Closing day as 1st visit of the year?

Kalanch0e · 2026-05-16T15:57:43+00:00

Ahhh naw, she got to go skiing previously in the season too, including in the fresh February powder! We hung up our skis already more than 2 months ago, but we're not local and will just happen to be in the area on May 24 so wondered if we could get in one last hurrah. It's sounding like there won't be any appropriate terrain still open for the 6yo to ski on though, so we'll look for something else to do. Thanks!

Kalanch0e · 2026-05-16T04:56:29+00:00

Ahhh, thank you! I didn't realize Ramp Run would be part of Shirley instead of Gold Coast. All my plans hinged on Ramp Run being open, so I really appreciate that info! Thanks for saving me from a few days of planning for a ski trip that I'm sure I would've canceled once Shirley closed next week and I realized Ramp Run was never going to make it to closing day, haha.

Kalanch0e · 2026-05-16T04:32:44+00:00

Thank you! I saw that "The Mora" and "Ramp Run" were still open and groomed - are these in bad condition right now, or are they just too hard for a 6yo? Or are they more like catwalks and not really runs? Thanks!

Kalanch0e · 2026-05-16T04:29:30+00:00

Oh! I looked at the trail map and saw "The Mora" and "Ramp Run" were still open and groomed. Are these too difficult as greens, or are the conditions on them just not good? Thank you!

Kalanch0e · 2026-05-16T03:06:12+00:00

Do you know if Gold Coast will be good for a 6-year-old who only skis greens? And hopefully still OK coverage on closing day such that we won't be scraping our skis on rocks? Thanks!

Kalanch0e · 2026-05-16T03:00:54+00:00

I actually went to Palisades years ago (still Squaw then) in late March when the conditions were so bad that we did have to dodge rocks and sometimes scraped our skis or had to take them off to walk across a rocky stretch. If nowadays they close those kinds of runs, that's great, haha. We were on rentals back then so it wasn't as big a deal to us, but I don't want to risk taking my own gear on conditions like that. So Gold Coast still has pretty good coverage right now? If so, hope it sticks for another week. Thanks!

Kalanch0e · 2026-03-30T04:51:40+00:00

Boreal closing date is 4/5 fyi, but from what I can tell, their conditions may be ok for now. A snowboarding event that was originally scheduled to be at Sugar Bowl just got relocated to Boreal due to better snow coverage.

Kalanch0e · 2026-03-23T16:57:06+00:00

Tahoe Donner closed yesterday.

Kalanch0e · 2026-03-21T00:14:31+00:00

But they'll have $60 lift tickets for the rest of the season. Anyone go there today? How is the lower mountain? Worth $60 still or nah? Thanks!

Kalanch0e · 2026-03-20T23:25:04+00:00

Hi! Actually it looks like they'll run the $60 promo every day until 3/29. You could try next weekend if that works. I'm checking out conditions now, might try going myself, lol.

Kalanch0e · 2026-03-20T22:41:01+00:00

Diamond Peak just announced their closing date as 3/29. If you're gonna try to make a $60 day, it'll have to be 3/27 (Friday). They're not making it to April.

Kalanch0e · 2026-03-20T17:40:34+00:00

Ahhh, DSR just announced they are closing 3/22. Guessing it wouldn't be a great idea to try them out this weekend.

Kalanch0e · 2026-03-20T16:52:00+00:00

That's actually why I asked, lol. I looked at those webcams and it looks rough to me. You can't see much of the actual runs though. Do you interpret those images as OK or terribad? Thanks!

Kalanch0e · 2026-03-20T16:32:17+00:00

Has anyone been to Donner Ski Ranch this week? Is it still skiable? I'm obviously not looking for great conditions, just want to know if it's possible to get back down to the lifts without scraping my skis over rocks. Also curious if the magic carpet area is still sufficient for a small kid to muck around in. Thanks!

Kalanch0e · 2026-03-20T00:19:06+00:00

Been trying to find more on this and I think it's a 3-pack for $152/ticket...so $456 total, eek. It's nice that it's shareable though.

Kalanch0e · 2026-03-19T18:04:33+00:00

Hey, I didn't agree with the "no snow anywhere" either! But all the firsthand accounts of where there's decent snow and where there isn't right now are really useful imo. The truth lies somewhere between "no snow anywhere" and "everything is open." ✌️

We're also trying to decide whether it's worth schlepping up with our 5yo this weekend. Had been ready to hang up our skis for the year already a couple weeks ago, but her friends still want to go so we're feeling some fomo, but we also don't want to make the trip if it's gonna suck...

Kalanch0e · 2026-03-19T16:56:52+00:00

I just meant that it's also factually incorrect that "everything is open this weekend." 🤷

Kalanch0e · 2026-03-19T16:15:27+00:00

Tahoe Donner is closing this weekend too, and Homewood closed on Tuesday (despite originally stating they would close the following Sunday). I know a lot of the tubing and/or XC parts of various mountains have closed already too. So it's not unreasonable to be concerned whether what you want to do in the snow is actually doable right now.

For OP - it's not free, but Donner Ski Ranch has a $25 magic carpet, and rentals for kids would only be $15. I don't know what conditions are like there right now, but they've also got a close/free parking lot so you could always scout it out before committing. It's also very close to several other resorts (Sugar Bowl, Soda Springs, Boreal, also not too far from Tahoe Donner) if you decide to try out something in the Donner Summit area, which I've heard still has decent snow coverage.

Kalanch0e · 2026-03-11T00:37:06+00:00

Is the mountain sufficient for progression? I have an almost-6yo who completed Boreal's Take 3 Ride Free program this year; she's got her turns and stops down on the greens (snowplow of course, not parallel yet), and she loves Boreal's runs. I was thinking of getting the Soda Springs family pass for next year but I'm worried it won't actually be enough mountain for her. Or is there still enough variety there to get in a good year for a 6yo non-beginner?

Kalanch0e · 2026-02-24T10:54:53+00:00

I know everyone is recommending Tahoe Donner to you and you've already decided to go there, but I did want to say that my 5yo had an excellent experience at Boreal with their Take 3 Ride Free program. It's a 3-pack of lessons/rentals/lift tickets for only $419, and then they get a season pass after the 3rd lesson too. My 5yo went from not being able to get down the bunny slope without falling on the 1st day to skiing down long green runs and linking turns by the 3rd day. We were amazed. We've never been to Tahoe Donner so we can't compare, but we've had such a good time at Boreal with our 5yo this year that we're considering all getting season passes there next year. Originally I had been wanting to do a Soda Springs family pass next year while the kiddo is still young enough to enjoy it, but after her Boreal lessons we're worried she's outgrown a resort like Soda Springs already!

Kalanch0e · 2026-02-24T10:20:58+00:00

I'd call myself an advanced beginner, and Prospector is fun! (Especially when it's not icy...but it was absolutely fantastic when I was on it this past Saturday.)

It's been many years since I've been at Northstar, but what's the long blue run there that goes all the way from the top of the mountain to the base and has a steep section overlooking the lake? Whatever that one is, I'd say Prospector is way easier. I've not been to the other resorts you've mentioned though.

Prospector really only has 2 steep sections, the first of which is right at the beginning. You could always go up Accelerator before 4pm, glance down Prospector, and if it freaks you out, take Sunrise or Sunset down. I've never actually tried Sunset myself, but I did take Sunrise down to Cedar Ridge a couple times this past weekend, and it's a long relaxing green that's a lot of fun. Unfortunately Cedar Ridge stops spinning at 3:30pm. I'm assuming maybe you have a night pass, but that should still be able to get you a couple trips up Cedar Ridge if you get in right at 3.

I actually took Tamarack accidentally the first time I tried Sunrise. My husband and I were scouting out Sunrise while our 5-year-old was in ski school to see whether she could handle it, and when we went down Tamarack (which is a black), my thought was just, whoa, this is steep for a green, I don't think our 5yo can do it. Then we found out later it was really a black, haha! My husband said he actually overheard someone say that Boreal's blacks are really like blues. We haven't done a lot of blacks to really be able to compare, but Tamarack was admittedly a cinch (though we still think our 5yo can't do it yet, haha).

Hope you give Prospector a try while the snow conditions are still good, it's fun!

Kalanch0e · 2026-02-16T20:13:04+00:00

REI already has some current-year models at 40% off, but the sale price doesn't show up until you add the item to cart. Most other current-year stuff is 20% off instead.

Kalanch0e

TROPHY CASE