Placer County Local News

Tahoe Donner Cross Country | Ryan Salm
Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center spans more than 2,800. When the resort is fully open, more than 100 km of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails meander through meadows, over creeks and up to stunning alpine views. The ski area opens Nov. 29.
Tahoe Donner Cross Country is the only cross-country resort in the region with dedicated snow-making capabilities on 3km of trails.
Ski for Light | In collaboration with Ski for Light, a nonprofit organization that teaches visually- and mobility-impaired adults to cross-country ski, a 5K and 10K loop will be created for skiers and their guides. Advanced skiers can take part in races and there will be a XC ski rally for those content with touring.
Learn with the pros | Tahoe Donner offers several clinics and programs for kids and adults and features cross-country professionals and former Olympians among its many offerings.
EVENTS
Dec. 31 | NYE Snowshoe Tour
March 2 | Ididarun Sled Dog Race
TBA | Sierra Skogsloppet Race

Sierra-at-Tahoe
Sierra-at-Tahoe will open on Nov. 29 unveiling resort investments including new haul ropes on Easy Rider Express and Nob Hill Chairlift and the repair and repaving of Sierra’s parking lots and roadway.
Two new TechnoAlpin snowmaking fan guns that will aid early season snow coverage on Easy Rider and snowmaking in the Aspen Terrain Park pod throughout the season.
Find a list of other ski resort opening dates at yourtahoeguide.com/ski.
Ikon Pass partner | This season Sierra-at-Tahoe becomes an Ikon Pass partner, providing pass holders enhanced access to the slopes.
Caldor Fire restoration | Reforestation efforts at Sierra-at-Tahoe continue with more than 1,000 new seedlings planted in October during the resort’s Keep Sierra Clean Day.
Military ski free | Active duty military personnel can ski or ride for free on Sundays starting Jan. 12, 2025, throughout the season.
Mountain Tours | Learn more about the geology and history of Sierra-at-Tahoe and the Lake Tahoe Basin on a guided, one-hour tour on select weekends.
Dining | Enjoy a tasty new collaboration with Sacramento-based Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse featuring craft beer and signature Pork Belly Burnt Ends at the top of Grandview inside 360 Smokehouse BBQ.
In addition, hungry skiers and riders will find modern tacos at Baja Grill. The Aspen will offer family pizza meal deals to help feed the whole crew and provide value to resort guests.
Events
TBA | Subaru Winterfest
TBA | Vans Methodology
TBA | Boarding For Breast Cancer

Soda Springs
Soda Springs is a winter wonderland filled with fun for the whole family. For kids ages 7 and younger, the Planet Kids snow play area features tubing carousels, tubing lanes, snow volcanoes to climb, and more. Families can also enjoy 10 tubing runs at Tube Town, perfect for all ages. The resort opens on Nov. 27 for the 2024-25 season.
Find a list of other ski resort opening dates at yourtahoeguide.com/ski.
Family Pass | One of the best deals around is Soda Springs’ Family Pass with full access to the resort for two adults and two kids. The pass includes access to the lifts, Tube Town, Planet Kids, Woodward Start Park and other activities.
Play Forever Fridays | Play Forever Fridays return this season, offering $25 lift tickets once a month for everyone, with $5 from every ticket supporting a charity on select Fridays from Dec. 11 to April 11.

Auburn Ski Club
ASC XC Training Center, one of the oldest ski clubs in the West, has added more LED lighting to the trail network with cross-country night skiing offered on 1.5km of trail on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 7:30 p.m.
This year marks the 96th season for ASC (Auburn Ski Club), opening for the 2024-25 season on Nov. 23.
Find a list of other ski resort opening dates at yourtahoeguide.com/ski.
The Club was founded in 1928. The nonprofit winter sports facility is one of the few training centers in the country to offer alpine, Nordic, biathlon and snowboard programs. Its athletes range from first-time skiers and riders to Olympic-level and U.S. Team professionals.
Events
Dec. 14 | Holiday Biathlon Race
Jan. 19 | MLK Biathlon
Feb. 9 | Chuck Lyda Biathlon
Feb. 15 | President’s Cup Skiathlon
March 16 | 10th Mt. Division Biathlon
March 29 | ASC Nordic Spring Fling
April 13 | Glenn’s Gallop Biathlon

Sugar Bowl unveils new park experience. | Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl will launch a fully reimagined park experience this season toward the first phase of the development of the resort’s new world-class athlete training facility. The resort opens on Nov. 22 with $39 advance tickets available through Nov. 24.
First chair riders will receive a limited-run season t-shirt. There will also be music from Sierra Alpenhorns and a live DJ, a champagne toast, High Fives swag and more.
Find a list of other ski resort opening dates at yourtahoeguide.com/ski.
Building on an 85-year tradition of athletic excellence, the ultimate vision is to offer a full-size progression facility that can bring young freestyle athletes onto the World Cup stage.
The park features are built for athletes at every level, allowing them to develop skills that can take them from local competitions to the global stage. The new terrain park isn’t just about jumps and rails — it’s about creating a California-based training ground that allows athletes to reach their peak potential, according to the release.
The full-sized progression facility includes:

Palisades Tahoe opens for its 75th season on Nov. 22, 2024. | Palisades Tahoe
Palisades Tahoe opens the 2024-25 season, marking the resort’s 75th anniversary, with $75 lift tickets from Nov. 22 to 27. The ski area is now scheduled to open Nov. 22.
Opening day festivities will also feature swag giveaways, a live DJ and complimentary breakfast burritos for guests.
Find a list of other ski resort opening dates at yourtahoeguide.com/ski.
Palisades Village plan | The Placer County Board of Supervisors will consider the Village at Palisades proposed development plan at a meeting on Nov. 19 starting at 9 a.m. at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach. The meeting will also be available through Zoom.
Learn more about the Village at Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan at placer.ca.gov/8213/Village-at-Palisades-Tahoe-Specific-Plan.
Read the fact sheet on the plan at bit.ly/palisades_village.
Improvements | Over the past year, Palisades Tahoe has invested $1.4 million in upgrading snowmaking operations, including a new booster pump to improve snow production efficiency and added fan guns at the base of Gold Coast. As well, there are new loading ramps beneath Scott Chair, Red Dog and Resort Chair, reducing the amount of snow needed in these areas and allowing for quicker, more efficient openings.
The ski area has added three new Pisten Bully snowcats to its fleet, enhancing grooming capabilities.
Tower of Nations | The Tower of Nations and Olympic torch at the entry to Olympic Valley have been renovated and restored including adding new country shields representing most of the nations that participated in the 1960 Winter Games.
Dining | Little Bear Café, located across from the Tram, opened in November offering in-house baked goods crafted by Pastry Chef Cortney Hadley, as well as coffee, salads and sandwiches.
At Alpine, Stoked Oak, located on the gondola side of the sun deck, will offer a selection of traditional smoked BBQ platters and toasted sandwiches created on a 16-foot reverse-flow smoker.
Transit & parking | The parking reservation program will continue on weekends during high-demand periods starting Dec. 7 and the on-demand Mountaineer microtransit will expand its operating schedule in Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows.
Mountaineer will operate Dec. 7 to April 20 daily in Olympic Valley from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Thursday to Monday in Alpine Meadows from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Extended service is offered during holiday periods. Service between the two valleys is offered daily from 5 to 11 p.m.
This season, the Palisades Tahoe Express Shuttle will provide earlier rides to the resort, allowing guests to arrive in time for first chair by 9 a.m.
Palisades Tahoe will continue to contribute funding to provide Park & Ride services from Truckee and Tahoe City on weekends and holidays. Guest will also receive a $10 food and beverage voucher to use at the resort when riding the Park n Ride.
Free resort access will continue to be provided via the Sherwood Shuttle from the West Shore to Alpine when conditions permit. | palisadestahoe.com
Events
Dec. 14-15 | Tahoe Live
Dec. 20 & 21, Jan. 24 & 25, Feb. 7 & 8 | Snowshoe Tour & Chalet Dinner
Dec. 27 | Reno Après Ski Party with Jonny Moseley
Dec. 31 | NYE Celebrations
March 22 | Pain McShlonkey Classic
March 23 | Mother Ship Classic
March 28-30 | U.S. Mogul Freestyle Championships
April 12 | Snow Golf Tournament
May 3 | Cushing Crossing

As part of our continued commitment to the safety of our forests and community, fire managers have begun controlled pile burning in designated areas. This work is essential for reducing hazardous fuels that can contribute to high-intensity wildfires. By carefully managing these fuels, we create defensible spaces around properties, establish shaded fuel breaks, and provide safer zones for firefighters to work if a wildfire occurs.

As we head into the holidays, the annual season of reflection has a new twist this year with the results of national and local elections still reverberating. No matter where you landed on various races, one constant continues to shine through – Lake Tahoe transcends politics or any single election cycle. It's important during divisive times to lean into what unites us at Tahoe – a love for the lake, our communities, and the passion to protect this special place.

With the Yankees World Series loss to the Dodgers, some old chestnuts about the pugnacious Billy Martin have resurfaced. I had not heard this one, but stop me if you have…

OLYMPIC VALLEY, Calif. — Palisades Tahoe will open five days earlier than originally planned, on Friday, November 22, to celebrate the start of its 75th anniversary season.

The Colfax City Council received an update on the preliminary plans for the proposed skate park project during its Oct. 23 meeting.

Project lead Ty Conners said the Colfax Green Machine, which is overseeing the project, has partnered with New Line Skateparks to create a new design that fits with the project’s current budget. Kanten Russell, director of design with New Line, confirmed they looked at previous plans and built a new design based on the site conditions and budget.