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Lifts & Terrain

Heavenly Ski and Snowboard Terrain Heavenly ski resort is huge with 4,800 acres (1,942 hectares) of skiable terrain, making it the largest of the ski resorts in California. The only problem with that claim to fame is that Heavenly ski resort is spread across both California and Nevada!

The two states provide diversity with desert on one side, and forest and lake on the other. Added to this is a very complex set of mountains and hills that make up the ski resort. The terrain is generally made up of well spaced trees, a multitude of easy going cut ski runs, two canyon areas with challenging chutes (Mott and Killebrew) and one true alpine bowl (Milkyway). You could never say that Heavenly is a boring place!

The terrain map can be a bit deceiving and requires close attention to both it and the resort signage to ensure ‘geographical embarrassment’ doesn’t occur. Let’s face it, take a wrong turn here or miss the closing time of the last lift, and you’ll end up in another state!

The majority of the on-piste runs are geared toward the intermediate level, with the trees being for advanced skiers. There are some gladed areas ideal for intermediates as well.

Heavenly does have the odd dangerous high ski traffic area, one of which is particularly noteworthy. The bottom of Ridge Run/Maggies heading into the base of the Canyon Express is diabolical. It doesn’t matter how good a skier or boarder you may be, you can’t control the actions of others – you have been warned!

Snowboarders will also need to be wary of some long flat traverses, notably The Skyline Trail and parts of the California Trail. Improvements are planned for the Skyline Trail for the 2009-10 season to give it a steady 10 degree slope.

Lifts The lifts are generally modern and efficient. A total of 7 express quads and 2 express six packs form the backbone of the lift system, with a smattering of older double chairs in the less trafficked and beginner areas. A modern gondola extends nearly 1,000 vertical metres from the centre of town to the heart of the ski area. The gondola is essentially an access lift and doesn’t service any inbounds terrain. It provides lovely views though. An Aerial Tramway in the Gunbarrel area serves no real purpose other than that of a historic relic.

The nine express lifts provide very efficient transport, and they need to, because when the sun shines, the lift lines extend a long way back. Lines can be avoided of course. The busiest areas from around 10am in California are around the Sky Deck at the base of the Sky and Canyon Express chairs, and in Nevada near East Peak Lodge at the base of the Dipper and Comet Express chairs. Avoid these areas until lunch and you’ll be fine.

As part of ongoing improvements to the hill, one of the old double chairs, Galaxy, will be replaced with a new express quad for the 2009-10 season. More trails will be cut into the area also.

Heavenly Lift Tickets Lift ticket prices are reasonable, and there are opportunities for discounted lift passes. If skiing at Heavenly for several days and linking a trip to Colorado (about a 1.5 day drive away), an EPIC pass may be worthwhile. The EPIC Pass costs the equivalent of about a 6 day lift pass, but it’s good for the entire season. The Pass is valid at Heavenly, and the Colorado resorts of Vail, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, Beaver Creek and Breckenridge. There are a host of other ‘benefits’ that come with the EPIC Pass including a year’s subscription to ‘Ski’ magazine, 6 ‘ski with a friend’ tickets and other freebies. Costs are less if you purchase early. Check out the website for more details.

Heavenly Snow and Weather This is Lake Tahoe and when it snows it pukes – sometimes for days. Eleven metres of annual snowfall is nothing to be sneezed at. However there are also long periods where it is doesn’t snow and the sun turns nature’s goodness into Sierra Cement. The powder is heavier with more moisture content than powder in Utah and Colorado, and it’s sometimes akin to the snow in Australia or New Zealand. Nonetheless there is oodles of powder to be devoured when the systems roll through.

A visit in January, February and early March should guarantee some form of powder hit. If the natural stuff doesn’t fall, conditions will still be reasonable as a massive 73% of the ski trails are covered with man-made snow, and in some places they do twice daily grooming.

When it doesn’t snow the sun shines, bright and hot - true California (or Nevadan) skiing. There are enough sunny days here between the storms to ensure that you’ll have a goggle tan that will be the envy of everyone back at home!

For the Beginner For such a huge resort, there’s not a whole lot on offer for beginners. A small area exists around Snow Beach, predominantly off the Powderbowl Express. Other beginner lifts are at the top of the Gondola (Big Easy), near the California Lodge (First Ride) and in Nevada near Boulder Lodge.

And even though the majority of the cut ski runs are rated intermediate, well balanced beginners will be able to easily tackle many of them.

Intermediate Ski and Board Terrain Heavenly is an intermediates’ paradise, and as most of the skiing and boarding population in the world are intermediates, that’s a good thing. All of the lifts except Gunbarrel and Mott canyon have truckloads of super groomed blue runs for your thigh burning pleasure.

For the Family/Kids The best place for the family that can ski a bit is the East Peak Lodge area on the Nevada side. Good lodge, food and toilet facilities, two high speed quads, and a mix of runs including easy blues, harder blues, some blacks, bumps and trees. This is enough to keep the parents and all the siblings content.

For the Shredder Four terrain parks are located on the hill at Heavenly - one beginner, two intermediate and one large terrain park. Heavenly also has a halfpipe. Go forth and break bones!

Advanced Skiing Very few of the cut ski runs are for the advanced skier. Much of the black diamond runs are more like high end intermediate runs, with a few exceptions like Waterfall and West Bowl. The real advanced skiing here is in the trees. Heavenly has loads of superb gladed terrain in beautiful old growth pines.

The only real alpine bowl at Heavenly is the Milkyway Bowl which is marked advanced, but in reality is pretty tame and severely tracked with traverses.

Expert Skiing and Snowboarding There really isn’t too much specifically for the expert at Heavenly. On the Nevada side the Mott and Killebrew Canyon areas have some nicely pitched lines, but its gets tracked quite quickly. On the California side, you’ll want to have your mogul skiing style down pat for a few steep runs down the classic Gunbarrel. Elsewhere there are challenging trees dotted all over the hill, but nothing too steep.

For the Powderhound Trees, trees, trees. The tree skiing here on a powder day (or the day after) is glorious. In fresh conditions you can ski anywhere, but remember that the terrain is complex and geographical embarrassment is a possibility.

After a powder day, take note where the sun hasn’t been shining and that’s where you’ll find the POW. Generally it will be amongst the north facing trees.

Some of the best ski terrain is out of bounds and for all to see. It’s located in and around the Gondola lift line. Get off at The Deck (a ‘mid’ station high up on the hill), and more or less head down the line - either side doesn’t matter. You’ll find some very tasty lines indeed. You’ll end up skiing into town with a 10 minute walk back to your accommodation.