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16 // OUTDOOR USA MAGAZINE //SALES TRAINING GUIDELIFESTYLE FOOTWEAR
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42 // JANUARY 2013 // OUTDOOR USA MAGAZINE
[destinations]
BY JOSEPH GOMEZ
From the backountry gates to the park, Sierra's terrain has something for everybody
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In North America there were 481 ski resorts
in operation last season. With so many options,
Outdoor USA is highlighting winter destinations
that bring something unique to the slopes. Our
search brought us to Sierra-at-Tahoe, just 12miles West of South Lake Tahoe, California.
The Sierra-at-Tahoe resort (Sierra for
short) caught our eye because of its emphasis
on backcountry accessibility and education,
particularly with the new guided snowcat tours
and an entire center devoted to the needs of
those burly backcountry folk. The resort also
partners with industry brands to provide
unique events and themes like the Burton Star
Wars Experience and Telegrass, a bluegrass
inspired Telemark celebration. Finally, Sierra's
pricing and programs make skiing and snow-
boarding available to all sizes of wallets.
South Lake Tahoe itself needs little intro-
duction. The lakeside casinos and restaurants,
mountain town vibe and proximity to some
of the best alpine terrain in California have
brought travelers into the high Sierra Nevadas
for more than a century. The old mining town
was a favorite among Frank Sinatra and the
Rat Pack, and much of that culture still re-
mains.
DEEP IN THE FOREST
Back in 1946, a Tahoe local by the name of
Vern Sprock wanted to put a lift on Echo Sum-
mitit's one of the snowiest places in the
U.S., boasting over 480'' of average annual
snowfall (NOAA). Aside from the face-deep
powder, Sprock was drawn to the vast tree
coverage. Clear cutting was a common prac-
tice during the silver mining days of Tahoe'spast, but Red Fir trees were left behind be-
cause they became water logged easily and
made poor lumber.
If you look at the map, you'll see that we
are known for our tree skiing, says Steve
Hemphill, marketing manager for the Sierra at
Tahoe resort. The Red Fir's have a wide base,
which keeps them evenly spaced and they
also have a dense canopy with lots of moss so
you get that lush forest feel.
Today, with 14 lifts and 46 trails, Sierra is
larger than it sounds. The resort offers 2,000
acres of skiable terrain and 2,212 ft of ver-
tical rise, 5 terrain parks and a ski-patrolled
and avalanche-controlled backcountry sec-tionsomething many resorts in the area do
not provide.
BEYOND THE HUCKLEBERRY GATES
What sounds like the name of a Napa Val-
ley winery is actually some of Sierra's steep-
est and deepest terrain. The Huckleberry
Gates are entry points into the resort's private
backcountry section, which is comprised of
technical features like cliff drops, cornices,
rock chutes, natural jib forests, open bowls
and powder pillows to name a few. Although
some of the gates are accessible by one of
the main lifts, nearly all of the terrain must
be hiked in order to be enjoyed, so the words
tracked-out don't apply to this area. We call
it the 'mini golf' stash, says Steve. You liter-
ally have 18 holes of every obstacle you could
imagine.
One of the greatest benefits of having a
backwoods playground within a resort bound-
ary is the safety aspect. All of the Huckleberry
Gates are covered by ski patrol and blasted
for avalanche control. The resort is also big on
education, making it a great place to make the
leap from in-bounds skiing to the dangerous,
yet endlessly-rewarding, powder-infested wil-
derness.
New this year are the snowcat backcoun-
try tours, which take expert skiers and rid-
ers straight to the top of Huckleberry Canyon
allowing them to bypass the hike out to The
Gates. The tours are centered around back-
country instruction and teach participants how
to judge snowpack and how to use equipment.
In fact, all the bare essentialsprobe, beacon,
pack and lunchare included in the tour.
For many alpine enthusiasts, snowcat toursmay seem a little like cheating, so the resort
has an official Backcountry and Nordic Center
devoted to these skillful pursuits. The center
boasts everything from telemark skis and
bindings to alpine trekker set-ups, splitboards,
safety gear, lessons and clinics in addition to
knowledgeable staff who can assist everyone
from first time knee-droppers to seasoned
vets.
Also, telemarkers and anyone with free
heel envy can look forward to the 9th an-
nual Telegrass Festival this April. The festival
includes live shows from regional bluegrass
bands, free clinics and demos from brand
sponsors like K2 and Vole. Not to mention,
there's plenty of beers on tap, says Steve.
And ditching the kids is easy, especially with
the resort's new partnership with Burton and
Lucasfilm.
THE BURTON STAR WARS EXPERIENCE
The force is strong at Sierra. As part of
the resort's Learn to Ride program, it has
partnered with Burton to feature iconic Star
Wars themed attractions aimed at introduc-
ing kids as young as three to snowboarding.
The centerpiece of the new program is Yoda's
Riglet Park, which features three on-hill learn-
ing stations, appropriately called nodes.
At these nodes, qualified instructors help
grooms participate in a number of balance
and riding activities that should make the first
snowboarding experience more enjoyable for
all parties involved.
Each learning node is decked out with
custom-made chainsaw carvings of Star Wars
favorites like R2-D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca,
Yoda, Ewoks and many more. The carvings
and even the node stations themselves are
made entirely from recycled hazard trees and
other reclaimed materials like scrap metal
and old lift tower tubes. In addition to teaching
riding basics, the Star Wars Experience is de-
Sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy the view, especially in Lake Tahoe
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OUTDOOR USA MAGAZINE // JANUARY 2013 // 43
[destinations]
signed to instruct youth about the importance
of respecting natural environments, mountain
etiquette and, of course, the ways of the Force.
And young skiers shouldn't feel left out.
The resort offers four adventure trails/learning
zones, two magic carpets and even interactive
kids' maps, all specifically designed for begin-ners of any sk iing or riding preference. Finally,
adults who want to get in on the Star Wars
action can search for a hidden statue located
somewhere in the trees we are told.
A TASTE OF SIERRA
When the young Jedis are tired and hungry,
Sierra has some interesting apres-ski options.
All the basics are there: a coffee spot for a
quick morning jolt or fireside beverage; several
cafe options from standard cafeteria dining to
homestyle cookin' and gourmet pastries to the
all-organic Happy Hippie cafe; and of course, a
pub and deli with specialty pizzas, live music
and craft brews on tap. But what really stands
out are the resort's three grilling options, eachwith a different take on the meat-and-flame
experience.
Just outside the base lodge is the Tiki Bar
and Grill, which brings a taste of the topics to
an otherwise snow-covered mountainous for-
est. We always try and keep things quirky and
fun, says Steve. The Tiki cuisine includes Ko-
rean short ribs, coconut shrimp skewers with
mango lime and plenty of drinks with island
flaregoggle tan not included.
Also continuing the Sierra grilling tradition is
the Baja grill. It is located at the bottom of the
West Bowl, where skiers and riders will find a
good mix of advanced/intermediate terrain and
some hearty Mexican cuisine. The Baja Grill
is all about kickin' back, says Steve. We'vegot fish tacos, fresh-grilled carne asada and
we have a partnership with Corona so plenty
of beers and some nice Adirondack chairs to
sink into.
Finally, perhaps the most epic eatery at the
resort is the 360 degree Smoke House BBQ,
which is essentially a giant smoker on top
of a mountain. If Southern style pulled-pork,
grilled tri-tip, brisket and loaded side dishes
don't do it for you, maybe some spicy Bloody
Marys will. Parties of 20 people or more can
actually ski/ride Sierra all day and rent out the
mountain-top BBQ for $69 each; free sampler
plate and a beer or glass of wine on the house
included. It's a solid deal for corporate retreatsor private get-togethers.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN
Despite its diverse grilling heritage, at Si-
erra, you won't find a resort village filled with
shopping malls, pricey suites and other circus-
like attractions. For Sierra-at-Tahoe the moun-
tain is what it's all about.
We're a friendly locals mountain and we
pride ourselves on that independence, says
Steve. The focus for us is on the skiing and
riding experience; there's plenty of distractions
15 min away in South Lake so when you're
here it's all about good times and bragging
about who had the best line.
The Traveler's Perspective
Steve, what kind of terrain does Sierra-at-
Tahoe offer?
We are best known for our old growth tree skiing,
but everything is pretty evenly divided. We have
about 50 percent blue/intermediate runs, 25percent easy greens and the remaining 25 percent
is advanced blacks or double-blacks. We also have
a steep and deep backcountry section for experts.
The mountain itself gets around 480 inches of
annual snowfall, one of the highest in the country.
How does Sierra differ from other resorts in
Lake Tahoe?
We have a warm, home-like vibe, and the focus
is more on the skiing and riding experience. Other
resorts in the area are also really expensive. For us it's about
accessibility; we are one of the few resorts to offer a season pass
at only $239 and day rates starting at $79. We also have some
really good packages and deals.
What are some of those packages?
We have a $39 learn to ski and ride package for adults. You get
2.5 hours of lessons, a lift ticket and rental. As an alternative to aseason pass and also for the dedicated weekend warrior, we have
3-packs. These are unrestricted lift tickets with no blackout dates
that can be used at any time throughout the season. It comes out
to a value of $55 for three lift tickets. Another one of the favorites
is the parent predicament pass.
Parent predicament pass?
Yeah, this is a day pass for $79 that can be split between two
people. It's ideal for parents who have a young child and want to
split time with the kids.
Are there any interesting travel options for people who want
to get away?
We have tons on the website, but one that comes to mind is the
ski, stay and soar package. This includes a two night stay at a
Lake Tahoe lodge, two lift tickets and two scenic helicopter rides
around the lake for $265 a person.
What's new this year at the resort?
One of the biggest things is our snowcat tours in the Hucklberry
Gates, our 320-acre backcountry section. For $79
plus a lift ticket, folks get an instructional course,
all the essential equipment (probe, beacon, pack
and lunch) and a guided tour of some of the most
technical terrain in Tahoe. The only other otherway to reach those cornices, rock chutes, pillows,
etc. is to hike.
How many people can you bring on a snowcat
tour?
The snowcat can hold up to 10 people or can
be rented out for private tours by groups of five
or more. You get as many runs as you can get in
between 10 am and 2 pm, weather permitting of
course. Also, we do avalanche control and have
ski patrol back there, so you get the freedom to explore with some
added safety. It's great for people who are new to backcountry
conditions or who don't have the energy to trek.
Anything new for the kids?
Yeah, one aspect of the partnership with Burton Snowboards and
Lucasfilm is the incorporation of the Riglet Reel into the Star
Wars themed adventure learning stations on-hill. Sometimes it cantake kids a while to get to the point where they are standing up on
their boards and actually moving on their own. The reels expedite
the process.
Interesting. So how does the Riglet Reel work?
They function kind of like a yo-yo and attach to the nose of youth
snowboards so instructors can tow kids more easily and safely.
This allows beginning riders to quickly get a feel for the movement
and control needed to balance on a board. It makes learning easier
for everybody, especially since you really want to make sure kids
have a positive experience when they are first starting out.
So what if you are an adult and you want to get in on the Star
Wars Experience?
Well, for now it's just for kids, but there is a hidden statue of a
Wampa somewhere in the forest. The Wampa is the snow beast
that attacks Luke in the beginning of The Empire Strikes Back. It's
funny, every now and then we will hear of guests who get spookedby the statue when passing by. We love to keep things fun and
quirky like that.
The Huckleberry Gates offer Sierra's most advancedterrain; the area is avy controlled and ski patrolled
Sierra is densely populated with Red Fir trees
A hidden Star Wars "Wompa" spooks passersbyThe resort gets younglings stoked on snow sports with Star Wars decor
Beers and bikinis at the Baja grill make bluebird days that much better
Marketing Manager Steve Hemphill