More Info on Saturday, Nov. 24, Opening Day
Good morning, skiers and riders. Here’s a little more info (okay, a LOT more info) about opening day:
The Gondola opens at 8:30 a.m. We’ll offer skiing and snowboarding primarily on Orion run, Heavenly’s signature trail on the upper Nevada side of the mountain. Snow conditions on open trails will be machine-made and machine-groomed snow. Guests will be asked to stay only on designated runs to avoid thin coverage on areas of the mountain without machine-made snow. All access to the mountain will be through the Heavenly Village Gondola. Dipper Express will serve as the primary chairlift, with Tamarack Express and Comet Express open as transport lifts.
Adult and children’s beginner ski and snowboard lessons can be booked through the Ski and Ride Schools of Heavenly located next to the Gondola in the Heavenly Village. Availability of lessons and terrain are limited this weekend. Private lessons will be offered for level 5 skiers and above (able to make wide-track parallel turns). Due to limited operations, there will be no day care, ski play nor half day care/half ski lesson options out of Heavenly’s California state-licensed day care facility until further notice.
Parking will be available in the parking garage at the Heavenly Village or at Heavenly’s California Lodge. The resort’s complimentary shuttles will be operating with service to the casino corridor, as well as from the California Lodge to Heavenly Village.
Get your skis waxed and round up your gear and we’ll see you on the mountain tomorrow!
November 23rd, 2007 at 8:25 am
any rails etc for us park monkeys?
November 23rd, 2007 at 9:25 am
Are the lifts going to spin this coming Monday. I have skied in the Sierras every month for 120 consecutive months and my November turns are looking grim in the backcountry. It sure would be nice to hit a lift on Monday.
November 23rd, 2007 at 9:30 am
When you’re operating without the Nevada or California bases open what happens when the Gondola goes on wind hold? Either way, I’ll be there this weekend and Monday. Way to go with the snowmaking.
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:32 am
Gondola opens at 8:30 a.m. Skiing and snowboarding will primarily be on Orion run.
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:35 am
When the gondola is the only way up and down, and it goes on wind hold, Heavenly will close Tamarack and Dipper chairs altogether and block the trails back to Dipper and Comet at the top of Comet chair. That essentially allows ski patrol to easily force everyone back to the gondola to ride down. At least they have done that in the past when there is little snow and high wind. Additionally, if the winds allow heavenly to be open, you can bet there will not be any jibs or freestyle features of any kind. I do not ever remember there being any kind of park features set up on opening days in the past at Heavenly. I really hope i am wrong and that there will be a bunch of sick features without any wind!
November 23rd, 2007 at 11:11 am
Here’s my guess what will be open based on what I saw the last two opening days I was there.
Orion is open from top of dipper lift they already said that. The only way to get from the gondola to dipper is tam lift so there will be a run from top of tam to bottom of dipper. They will also have a run from top of comet around under tam lift back to the gondola. That’s my gueSs.
November 23rd, 2007 at 12:21 pm
Last year they had some rails and a small hit setup on opening day. Fingers crossed, but I will take just snow and a run at this point.
November 23rd, 2007 at 12:24 pm
is east peak going to be open for food and drink?
November 23rd, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Will season passes still be blacked out on Saturday? Can understand Thanksgiving weekend normally being blacked out if there was the “usual” holiday rush, but with the limited operations - lifts, runs and snow why not make an exception for Season pass holders so they can start on their skiing without having to spend so much ($15 off still makes for a high ticket) .
Any chance for a better deal?
November 23rd, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Are there going to be any jibs or jumps or any thing? Also, will the season passes be blocked out on Saturday?
November 23rd, 2007 at 1:53 pm
East Peak, Cafe Blue, Adventure Peak Grill and Umbrella Bar are scheduled to be open for food and drink service. Pass holders are blacked out on this Saturday opening. No word yet on what if any park features may be available.
November 23rd, 2007 at 2:23 pm
heavenly opened with some boxes and rails last year on comet. we can only hope for the best
November 23rd, 2007 at 3:24 pm
It is probably not in Heavenlys best interest financially to allow passholders on Saturday. Otherwise they would have just waited to open.
Look at it from the positive side. At least one Blackout day was not even an option and 1 to go. Also Sunday will be way less busy anyway.
I always avoid presidents weekend, passholder or not, and for Christmas this year I am coming up the week after.
You still gotta admit the Heavenly Pass is a great deal!
November 23rd, 2007 at 7:20 pm
Based on the past few years, until comet is open there prolly wont be any terrain features to play with
November 23rd, 2007 at 7:44 pm
If there’s a run open, and a lift to take me to the top, I’ll be there. I’ve been waiting 7 months for this! Good stuff Heavenly snow-making guys!
November 23rd, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Does anyone know if there will be any first time lessons/terrain available this weekend? It will be my girlfriend’s first time and I don’t want to make the trip if she can’t play too.
November 23rd, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Tahoe Local is an idiot and needs to refresh his memory better. The last 3 years or so they have always had a small mix of boxes and rails on opening day. Tahoe Local will probably go riding this weekend and get a whole 4 runs in all day long because of the lines. I will wait until Monday when all the tourists go home.
November 24th, 2007 at 7:09 am
Any word on how conditions will be by end of week? What runs / lifts do you expect to have open? Thanks