Sierra storm brings snow, raises skiers' hopes

RENO, Nev. - An early-season storm left up to 15 inches of snow in the Sierra, giving headaches to mountain motorists but hope to skiers and snowboarders.

Alpine Meadows resort just north of Lake Tahoe on Tuesday reported 10 to 14 inches of new snow, and said it hopes to open slopes Nov. 26.

"Winter has made an entrance," said David Thatcher, the resort's snowmaking manager. "This weather system has not only provided the cold temperatures needed to begin making snow, it has given us a head start with natural snowfall as well."

The Boreal resort atop Donner Summit reported 12 to 15 inches of snow from the storm, and said it hopes possibly Thursday to become the first Tahoe resort to open for the season.

Most Tahoe resorts traditionally open around Thanksgiving, but start times vary depending on the amount of snowfall.

Mammoth Mountain, located near Yosemite National Park to the south, on Monday became the first California resort to open for the season after a weekend storm left up to 18 inches of snow.

"This early November snowfall is ideal," said Andy Chapman, tourism director of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. "A significant change like this in the weather pattern gets the phones ringing."

Chains or snow tires were required overnight on all three major highways linking Lake Tahoe and Sacramento, Calif.: Interstate 80 over Donner Summit, U.S. 50 over Echo Summit and Highway 88 over Carson Pass.

Similar controls were in effect on other highways around the Reno-Tahoe area.

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