PlanetSKI Goes Spring Skiing in Palisades Tahoe

17th May 2023 | James Cove, Palisades Tahoe, California.

Last modified on May 22nd, 2023

The US resort bills itself as the ‘Capital of Spring Skiing’. With a closing date of July 4th and huge amounts of snow from this winter still on the ground it seems a fair claim. PlanetSKI’s Spring Ski road trip gets fully underway.

The winter statistics at Palisades Tahoe speak for themselves:

– Total season snowfall – 18.4m

– Biggest depth at any one time – 5.8m

– Skiing from November to July – 8 months

I asked a local, Mark Trotter, for his take on the long, long winter as we chatted at the base station.

“I have been skiing these slopes for 25 years and this winter not only saw the most snow but also we had cold temperatures, so the powder was light and forgiving,” said Mark.

And my first impressions after an hour or so in the resort:

And just in case you are wondering we have done our research and 18m is one & half times the height of a London double-decker bus.

Palisades Tahoe, California. Image © PlanetSKI

It has been a winter like no other as every local I spoke to reminded me, though of course this meant many times that ski areas were closed and roads shut as the storms hit.

“Some mornings it was like an artillery barrage with all the bombing going on to make the slopes safe from avalanches,” another local said to me as we chatted on the lift.

“You should have come earlier in the season, but it’s great to see you and thanks for showing an interest in our resort.”

Hard to believe it’s the second half of May:

Palisades Tahoe, California. Image © PlanetSKI

But Spring is here with summer around the corner.

The attire of the skiers and snowboarders gives it away.

California ski road trip. Image © PlanetSKI

Regular readers will know that PlanetSKI is in California on a ski road trip:

PlanetSKI hits the road to go Spring skiing in California

We started off with spot of sight-seeing in San Francisco:

PlanetSKI rides the cabel cars of San Francisco

But skiing is the real reason we are here.

Palisades Tahoe, California. Image © PlanetSKI

The resort itself sits at 1,890m with the skiing going up to 2,745m.

Palisades Tahoe is perhaps better known to UK skiers as Squaw Valley, but it changed its name in 2021.

The term ‘Squaw’ was seen by some as racist and sexist.

We reported on the name change at the time:

Squaw Valley re-named as Palisades Tahoe

It is on the multi-resort Ikon Pass that PlanetSKI has been using this season, both in Europe and North America.

The purpose-built design of the village is similar to many other resorts in North America.

Palisades Tahoe, California. Image © PlanetSKI

Some may call it rather lacking in soul compared to resorts in the Alps, but I prefer to think of it as functional.

Palisades Tahoe, California. Image © PlanetSKI

But up on the slopes it is a different story, as Palisades Tahoe is anything but purpose-built and functional.

For the experts there are steep mogul fields, advanced off piste terrain and some seriously challenging skiing.

Cliff jumps a plenty if that is your thing.

Palisades Tahoe is like no other resort in the USA that I have skied in.

Palisades Tahoe, California. Image © PlanetSKI

At this time of year much is closed, but it was easy to admire and imagine what this winter must have been like.

Palisades Tahoe, California. Image © PlanetSKI

It has a tram, one of just a handful of resorts in the USA, and that means there is a decent vertical descent – 855m.

Palisades Tahoe, California. Image © PlanetSKI

As well as the steep stuff the resort has good beginner and intermediate terrain with much at the top of the mountain and accessed from the tram.

“It is one of the standout aspects of the resorts that skiers and snowboarders of all abilities can find the terrain they want,” said the mountain product sales manager of Palisades Tahoe, Blair Lewis.

“Every type of ability level from beginner to the adventurous come here to ski.”

Palisades Tahoe, California. Image © PlanetSKI

This being the USA the mountain restaurants are nothing much to write home about.

This rather tasteless soup cost $15 – though the views were worth it.

Palisades Tahoe, California. Image © PlanetSKI

And this being America there are individuals doing their thing.

Meet Gordon.

He started skiing 40 years, he started juggling 30 years ago and put the two together 5 years ago.

He then showed me he could do it going backwards too.

There may be plenty of snow, but what is the snow like to ski on at this time of year?

It is worth getting on the first lift at 08.00.

The slopes are icy but the south facing one soon soften up.

There is grooming but lets just say it is not to the standard expected in the Alps.

“If you want groomers then you need to head to Northstar across the lake or go somewhere like Deer Valley,” one local said as we chatted on the lift.

“It may be rutted rather than groomed but we kinda like that here. We’re a mountain for real skiers and we take it as it comes.”

At this time of year the snow soon becomes slushy and sugary and that is the time to head to the north facing slopes.

On my visit I didn’t see a single bare patch – testament to the huge amounts of snow that have fallen this winter.

All too soon it was time to move and head to Mammoth Mountain that is also on the Ikon Pass.

I remembered the comment made by a local as I took the first lift.

“You should have come earlier in the season, but it’s great to see you and thanks for showing an interest in our resort.”

I fully intend to come back in the middle of winter and look forward to furthering my interest.

Sadly I won’t be around this weekend for the resort’s Slush Cup.

Pure athleticism. Artistry. Style. Grace. The thrill of triumph and the agony of defeat.
Witness it all this Saturday, May 20th at the original pond skimming contest, the 31st Annual Cushing Crossing. https://t.co/pbL09SShRX pic.twitter.com/aOEENrjydd
— Palisades Tahoe (@palisadestahoe) May 16, 2023