Skiing and Snowmobiles in Lake Tahoe

By: Guest Blogger, Veronica Sunderland

First and foremost, let me be transparent and tell you that this trip was a winning prize for my entire work team of ten individuals for achieving some internal metric for our company. Without that right there, I may have never ventured to Lake Tahoe, but I am sure glad I was blessed with such a gift. We left Houston on Sunday morning, took a flight to Las Vegas, and then connected to Reno. It was about an hour drive to our hotel. I must say, I wouldn’t recommend the Hard Rock Hotel in Tahoe…they opened about a year ago and they just don’t quite have their stuff together; save yourself potential frustrations.

First off, please oh please sign up for a lesson if you’ve never skied before. It’s expensive, but the whole trip can be quite pricey and that lesson is key [insert popular vernacular key emoji]. My package included the all day lesson, $25 for lunch, equipment rental and the lift pass. You need a lift pass for everyday you want to go up and ski. (Even if you go up to visit and not ski it’s about $50.) Buy some goggles from Academy or Amazon before you go and it’s an extra $15 or so for the daily helmet rental. You can always buy your own of any of these items but trust me, it’s all expensive and not worth it unless you plan to go every year or something. Make sure to layer up with ski pants, jacket, long johns and comfy socks. They also make toe warmers that I found to be useful. When you get fitted for your boots and helmet, they both should be snug but not cutting off circulation or wiggle. I found out the hard way that if you have boots that are too big, it’ll leave you with ridiculous bruises on your shins. So, make sure you talk to someone who knows about proper boot fitting and don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion if necessary!

Anyway, let’s get to the fun stuff; skiing and riding the snowmobiles. Being out on top of the mountains is an exhilarating experience. The mountains are beautiful and the air is so crisp and clean. It’d be nice to stay up there all day, but alas, what goes up must come down (no matter how scary that slope looks). I was thankful that I have coworkers who pushed me to try more than what I thought I could handle. There’s levels to the slopes: green, blue, and black diamond (I think). Lake Tahoe has a lot of blues and blacks so it’s not exactly the best place for newbies but you can manage IF you take some lessons. Also remember, the blues are intermediate slopes but that does NOT mean they are created equal. That was our motto for the trip, ha. Nonetheless, it was an awesome experience. Also, don’t feel pressured to move up to the next level. You can still have a great time on the green slopes. You will fall and it may not come naturally but don’t feel the necessity to go past limits and potentially injure yourself severely if you’re not comfortable.

One random night we went to dinner late and had about an hour wait so we decided to go ice skating in the interim. I haven’t been skating in so many years but it was so much fun. I’m sure the glass of celebratory champagne we had prior helped the experience as well. It’s a small rink and it’s right in the middle of the city center area. Stop by if you have the chance. It doesn’t get too crowded.

Snowmobiling was so cool! We used Lake Tahoe adventures and you can arrange for their shuttle to pick you up at your hotel. They’ll take you to their shack to sign waivers, pay and pick up any of your equipment. If you already have a helmet, goggles and boots, you’re good to go. Keep in mind, if it’s snowing they may cancel your ride due to safety issues. After you’re geared up, they’ll take you on a short drive and you’ll meet your instructor. If you have a large group (more than 6) they recommend splitting into two groups which is a good idea. It’s easier to travel in a smaller group. They’ll go over all snow mobile functions and you’ll get to pick your ride. You’ll travel a short distance just to get a feel for it before going full speed ahead. If you have a cool instructor, they may take you off road for a phenomenal view of the mountains. It was absolutely gorgeous and he even said some people have gotten married up there. Can you imagine riding a snowmobile in a wedding dress? Anyway, highly recommend this and it only lasts about an hour or so.

All in all, it was a great trip! There’s food everywhere in Tahoe and all of it was good so point your finger at a place and go. Key points: take a lesson, get good fitting gear, all blues aren’t created equal, and enjoy your new experiences!