“A lot of activity is going on all across the mountain right now, seven days a week. It was a true test for us. It was a moment where we could have easily turned away and instead we leaned in with our employees, with our community, with El Dorado, RCD, U.S. Forest Service to say, ‘This isn’t the end of Sierra. This is going to be the next chapter in our history.’ – Sierra-at-Tahoe Communications Manager, Shelby Dunlap
Great news for all you Sierra-at-Tahoe skiers and snowboarders as the California resort is putting on the finishing touches as it prepares to reopen for the first time since suffering significant damage during the Caldor Fire.
KCRA reports a massive restoration operation has been underway since the wildfire struck the resort resulting in damaged chairlifts, a maintenance shop burning to the ground and charring to the landscape of the mountain. Crews have been hard at work repairing lifts and clearing out trees.
“Helicopter operations have started, and they’re really focused on getting the logs that are in hard-to-access areas down to a staging area. Then, from there, either the logs are chipped on site or they’re going down to a mill down in Carson.”
Crews are hauling about 50 truckloads of fire-damaged trees off the mountain each day. Currently Sierra-at-Tahoe is on track to open all 47 trails this winter. Opening day projections have not yet been issued as they rely heavily on natural snow but typically they open in early December.
Super happy they have rebounded and will rise from the ashes Phoenix style and return for winter 2022/2023!
