Sierra-at-Tahoe’s devoted treeskiers owe a debt of gratitude to the 1860s loggers who cleared these hills of marketable timber but left the low-quality red firs standing. Nearly 150 years later, those scrappy red firs have matured to create some of the Tahoe Basin’s finest tree runs. “It’s a quirk of local history,” says general manager John Rice.
On snow days, locals do laps in Jack’s Bowl and the trees between Castle and Preacher’s Passion, admiring their friends’ lines while yo-yoing the Grandview Express to carve up every last bit of powder. The trees and Sierra’s geography have another benefit: They shield the lifts from fierce lake winds that frequently shut down other Tahoe resorts. For the steepest and deepest conditions, drop into Huckleberry Bowl, 1,200 vertical feet of some of the toughest side-country terrain on the South Shore. Thanks to Huckleberry’s recent inclusion within the ski area, patrollers now control its slopes, opening the 230-acre bowl—and its cornices and chutes—to not only experts but also daring intermediates who want to practice their backcountry skills. Sierra has a growing contingent of telemarkers. If you’ve longed to kick up your heels, Sierra is the place to try: Local tele legend Kal Incendy runs a shop and lesson center at the base.
Make no mistake: With its minimal base area, Sierra is a go-to spot for quality skiing (with 480 annual inches), not lounging. The crowd skews young due to Sierra’s $199 weekday season passes. Call it the South Shore’s blue-collar destination, where families on a budget can afford to splurge. Heck, if the loggers were still around, they’d ski here, too.
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◗ MUST DO The backcountry clinic in Huckleberry Canyon ($49). It’s a great way for aspiring backcountry skiers to get into the wilds and learn the basics.
◗ MUST SKI Golf Course, on Huckleberry’s right shoulder. This sparsely treed glade descends 1,200 feet over a series of benches where the snow can sometimes pile up overhead. The lines are relatively tame but still exhilarating.
◗ APRÈS Crack a cold one in A Lot, home to Sierra’s tailgate scene. Then enjoy live music and a 24-ounce draft at the Sierra Pub.
◗ DINING Dig into a platter of pulled pork and ribs at the 360° Smokehouse, which offers some of the best mountaintop barbecue in ski country.
◗ LODGING Fireside Lodge is not only one of the coolest family-friendly lodges on the South Shore, the owner is a Sierra-at-Tahoe devotee who will tell you where to find the best stashes; tahoefiresidelodge.com.
◗ INFO sierraattahoe.com
