Heavenly Mountain Resort

Coordinates: 38°56′07″N 119°56′24″W / 38.9353°N 119.9400°W / 38.9353; -119.9400
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Heavenly Mountain Resort
The gondola lift base in South Lake Tahoe
Heavenly Mountain Resort is located in California
Heavenly Mountain Resort
Heavenly Mountain Resort
Location in California
Heavenly Mountain Resort is located in the United States
Heavenly Mountain Resort
Heavenly Mountain Resort
Heavenly Mountain Resort (the United States)
LocationEl Dorado-Toiyabe National Forests
El Dorado County, California / Douglas County, Nevada/Alpine County, California
Nearest major citySouth Lake Tahoe, California
Coordinates38°56′07″N 119°56′24″W / 38.9353°N 119.9400°W / 38.9353; -119.9400
StatusOperating
OwnerVail Resorts
Vertical3,812 ft (1,162 m)
Top elevation10,067 ft (3,068 m)
Base elevation6,255 ft (1,907 m)
Skiable area4,800 acres (1,900 ha)
Trails97 total
20% beginner
45% intermediate
35% advanced
Longest run5.5 mi (8.9 km) (Olympic downhill)
Lift system30 total: 1 high speed gondola, 1 aerial tram, 2 high speed six passenger chairs, 7 high speed quads, 1 fixed grip quad, 6 triples, 2 doubles, 6 surface, 4 magic carpets
Lift capacity52,000 passengers/hr
Terrain parks2 Groove Park, Remix Terrain Park
Snowfall360 in (910 cm)
SnowmakingYes
Night skiingNo
Websitewww.SkiHeavenly.com

Heavenly Mountain Resort is a ski resort located on the California–Nevada border in southeastern Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. It opened for business on December 15, 1955[1] and has 97 runs and 30 lifts that are spread between California and Nevada and four base facilities. The resort has 4,800 acres (1,900 ha) within its permit area, with approximately 33% currently developed for skiing, boasting the highest elevation of the Lake Tahoe area resorts with a peak elevation of 10,067 ft (3,068 m), and a peak lift-service elevation of 10,040 ft (3,060 m).

Since 2002, Heavenly has been owned by Vail Resorts, which also operates Northstar California and Kirkwood Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe and multiple other ski resorts in Colorado, British Columbia, Vermont, New Hampshire, Washington, Utah, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin (Vail, Breckenridge, Okemo, Mount Sunapee, Crested Butte, Stevens Pass, Keystone, Beaver Creek, Park City Resort (Canyons), Afton Alps, Mt. Brighton, and Wilmot Mountain, Whistler Blackcomb).

With an average of 360 in (910 cm) of snow annually, and one of America's largest snowmaking systems, their ski season usually runs from mid November to mid April.

Heavenly is notable as the resort where Congressman and singer Sonny Bono died after hitting a tree on January 5, 1998.[2]

Ski Lifts[edit]

The lifts built by Doppelmayr are the Big Easy, Canyon Express, Comet Express, Dipper Express, Galaxy, Gondola, Gunbarrel Express, Mott Canyon, NorthBowl Express, Olympic Express, Powderbowl Express, Sky Express, Stagecoach Express, and Tamarack Express. The lifts built by Yan are Boulder, First Ride, Groove, and Patsy's. SLI built World Cup. The oldest lift is World Cup, having been built in 1969. Heavenly also has seven surface lifts. Mott Canyon also closes at 3:00 during the day thus its trails are closed too. Mostly high-speed detachable quads serve the resort. The longest lift is the Gondola by a significant amount. Two six-packs serve skiers; the Tamarack and Powderbowl Express chairs. Most of the lifts close at 4:00 PM with the exception of the Mott Canyon lift, which closes at 3:00,[3] the Yan and SLI double lifts have a very similar appearance in chairs to lines, to terminals, only the bull wheels are different.

Climate[edit]

Climate data for Monument Peak (CA) 38.9255 N, 119.9021 W, Elevation: 9,669 ft (2,947 m) (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 34.2
(1.2)
33.5
(0.8)
36.5
(2.5)
40.8
(4.9)
48.9
(9.4)
59.0
(15.0)
68.2
(20.1)
67.5
(19.7)
61.3
(16.3)
51.2
(10.7)
39.9
(4.4)
33.7
(0.9)
47.9
(8.8)
Daily mean °F (°C) 26.0
(−3.3)
24.6
(−4.1)
26.9
(−2.8)
30.1
(−1.1)
38.0
(3.3)
47.1
(8.4)
55.9
(13.3)
55.2
(12.9)
49.2
(9.6)
40.2
(4.6)
31.2
(−0.4)
25.7
(−3.5)
37.5
(3.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 17.8
(−7.9)
15.7
(−9.1)
17.3
(−8.2)
19.4
(−7.0)
27.0
(−2.8)
35.3
(1.8)
43.7
(6.5)
42.9
(6.1)
37.1
(2.8)
29.2
(−1.6)
22.5
(−5.3)
17.7
(−7.9)
27.1
(−2.7)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.94
(151)
5.16
(131)
5.38
(137)
3.15
(80)
2.45
(62)
0.93
(24)
0.39
(9.9)
0.38
(9.7)
0.61
(15)
1.80
(46)
3.32
(84)
6.07
(154)
35.58
(903.6)
Source: PRISM Climate Group[4]
Climate data for Heavenly Valley, California, 1991–2020 normals: 8582ft (2616m)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 39.0
(3.9)
38.7
(3.7)
42.2
(5.7)
45.5
(7.5)
52.5
(11.4)
60.6
(15.9)
68.7
(20.4)
67.8
(19.9)
62.4
(16.9)
52.9
(11.6)
43.7
(6.5)
37.8
(3.2)
51.0
(10.6)
Daily mean °F (°C) 29.3
(−1.5)
28.2
(−2.1)
31.1
(−0.5)
34.3
(1.3)
41.5
(5.3)
49.1
(9.5)
56.7
(13.7)
55.7
(13.2)
50.9
(10.5)
42.3
(5.7)
33.8
(1.0)
28.5
(−1.9)
40.1
(4.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 19.6
(−6.9)
17.7
(−7.9)
20.0
(−6.7)
23.1
(−4.9)
30.5
(−0.8)
37.6
(3.1)
44.6
(7.0)
43.5
(6.4)
39.2
(4.0)
31.7
(−0.2)
23.9
(−4.5)
19.1
(−7.2)
29.2
(−1.5)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.65
(144)
5.18
(132)
5.20
(132)
2.94
(75)
2.43
(62)
0.85
(22)
0.36
(9.1)
0.37
(9.4)
0.60
(15)
1.81
(46)
3.30
(84)
5.85
(149)
34.54
(879.5)
Source 1: XMACIS2[5]
Source 2: NOAA (Precipitation)[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Evans, Jeremy (November 21, 2005). "50 years of Heavenly: A chronicle of skiers' dreams and change on the South Shore". tahoedailytribune.com.
  2. ^ "Sonny Bono killed in skiing accident". Cable News Network (CNN). January 6, 1998. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  3. ^ "Hours of Operation". skiheavenly.com. September 20, 2023.
  4. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Retrieved October 8, 2023. To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.
  5. ^ "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  6. ^ "Heavenly Valley, California 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved October 8, 2023.

External links[edit]