They might open as scheduled, but some Sierra ski slopes will not be available to skiers for a while due to damage from the Caldor Fire.
Even if their commercials say otherwise.
"A stone's throw away from Sacramento and the Bay Area, our award-winning terrain parks are ready to host your next adventure," an advertisement for Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort reads.
Actually, they're not.
The third-largest ski resort in the region conceded in a blog post earlier this week that it will "not be able to offer you the same ski experience you have come to expect" after the Caldor Fire tore through the resort this summer.
While much of Sierra-at-Tahoe was spared, inspections revealed damage to lifts and trees.
"We realize that it's incredibly frustrating not to have all the answers, or to have a clearer picture of what the season may look like," the resort wrote. "Like you, we wish we did. On behalf of our entire team, we appreciate your patience, support and understanding as we work through this unprecedented situation."
Crews continue to evaluate the extent of the impact on trees throughout the resort property, particularly those along ski trails and lift lines. As if repairing affected chairlifts wasn't enough of a challenge, the resort said navigating the continued global supply chain and shipping issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is slowing additional progress.
Officials are working alongside the U.S. Forest Service, arborists, engineers and inspectors, but the resort admitted it has "big challenges ahead."
"We're not giving up, nor are we backing down from the challenge," the resort's blog post said. "We want you to know what we know – our intention is to keep moving forward, and to open what we can, when we can to welcome you back to Sierra this season."
Will Sierra-at-Tahoe open around Thanksgiving as hoped? Stay tuned.
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