February 20, 2009 Donner Ski Ranch

Jill and I spent a half day cruising the packed powder at Donner Ski Ranch. The old time ski area is located at Donner Pass with a base around 7100’ and about 800vf with 6 lifts. Our senior tickets were $25. It’s like going back in time to the early days of skiing. The area is on the north side of the Old Donner Pass road while Sugar Bowl is on the south side of the road. Their lifts service north and south aspect terrain. There are still some pockets of powder on the north aspects while the south slopes were firm early and softening by 11am. We cranked in 14 runs for a whopping total of 7000vf. It was another sunny day with temps warming to 40. Here are a couple of photos of the surrounding terrain.

#1 – looking north to Castle Peak – a popular touring area and site of a Sierra Club hut

#2 – looking east to some of the North Sidecountry of Sugar Bowl on the right side and Donner Lake