window and head straight to the lifts.
6月山六月湖
At this family-focused resort—kids 12 and under ski and ride for free when accompanied by an adult—you’ll find two new adventure zones for kids and a new Mexican eatery, 减轻体重酒吧, 设有室外座位和一览无余的景色.
Heavenly南太浩湖
Lakeview Lodge will host a new Brews and Views après party with food, music, and beer tastings. 本季新推出的还有移动电梯票务技术 我的Epic应用. 滑雪者可以跳过售票窗口，直接上电梯.
塔霍山回声峰/南太浩湖
在南太浩湖以西12英里的度假胜地, extensive post-Caldor-Fire restoration has continued throughout 2023. 滑雪者可以期待新的滑雪道和扩大的滑雪地形, 尤其是在像东区和雪崩碗这样的森林地区.
道奇脊,佛州
道奇脊 has installed a new quad chair at the base area, increasing lift capacity by 30 percent. 我想买一张季票? 该度假村现在是综合度假村的一部分 Cali Pass—get unlimited access here and at 山高, China Peak, and Bear Valley.
沙斯塔山滑雪公园, McCloud
沙斯塔山也加入了 粉联盟, so skiers who purchase a Shasta season pass get three days of free skiing at 21 粉联盟 resorts across the U.S.美国、加拿大和新西兰.
大熊山度假村大熊湖
Southern California’s largest ski area now has three ski hills instead of two: 雪谷滑雪场 加入了雪峰和熊山, 合并后的度假村已经投资了1200万美元进行升级. 一项为期两年的翻新工程在 蹭,酒吧, including a 12,000-square-foot sun deck with firepits and seating. 新的雪地车和雪地车将提高修饰能力, 新的造雪设备意味着更多更好的雪. 雪谷和雪峰都提供夜间滑雪.
山高, Wrightwood
Always the first Southern California resort to open for the season, 山高 has completed more than $1 million in improvements include more efficient snowmaking, 两辆新雪车, 以及新的租赁设备. 星期五提供夜间滑雪.–Sun.
Whether you’re a returning skier or new to the slopes, check out the 山区安全指南 由加州滑雪场在你第一次旅行前制作. The guide is a comprehensive tool to educate downhill skiers and riders of all ability and experience levels about on-mountain safety.
