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Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood to Open Additional Terrain for Holiday
  • Vail Resorts’ Mountains Continue to Offer Best Early Season Conditions in Tahoe
  • Season Pass Deadline Extended Through December 2, 2012, Giving Skiers and Riders Access to the Best of Tahoe all Season Long
 South Lake Tahoe and Truckee, Calif./Nev. – Nov. 19, 2012 – With up to 30-inches of new snow accumulating over the weekend and cold temperatures allowing the largest snowmaking systems on the West Coast to continue operation, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Northstar California Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort are evaluating conditions and plan to open additional terrain heading into the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
 
“The early snowfall we’ve received, paired with our powerful snowmaking systems is once again allowing our Tahoe resorts to offer the best early season conditions on both sides of the lake,” said Blaise Carrig, president of the mountain division for Vail Resorts. “Between Heavenly and Northstar’s experience and ability to make snow, and Kirkwood receiving the most annual snowfall in the Sierra, our guests are assured access to the best conditions in Tahoe when they visit our resorts.”
 
With the more than 30-inches of natural snow Kirkwood has received since Friday, the resort plans to open Chair 6 (Cornice Express) on Wednesday with the possibility of Chair 1 (Snowkirk) opening for the holiday weekend. Chair 8, the Red Cliffs handle tow, will also be open providing access to beginner terrain. With top-to-bottom skiing, accessing almost 80 acres, Kirkwood offers the most open terrain of any resort at Lake Tahoe and for all ability levels.
 
With an 18-inch base and wall-to-wall coverage on open trails, Northstar plans to offer skiing and riding from the top of the mountain for the holiday weekend, with the Comstock Express lift expected to open. The resort already provides access to beginner and intermediate terrain and more than a dozen terrain park features accessed by five lifts. The addition of the Comstock Express lift will give skiers and riders access to the East Ridge ski trail and more intermediate and advanced terrain on the front side of the mountain. Exact trail openings will be announced in the coming days.
 
At Heavenly, plans are to open Big Dipper trail, boosting the open terrain to 40 acres, covering almost three miles of trails. The resort also plans to expand to Comet trail and Comet Express in the very near future, as conditions permit. The left side of California Trail will continue to offer a designated terrain park area that features jumps, rails and boxes. Heavenly’s Ski and Ride School will operate one magic carpet at the top of the Gondola for children and is offering beginner lessons for all ages out of the Gondola Ski and Ride office. Gondola sightseeing tickets are still being offered for those interested in taking in the view at the Mid-station Observation Deck and warming up with a hot meal inside Tamarack Lodge.
 
Tickets and Info
Lift tickets are available at early-season pricing and can be applied toward the purchase of a season pass. The deadline to purchase season passes has been extended through December 2, giving skiers and riders access to the best of Tahoe all season long. The Tahoe Local Pass remains unmatched in value, price and experience with access to more than 263 trails, 14 terrain parks and 10,270 acres of some of the best terrain in the world at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in California and Nevada. For just $459, the Tahoe Local Pass pays for itself after just four days and then passholders are skiing or riding for free the rest of the season. For more information, visit www.epicpass.com.
 
The lowest-price guarantee on lift tickets is available through the PEAKS 3-Day Advance ticket when purchased at least three days in advance online at www.snow.com/lifttickets or through Vail Resorts Central Reservations. With the PEAKS 3-Day Advance, skiers and riders can save up to 25 percent vs. the window rate.
 
For more information and the latest snow conditions updates at all three resorts, visit www.skiheavenly.comwww.NorthstarCalifornia.com or www.kirkwood.com.

About Heavenly Mountain Resort
Heavenly Mountain Resort is a world-class destination offering guests a one-of-a-kind combination of scenic beauty and exhilarating on-snow experience. Heavenly is a subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc., the leading mountain resort operator in the United States.  One of the largest resorts in North America, Heavenly spans 4,800 acres, climbs to Lake Tahoe’s highest elevation at 10,067 feet and features more than 97 trails for every level of skier or snowboarder.  For more information on Heavenly Mountain Resort, please visit www.skiheavenly.com or call 800-HEAVENLY.
 
About Northstar California Resort
One of the finest year-round mountain resorts in North America, Northstar is host to a base area village featuring unique shops and restaurants, a conference center, 9,000 square foot outdoor skating rink, movie theaters, on-site lodging, special events and more. A winter sport enthusiast’s paradise, Northstar offers 97 ski trails spread across 3,170 acres, award-winning terrain parks and snow sports including alpine and Telemark skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. Summer activities include mountain biking, golfing, scenic lift rides for sightseeing and hiking, fly-fishing and more.
 
Northstar is located on Highway 267, just six miles north of Lake Tahoe and six miles south of downtown Truckee. For more information, call 1.800.GO.NORTH (1.800.466.6784) or visit
www.NorthstarCalifornia.com.
 
About Kirkwood
Kirkwood Mountain Resort is one of the nation's top destination resorts. Located just 177 miles from the Bay Area along scenic Highway 88, its base elevation of 7,800-feet, assures skiers more annual snowfall than any other resort in North America. Kirkwood is recognized by winter purists and national media alike for the quality of its snow and terrain variety and is a true skier’s destination. Known for its pristine beauty and action-packed expeditions and events, winter fun includes skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, sled dog tours, and backcountry expeditions. An ideal location for weddings and corporate meetings, the Kirkwood Village includes boutique shopping, live music and dining. For more information about Kirkwood Mountain Resort, visit www.kirkwood.com or call 209.258.6000.
 
About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado, and the Heavenly Ski Resort, Northstar California Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across the United States and in the Caribbean. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN).  The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com

Contact(s)

Sally Gunter

Senior Communications Manager
Email: sgunter@vailresorts.com
Phone: 9707543001
Email: jvanpernis@vailresorts.com
Phone: (530)562-3866
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