Operations Blog: Winds Created Rime Ice; Busy Weekend Ahead

This week has been windy. When the lifts are closed due to wind or maintenance holds, our work behind the scenes does not get put on hold. We are still grooming roads, maintaining avalanche control routes, and de-icing lifts wherever possible.

This past week, the winds created a difficult period that could only be solved by lots of physical labor. Chipping ice has been the name of the game. Every piece of ice has to be broken off of the grips, such as the ones pictured below. If any ice whatsoever is still on the grip, it is the equivalent of hitting a pebble on a skateboard, and the lift cannot run. This is tiring, hard work, and we are extra grateful to our Lift Maintenance teams this week, who have been chipping away around the clock.

Weekend Weather

A small amount of snow is forecasted above 5,500 feet for tonight, but accumulation will likely be negligible. Winds have been increasing this afternoon, and we expect these winds to increase throughout the night with gusts around 100mph. Winds should peak in strength around 6am and start to come down during the day. There is a chance that several lifts will begin on wind hold tomorrow morning. After tonight, we have a clear, dry spell ahead for two to three weeks. This will be a welcome break from digging for our staff!

Lift & Terrain Updates: Palisades

• On tomorrow’s lift schedule: Resort Chair, First Venture, Far East, Red Dog, KT-22, The Funitel, Wa She Shu, Headwall, Siberia, Gold Coast, Shirley Lake, Solitude, Big Blue, Broken Arrow, Belmont, Mountain Meadows, Bailey’s Beach, The Aerial Tram, and Silverado.
• Silverado is very, very likely to be on wind hold at the start of the day. After the access road got put in earlier this week, patrol has been in that area setting up today. They report that conditions are variable: there is a thin rain crust across most of the terrain, but underneath the snow is nice and cold. Additionally, in a few extra-sunny spots, the snow is a bit wet. All of this means that the skiing/riding on Silverado will likely improve as the terrain gets skied out more (so no need to rush for first chair!)
• Belmont has a full terrain park built out with 16 features, 6 of which are jumps. We are aiming to open the Gold Coast terrain park closer to Martin Luther King weekend.

Lift & Terrain Updates: Alpine

• Tomorrow we have these lifts on the schedule: Treeline Cirque, Roundhouse, Summit, Scott, Sherwood, Lakeview and Subway. We will possibly add Meadow & Kangaroo as well.
• The top of Alpine Bowl Chair is still buried under snowpack from this recent storm. We will be working on digging this lift out throughout the week.

Parking & Transportation: Plan Ahead

• Our parking lots will likely fill up by the mid-morning on Friday, and by 9am on Saturday and Sunday. Avoid aiming for an arrival time right around 9am this weekend. You will want to be here earlier (more like 7-8:30am) or closer to 12pm.
• When your day is over, avoid leaving the resort right around 4pm. You will be stuck in exit traffic. Either leave before 3pm or wait until after 5pm to make your exit. Grab dinner or après from The Village at Palisades Tahoe or from the Alpine Lodge area, or head to Plaza Bar for our $5 drink & pizza deals starting at 5pm.
• The Palisades Tahoe Express Shuttle will not be running between the two mountains this weekend. Aim to park at the mountain you’d like to ski/ride at.

Quick Tips for a Seamless Weekend

• If you think you’ll only ski a few hours, wait to come to the resort until after 11am. Half-Day Afternoon Tickets are valid from 12-4pm and are significantly cheaper than full-day tickets. You’ll skip most of the traffic and still have plenty of time to ski! Buy online in advance for the best savings.
• Carry your credit card in a pocket (but not next to your pass or lift ticket!) This will make it easy to grab lunch or a drink on-mountain without having to go back to your car.
• Not all locations accept Apple pay or cash. If you don’t want to bring a credit card, you can link your credit card to your pass and scan your pass to pay when you sign up for Resort Charge. You can call to set it up or visit us in person. We recommend doing this ahead of time, not the day of your arrival.
• Consider ordering food online for pick up. You can order at the top of the mountain and pick up your food after skiing down.
• Store your stuff in a rental locker, not in public spaces. Lockers are available in the Tram building, at the top of the Funitel and in the Alpine Lodge.
• Use the Palisades Tahoe mobile app to check lift wait times, lift status, parking lot status, and more. You can also join a group with your family and friends to see where there are on the mountains.
• If you bought a lift ticket online, use our self-serve kiosks to pick up your tickets. They are located in the Funitel Plaza and on the lower level of the Alpine Lodge near Estelle Sports.

A Note on Covid Safety

Masks are required in all public indoor spaces, including the Aerial Tram and the Funitel. Please do not come to the resort if you are sick.