Last winter, most ski resorts at Lake Tahoe had to postpone their usual November openings because there wasn't enough snow.
The latest Sierra storm, packing more heavy snow, winds gusting in excess of 100 mph and even some flooding, forced about a half-dozen to shut down on Friday.
"It's heaven sent for a skier because I can ski until Memorial Day," said Dan Lavely, 66, a Reno resident who's been skiing for about 40 years.The resorts who cater to folks like him agree. The last storm, a week ago, forced the cancellation of the final day of the Nevada state high school ski championships at Mount Rose, which is halfway between Reno and Lake Tahoe.
The University of California, Berkeley's Central Sierra Snow Lab at Donner Pass, north of Lake Tahoe, reported earlier this month it had recorded the snowiest October-February period since 1970. The snowiest winter season there was 1951-52, with nearly 68 feet . But he sympathizes with those making the trip from Sacramento or the Bay Area, who are at the mercy of woeful weather, including blizzard conditions that have shut down Interstate 80 for days at a time since Jan. 1.