By Paul Tolme, SKI

My pulse quickens as I exit Gate 5 and traverse the ridge above Huckleberry Canyon, 320 acres of steep and deep terrain just beyond the ropes at Sierra-at-Tahoe. Until recently, only a few ski patrollers and brave locals ventured into this former out-of-bounds area. There was always avalanche danger –”not to mention the overhanging cornices and narrow rock chutes. Now, following years of planning, Huckleberry is going public. The U.S. Forest Service has incorporated it into Sierra-at-Tahoe’s boundaries, allowing the resort to do avalanche control and make the new terrain a whole lot safer. Huckleberry is a headlining addition — it’s Sierra’s first expansion ever for a low-key area that gets overshadowed by South Shore behemoth Heavenly and extreme-skiing capital Kirkwood. “Huckleberry is an amazing area, a locals’ secret if you will,” says general manager John Rice. “Opening it up adds a whole new dimension to skiing here.”

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