Avelanche Control on the Cirque, Kirkwood
The Cirque, Kirkwood CA

In addition to the newly available Kirkwood/Alpine Plus+ pass which offers access to Kirkwood, Alpine Meadows, and Homewood ski resorts, Kirkwood Mountain Resort is spending over $6 million on upgrades.

On mountain, Kirkwood spent nearly $1 million to aquire 3 new snowcats that will be dedicated to high angle wench grooming. If you’ve ever seen the the corduroy tracks all the way up Wagon Wheel you know their already pretty good at that. Thankfully they don’t groom those slopes on powder days.

Ave Control, Cirque, Kirkwood, closeup
Avalanche Control on The Cirque (2 Ski Patrol upper left of the image: Take another look at the 1st picture)

Some of the older cats must have been made available to Expedition: Kirkwood because they are planning to triple the number of snowcat tours they operate this year.

Expedition: Kirkwood, the private guiding and backountry awareness provider at Kirkwood is planning to launch its new million dollar facility, Expedition: Kirkwood Outfitters. The facility includes a classroom/conference center, high end retail, and a new demo center. Expedition: Kirkwood has partnered with Marmot, K2 and BCA to create a new South Lake hub for people to learn about and explore the backcountry and slackcountry around Kirkwood. (There’s some good terrain out there)

Tahoe Kirkwood sign Skull CrossBone
Kirkwood's Signage

Work was also done this summer to expand the winter road to the Martin Point terrain which should allow snowcat access almost every day of the season. Additional nighttime cat and hiking tours are also planned for new zones in the surrounding areas for the 2011-2012 season.

Kirkwood even teamed up with K2 Skis to create a limited edition Expedition: Kirkwood Sidestash model ski this year. Only 300 pairs were built. I ski a pair of the 2010-2011 sidestashes most days and I’ve been impressed with how stable and versatile they are in nearly all snow conditions.

kirkwood-lodge
Artist Rendering: Expedition Lodge, Kirkwood

A fire that started on the third floor of the New Mountain Club at Kirkwood back in May left a number of the 50 units suffering significant smoke and water damage. $5,000,000 was put towards repairing and improving the New Mountain Club which should re-open in mid-November. Improvements to the New Mountain Club include upgraded on-slope lodging accommodations from hotel style units to two-bedroom loft condominiums, a full workout room, spa, sauna, steam and massage treatment facilities. Also a newly renovated rental and demo center, a spruced up Off the Wall Bar and Grill and the new Monte Wolfe’s cafeteria.

Pow Day at Kirkwood
Pow Day at Kirkwood

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