Tahoe resorts not popular with Ski readers

Lake Tahoe area ski resorts didn’t fare well in the annual readers’ poll by Ski magazine.

The October issue talks about the top 50 ski resorts. It’s divided between the West and East coasts. Whistler-Blackcomb took top honors for the West, while Tremblant in Quebec was the East’s best.

Mammoth – which clearly isn’t a Tahoe resort – is the top California ski area at No. 22.

Heavenly Mountain Resort came in at No. 24. The top three strengths listed were scenery, off-hill activities and après. The main weaknesses were snow, challenge and terrain variety.

Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows was No. 25. Strengths include challenge, terrain variety and après, while weaknesses were service, snow and overall satisfaction.

At No. 27 was Northstar. Positives included kid friendliness, grooming and terrain parks; while negatives were character, scenery and terrain variety.

Tahoe resorts didn’t do well in the individual categories either. Not one made it in the top 10 for accessibility, character, dining, lifts, lodging, service, snow or value.

Top 10 finishes included:

·      Après: Heavenly – No. 6

·      Challenge – Squaw – No. 9

·      Grooming – Northstar – No. 10

·      Kid friendliness – Northstar – No. 9

·      Off-hill activities – Heavenly – No. 4

·      Scenery – Heavenly – No. 3

·      Terrain variety – Mammoth – No. 8; Squaw – No. 10.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report