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On-Mountain Summer Adventure – “Epic Discovery”

Do you want to soar like an eagle? Travel through the forest canopy at high speeds like a goshawk? Find out if you’re as strong as a bear or as nimble as a bat? Epic Discovery provides a unique, connected, on-mountain summer experience, immersing guests in activities that provide big-time thrills, allowing them to challenge themselves physically, guiding them to explore and better understand their natural surroundings and ultimately create lifelong memories.

What’s New?

• East Peak (Silver Rush) Zip Line Tour: New this season, this 4,159-foot Zip Line takes guests from tree to tree at speeds of up to 40 miles an hour. Overlooking the high desert of the Carson Valley, the last zip line allows guests to fly over the waters of East Peak Lake. This intimate experience concludes with a UTV ride back to the top of the Gondola.
• Epic Discovery Center:  In collaboration with Heavenly and the U.S. Forest Service, this interactive center features a theater and kid’s zone. There is also a water bottle filling station modeled after the Sierra Nevada mountain range’s complex and fragile watershed. 

Opening Dates

All dates are subject to change, for the latest up to date information visit our website.

Sightseeing at Heavenly Mountain Resort will open Memorial Day Weekend, May 27-29. On June 16 the Blue Streak Zip Line, Granite Peak Climbing Wall, Hot Shot Zip Line, Red Tail Zip Line and Black Bear Ropes Course will all open for the summer season. June 24 features the opening of Silver Rush, our new East Peak Zip Line Tour, where guests can experience breathtaking views of the Carson Valley and East Peak Lake. On July 1, all activities will be open and available to purchase online such as the Ultimate Adventure Pass and Little Explorer Pass for the Skyway Zip Line Tour, Tubing and Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster, Bear Cub Ropes Course and Boulder Cove Ropes Course.
 
For more information on Epic Discovery hours of operation, ticket options and pricing visit http://www.skiheavenly.com/info/epic-discovery.
 
Summer Photos
Download our summer phoPlease credit all photos to Heavenly Mountain Resort. to library of the Heavenly Village and Epic Discovery activities. 
 
Summer B-roll

• Activities 
  • Heavenly Gondola, Observation Deck, panoramic Lake Tahoe views, Blue Streak Zip Line, Ropes Courses, Summer Tubing, Tamarack Lodge, Tamarack Lift, hiking trails.
• Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster
• Hot Shot Zip Line and Ropes Courses
• Discovery Day Camp

Social Media Tags

• #epicdiscovery
• Facebook: Heavenly Mountain
• Instagram: @skiheavenly
• Twitter: @skiheavenly

Epic Discovery Activities
 
East Peak (Silver Rush) Zip Line Tour: New this season, this Zip Line Tour takes guests from tree to tree at speeds of up to 40 miles an hour. Overlooking the high desert of the Carson Valley, the last zip line allows guests to fly over the waters of East Peak Lake. The experience concludes with an UTV ride back to the top of the Gondola.
 
Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster
Reaching speeds of up to 27 miles per hour, guests can fly through the forest iconic rock formations while taking in panoramic views of Lake Tahoe. The alpine coaster allows guests, on individual sleds, to descend on a raised track through the forest and natural rock formations, utilizing gravity for the descent while still giving riders full control of their speed. Experience the thrill on this gravity propelled alpine coaster as you race on this 3,400’ track featuring a 300’ vertical drop and two lateral loops.
 
Blue Streak Zip Line
Enjoy incredible views of Lake Tahoe as you glide through the sky on Heavenly’s 3,300-foot-long zip line. With top speeds at 55 miles per hour, this is a great way to get your adrenaline fix all while soaking up the beautiful California sunshine and refreshing mountain air.
 
Skyway Zip Line Tour
Experience the ultimate alpine adventure with the guided Canopy Tour. Immerse yourself in the forest habitat with 7 ziplines, 2 aerial bridges and 1 rappel station, totaling 3,400 feet in length! Learn about the mountain ecosystem while working your way through each course’s challenges.
 
Summit Expedition 4x4 Mountain Tour
Explore Heavenly in this open-air off-road 4x4 trucks while on a guided tour around the mountain. This unique tour allows you to see both Lake Tahoe and panoramic views of Heavenly’s surrounding mountain peaks including Job’s, Job’s Sister and Freel Peak. You will learn about Tahoe’s ecosystem and geology from your personal tour guide.
 
Hot Shot Zip Line
Take in one of-a-kind views of Mt. Tallac and Pyramid Peak as you and up to 3 of your friends or family race down the 4 parallel lines on Heavenly’s 1,000-foot-long zip line at top speeds of 40 MPH. This is a great way to build up your courage before testing your nerves on the Blue Streak Zip Line.
 
Red Tail Zip Line
The children’s zip line is 15 feet off the ground and 100 feet long, providing a great introduction into zip lining for children. 
 
Bear Cub Ropes Course
The children’s ropes course is a sized-down version of Heavenly’s larger ropes courses, Boulder Cove and Black Bear, and features similar obstacles including ropes and logs that are suspended five to eight feet off the ground.
 
Granite Peak Climbing Wall
The Climbing Wall is an exhilarating man-made rock wall inspired by the legendary rock climbing available in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The permanent rock climbing wall is 25-feet-tall with 15 defined climbing routes varying in difficulty and utilizes TruBlue auto-belays on each route. A unique feature of the wall is the quick-jump, 35-foot rapid descent that emulates free-falling, accessed by an adventurous climb up the Goat Trail. 
 
Summer Tubing
Breeze down a thrilling 500ft-long hill, without snow or water! With our specially designed tubing surface, Heavenly summer tubing will have you smiling ear to ear. Once at the bottom, step on the carpet lift to take you back to the top!

• Mini Tubing
  • This 250-foot long course allows kids with the little explorer pass to experience the thrill of tubing – located right alongside the regular tubing hill.

Discovery Forest Ropes Course
Located in the wooded area behind the Bear Cave, the Discovery Forest Ropes Course is a tree-top ropes course adventure that is fully integrated into the natural environment. This course brings the beauty of the National Forest up close and personal as you move around and through natural and man-made obstacles in the trees. 
 
Black Bear Ropes Course
The Black Bear Ropes Course features challenges that are not as long as the other two ropes courses, making it ideal for families with younger children, smaller participants, or first-timers. With a variety of routes to choose from, this ropes course will inspire the most daring guest and create an appetite for adventure. The course ends with a 30-foot controlled descent.
 
Boulder Cove Ropes Course
The Boulder Cove Ropes Course, located at the bottom of the Gondola stairs, is designed for the adventurer wanting to pursue a greater challenge. Featuring two levels, this course allows participants of all skill levels to progress to the higher, more difficult level if they choose. 
 
Interpretive Learning
Heavenly’ s project integrates a “learn through play” environment and a robust interpretive learning component with curriculum created in collaboration with the Forest Service, the League to Save Lake Tahoe and The Nature Conservancy. Learning stations are located throughout the Top of Gondola area, providing a self-guided tour that includes Story Stakes, Animal Abilities and Pathway Stones:

• Story Stakes – Feature interpretive stories about native animals, plants, trees and the environment accompanied by fun facts and photos.
• Animal Abilities – Each Animal Ability station provides a hands-on interpretive experience for you to experience the incredible abilities of Tahoe’s local animals. The loop trail showcases six unique Animal Ability activities.
• Pathway Stones – Along the path from the Granite Peak Climbing Wall to Tamarack Lodge, you will discover six boulders featuring stories of the Tahoe area – its pioneers, history, recreation and preservation.

 Scenic Gondola Ride
A 2.4 mile ride up in the Heavenly Mountain Gondola will leave you breathless as you take in panoramic views of Lake Tahoe. On your way up, stop at the Observation Deck for photos, a latte at Cafe Blue or a unique Heavenly souvenir at The Gondola Sports shop. Once you get to the top, head up the Tamarack Express chairlift with your Scenic Gondola ticket for some of the best views of Lake Tahoe and access to a series of hiking trails, ranging from beginner to expert.
 
Discovery Day Camp
Heavenly’s summer kids camp program, offers our pint sized visitors an unforgettable day of nature, exploration, adventure, and fun.  Children ages 5-12 years old spend an entire day with our rock star camp leaders exploring the great outdoors, all at the top of Heavenly Mountain Resort. From 9am-4pm, the program is packed with a gondola ride, ropes courses, scavenger hunts, hiking, relay games, wilderness survival skills, and more! Half-day, full-day and multi-day packages available 7 days a week. For additional information visit www.skiheavenly.com/summercamp
 
Epic Discovery Center:  In collaboration with Heavenly and the U.S. Forest Service, this interactive center features a theater, kid’s zone and a water display.  
 
1% for the Forest - Heavenly in Partnership With the Nature Conservancy
Together, we are creating eco-discovery experiences at Heavenly to promote education and awareness of our unique environment. Interpretive Discovery Zones will be seamlessly integrated at trails and activities throughout the Mountain, where guests can actively learn about the Mountain, its animals and the environment. In addition Vail Resorts has created a new program called "1% for the Forest," where we will contribute 1 percent of all summer activity revenue to The Nature Conservancy for forest health restoration projects out West. Here's to partnering for something big: the forest.
 
Pricing

• Ultimate Adventure Pass: $94 (with 17/18 Winter Season Pass price is $72)
• Little Explorer Pass: $54 (with 17/18 Winter Season Pass price is $43)
• Scenic Gondola Ride: $48 adults, $39 seniors and teens, $24 children
• Silver Rush Zip Line Tour: $199 (includes the Ultimate Adventure Pass)
• Skyway Zip Line Tour: $199 (includes the Ultimate Adventure Pass)
• All other activities and more pricing information: Visit the pricings page on our website.

Amgen Bicycle Race
 
Women’s Bicycle Race starts and finishes at Heavenly Mountain Resort
The 2017 race will circle Lake Tahoe for 72 miles, beginning and finishing at Heavenly Mountain Resort May 11-14. With breathtaking views, panoramic vistas and the highest summit in race history at Luther pass, guests often watch the race from boats, paddle boards and of course, bicycles. Participants will peddle through South Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay and Tahoe City, riding through Incline Village where they can gaze upon the east shore and Sand Harbor State Park.
 
Travel Made Easy
 
Coast-to-Coast
East Coast outdoor enthusiasts will now spend less time in transit and more time enjoying the scenic views of the Sierra Nevada. JetBlue Airways is now offering the only daily non-stop service between John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
 
SoCal-to-NorCal
SoCal skiers and riders can now take advantage of three daily non-stop flights out of Orange County, Long Beach and Los Angeles:

• Alaska Airlines is offering service between Orange County, CA and Reno-Tahoe International Airport
• Jet Blue is offering service between Long Beach, CA and Reno-Tahoe International Airport
• America Airlines/United is routinely offering service between Los Angeles, CA and Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

 
Atlanta-to-Reno
Southerners are now able to access Lake Tahoe’s variety of activities with ease. Delta Airlines offers a non-stop service between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport and Reno-Tahoe International Airport. The Atlanta-Reno flight service is offered weekly, on Saturdays only, between January 7, 2017 and March 26, 2017.
 
Dallas-to-Reno
With Southwest Airlines, guests are now able to fly from Dallas Love Field into Reno-Tahoe International Airport. The service is offered daily.?
 
Heavenly Weddings
 
Weddings at Tamarack Lodge
Available as a post-ceremony reception or a special event venue, Tamarack Lodge’s floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the mountaintop of Heavenly. Tamarack Lodge is available for mid-June through September events and can accommodate groups of up to 300 either indoors or on the outdoor deck. At an elevation of 9,150 feet, Tamarack Lodge will take guests’ breathe away.
 
Blue Sky Terrace
Tucked in the serene wooded landscape adjacent to the Mid-Station Observation Deck, the Blue Sky Terrace seamlessly blends into the natural surroundings and is the new addition to venue options at Heavenly. This private, three-tiered natural stone and wood terrace provides an unrestricted view of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Accommodating an intimate group of 30 family and friends up to a larger group of 300 guests, the Blue Sky Terrace is available mid-June through September and includes a variety of different packages. Following an outdoor ceremony at Blue Sky Terrace, photos and a cocktail hour on the Observation Deck, continue up the Gondola for a private reception at Tamarack Lodge, located at 9,150 feet.
 
Lakeview Lodge
Lake Tahoe serves as a stunning backdrop for both a ceremony and reception at Lakeview Lodge, aptly named for the unfiltered view. A mile-long, scenic ascent via the Aerial Tram brings guests to 8,200 feet and the dual-purpose venue. Following an outdoor ceremony overlooking Lake Tahoe and wedding photos on the patio as the sun sets behind Mt. Tallac, dance the evening away under the stars or inside the two-tiered dining room, which offers a lounge area for non-dancers. Pick from two indoor dining rooms that can accommodate groups from 80-170, or combine those areas and use the entire lodge to accommodate up to 250 guests. With both indoor and outdoor options at one location, Lakeview Lodge is available from late May through mid-October.
 
2017-2018 Season Passes on Sale
 
2017-2018 Season Pass Highlights for Lake Tahoe Skiers and Snowboarders

• Tahoe Local™: The best way to access Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood seven days a week, the Tahoe Local Pass includes Saturday access at all three resorts with limited holiday restrictions, all for $549 for adults, $439 for teens and $279 for children, and pays for itself in just under three days. The Tahoe Local Pass also includes five total days of skiing and snowboarding at Utah’s Park City, the largest ski resort in the U.S., and Colorado’s Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Arapahoe Basin with holiday restrictions. Lift tickets for pass holders are available for purchase at a discounted rate during blackout dates at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood.

• Tahoe Value™: Ski or snowboard seven days a week at Heavenly and six days a week at Northstar and Kirkwood. The pass is available at $469 for adults, $389 for teens, $229 for children and $389 for seniors, and pays for itself in just over three days. The Tahoe Value Pass has holiday restrictions at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood, with Saturdays excluded at Northstar and Kirkwood. Pass holders can purchase discounted lift tickets valid at Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood Resorts on restricted days. 

• Epic Local Pass™: For $639, get unlimited, unrestricted skiing or riding at Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin with limited restrictions at Park City Mountain, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood. The Epic Local Pass also includes a total of 10 days at Whistler Blackcomb, Vail and Beaver Creek with holiday restrictions. Additionally, Vail Resorts looks forward to integrating Stowe Mountain Resort into its season pass products for the 2017-2018 winter season, subject to the acquisition closing. The Epic Local Pass pays for itself in just over three days. A child pass (ages five to 12) is $339.

• Epic Pass™: Ski unlimited and unrestricted from opening day to closing day for only $859. The Epic Pass pays for itself in just over four days of skiing or snowboarding. Enjoy full access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe; Afton Alps in Minnesota; Mt. Brighton in Michigan; Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin; Whistler Blackcomb in Canada; and Perisher in Australia for the 2017-2018 season. The Epic Pass grants limited access to Arlberg in Austria; Les 3 Vallées, Paradiski and Tignes-Val D’Isere in France; Skirama Dolomiti in Italy and 4 Vallées in Switzerland. Additionally, Vail Resorts looks forward to integrating Stowe Mountain Resort into its season pass products for the 2017-2018 winter season, subject to the acquisition closing. No restricted dates. A child pass (ages five to 12) is $449.

For more information and to purchase season passes, please visit EpicPass.com. About Heavenly
High above the sapphire-blue waters of Lake Tahoe, Heavenly Mountain Resort is one of the most unique mountain resorts on the planet. Combining 4,800 acres of off-the-grid terrain and incredible views of Lake Tahoe with high-octane, non-stop nightlife, Heavenly offers a high-energy resort experience like no other. Visitors to Heavenly come prepared to go “all-in” because Heavenly is for those who are up for first chair and are still going strong after last call. Heavenly is a subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc., the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. Visit www.skiheavenly.com or call 800-HEAVENLY to learn more.
 
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)