After a few days of chasing spring snow in the Eastern Sierra (to no avail -- see my Eastern Sierra entry in Random Tracks), we checked out the Vail deals at Lake Tahoe. This year, 2012-13, we had passes at Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley, but remembered when we had passes at Heavenly, Kirkwood and Northstar. We skied Heavenly on a sunny day with great views of Lake Tahoe from the west and north slopes, and from the eastern side into the Nevada valley with the casinos. You ski from 6,255’ to 10,040’. It was a day with great cruisers riding the 9 express chairs, numerous doubles, and the gondola and tram. We smiled and knew we were coming back – we like Heavenly much better than Squaw. The senior pass is $309 and no taxes, and they gave us credit for the $85 day pass so we each only paid $224 for the season’s pass. Plus we got a free day’s pass for any time before they close at Heavenly, Kirkwood or Northstar – making the season’s pass cost only $139 more than two days of skiing at the senior rate. Wow! Not a bad deal for us old folks! So we’ll also be skiing on April 3, probably at Kirkwood or Northstar.
