Homewood ?

[ex-powderbroker]

i picked up the silverton unguided pass which comes with a few days at homewood and was thinking about tying it into a trip to see my family in the bay.

a few questions:

is it possible to skin the cat area or does it suck just watching cats lap you for no reward?

is it a decent place to find snow assuming it’s falling?

is there a cool / affordable place to stay nearby?

any maggots call the place home?

i would be visiting on a non holiday fwiw.

other considerations:

already been to kirkwood, heave, squaw, alpine and toured around the lake in obvious spots and will most likely have an intermediate lady friend in tow.

also related: is there any winter climbing possible to / from sf? i probably won’t have time to visit mammoth and bishop on this trip so i’m going for efficiency.

family -> city stuff -> ski -> maybe climb on the way back -> airport.

[meter-man]

Try the Tahoe thread for your Qs.

For winter climbing, check out Auburn (quarry). On your to SF from N. Lake. Never been but it's on your way.

[OregonDead]

I'm curious about this too OP. Cousin has a place in Tahoma and wants me to come down this winter. Needs me to pick a time ASAP so he can block out his place for me. When should I go TGR? What's good?

[nickwm21]

Duplicate post...

[nickwm21]

Haven’t been there in years, but it used to be the best place to go in North Lake when it’s dumping and Squaw/Alpine only have the lower mountain open. It’s less crowded and they have fantastic tree skiing. They only have one small zone of steep terrain, everything else is pretty mellow.

I know nothing of the cat operation. News to me that they even have one, I haven’t lived in the area since 2011.



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[jorion]

It’s a great place for intermediates if there’s snow. Doesn’t get tracked out as much as other places and has great views. It goes down to lake level so coverage is an issue in bad years and early season.

It’s much smaller than heavenly, Squaw, alpine or Kirkwood and not much steep terrain.

Vacation rentals are cheaper there since it’s a little off the beaten path and the road between there and South Lake is usually closed during and after legit storms. I think the town is a lot more of a summer boating destination.

Lots of good touring in the area when it’s filled in but I don’t know if you can ski in the cat area, which has only been a thing for a few years.

I haven’t been in years and would like to go back, but it just doesn’t make sense to pay for a ticket vs going to Kirkwood or Heavenly with my pass. I’d ski there for free though, it’s got a nice vibe.

[ex-powderbroker]

man, that’s really helpful. travelling while trying to cram in skiing is pretty hard and this sounds like exactly what i’m looking for.

[mcski]

The secret of storm riding at homey has been out for years now, so it gets hit pretty hard on stormy Pow days. Not Squaw hard, but hard enough for a small place

It's a very intermediate resort, but fun can be had. I think their cat skiing is stupid and I probably wouldn't waste my energy skinning or skiing there if I wanted to get BC. There are better options and bang for your buck.

Drought years hit homewood hard since it's at lake level, so just keep on eye an storm cycles before you go so you know what coverage to expect. I don't think they even got it open until March this year

[TahoeJ]

Agreed with everything people have said so far. It's a fun little mountain - not worth planning a whole trip around or anything, but certainly a nice place to spend a day when the snow is good. Intermediate terrain but it's a bit more interesting than, say, Northstar - you can find some playful little zones.

[powdork]

I'm working at one of their restaurants this summer and may end up with a pass there. Depending on when you come and what the winter is like there is excellent bouldering just down the road at DL Bliss. Also if you head south and take 50 instead of 80 you'll pass lots of climbing with sugarloaf probably offering the best in winter.

[fomofo]

Homewood Backs Away from Going Fully Private, Plans to Add First-Ever Gondola

https://www.peakrankings.com/content...t-ever-gondola

[powdork]

the gondola is basically done. I mean, they've already got Cabin 11 (and the haul rope)

[mcski]

They gonna connect that gondola to alpine meadows finally?

[powdork]

they've got a giant catapult. they';re gonna lob them across the valley.

[tahoe420]

The rest of the gondola is in a dirt lot east of the National Auto Museum in Reno. Homeless should use cabins for shelter?

[mcski]

Did they still have paintball last summer? Gondolas would be easy targets or maybe safe zones

[raisingarizona13]

I'm totally unfamiliar with this place but I'm guessing the gondola may help get people up and down from the upper mountain and the rain/snow line? Is that how the layout works? If so that seems cool. I have no idea.

[powdork]

That is the main benefit. And the chair it replaces is ancient and stops all the time


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[mcski]

That is the main benefit. And the chair it replaces is ancient and stops all the time


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That chair is the main benefit. Keeps the bourgeoisie clientele and high away and keeps the pow fresh. Keep homeboy slow

[raisingarizona13]

That chair is the main benefit. Keeps the bourgeoisie clientele and high away and keeps the pow fresh. Keep homeboy slow

Keeping homeboy slow apparently hasn't helped with keeping homeboys lights on.

[Cono Este]

Homewood is awesome. It needs a good snow year though. It’s the place to go when squaw etc is all on wind hold. Great side country too. I had endless first tracks there when I lived in Tahoe. Duck the rope behind the ski patrol shack, traverse past lake Louise, and ski the north aspect of Ellis peak. At least that’s what we did before the cat days. Great family mtn with views.

[powdork]

The cats never really run but they do keep the road maintained. the bigger problem is that it is legal snowmachine terrain.

Last year was one of the good years there for sure.

[powdork]

[powdork]

postseason with the doggoe

[powdork]

First day on the lifts there this year
https://www.instagram.com/p/C3Ij6dhRgYu/