Industry News
Skiers and snowboarders could cross Mt. Rose Highway by bridge or chairlift if the U.S. Forest Service approves a proposed 20 percent expansion of the Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe ski area, by adding a chairlift and runs across from the main resort, reports the Reno Gazette Journal.
According to an environmental document, the expansion would provide Mt. Rose skiers and snowboarders a much-needed increase in terrain suitable for beginners and would also improve the resort’s snowmaking capacity.
“Although Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe is well known for its abundance of high-quality expert terrain, the terrain used for lower-ability level skiers is negatively impacted by mixing of ability levels and a lack of terrain variety,” the document states.
Marketing director Mike Pierce characterized the proposed terrain as additional space for skiers and snowboarders moving from green, or beginner, terrain to blue, or intermediate, runs.
“Some of the feeling is we actually get steep a little quick,” Pierce said. “It is transition terrain.”
In recent years, the resort added some secluded beginner terrain but the existing trails still require beginners to mix with advanced intermediate and expert skiers and boarders on primary runs to the base.
Added beginner and low intermediate terrain would make the resort more appealing to visitors.
Once the public comment period closes the Forest Service will use the input to craft a final environmental impact statement and record of decision which will be followed by a 60-day period for further objections. Follow the link to Forest Service page for project documents and instructions for submitting comments.
“Although Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe is well known for its abundance of high-quality expert terrain … ” Yea. Too bad they never open it.
I’m generally supportive of them adding the terrain but I wish they would pay attention to some of their lifts, especially in the beginner area. Was skiing there a week ago with some beginners and all the lifts accessing the greens were painfully slow, seemed rather old, and not all of them had basics like safety bars. One lift in particular went pretty high up and with no safety bar, the kids were terrified and refused to ride it again the rest of the day.