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Kirkwood Mountain Resort Guide and Information

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 6 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

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Kirkwood Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe CA

 

Here's a link to some great Lake Tahoe photography, including scenic shots, action and portrait pictures from Kirkwood.

Located at a base elevation of 7800 feet, Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe is higher than the other Tahoe ski areas, which is one reason for its generous annual snowfall, also it's geographical location catches the storms that miss other local resorts. in fact during the 2004/2005 winter season Kirkwood Mountain Resort received more than 65 feet of snow, more than any other Tahoe resort. The last three-year mid-mountain average for snow, is an amazing 725".

What's so great about Kirkwood? Here's an excerpt from Flowski's Accuweather Photo Gallery winter 2006:

"Kirkwood received 635 inches of snow as of 3/26/06 and just one month later, on 4/26/06 with just 3 days left until the close of the 2005/2006 winter season we have had exactly 850 inches of snow, that's over 70 feet of snow!

Yepp, it's true we got 215 of fresh powder in 1 month. Can you Imagine? It was amazing. The settled snow base depth on top of Kirkwood Mountain on closing day was 350" (29 feet). One of the deepest snow bases in America! I know what your thinking, WOW the 2005/2006 was an epic year at Kirkwood, the powder skiing was terrific, but how often do you get that much snow in a season? Actually Kirkwood averages 500" a year!

Ranked by SKI Magazine in the top 10 ski resorts across the Nation in three categories: Snow, Terrain Variety and Challenge, Kirkwood offers an unmatched experience. The resort ranked No. 13 in Value and continues to offer high caliber programs at affordable prices. Skiing Magazine recently named Kirkwood as one of the Top 15 resorts and one of the Top 5 for snow quality while Freeskier Magazine picked Kirkwood as a "Must Ski Resort" (Feb, 2005). Unparalleled expert terrain, yet on the other hand Kirkwood is a USA Today nationally recognized beginner area, and talk about no crowds, it's wonderful! It's just 177 miles from San Francisco via Highway 88 and about a 40 min. drive from South Lake Tahoe. Kirkwood is the ultimate winter destination.

Check out the Kirkwood link list below for direct links to the Kirkwood site. Express to Kirkwood's web cam below, for live look at the mountain or read the official Kirkwood Mountain Resort snow report, for the most up to date information. Visit our Kirkwood gallery for a look at our cool ski photos from the mountain.

Current Weather Conditions At Kirkwood, CA 

Click on it for more detailed information and the forecast.


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Kirkwood Mountain Resort Photo

Kirkwood Mountain Resort Statistics 

The facts and nothing but the facts...

Average Snowfall (10 year, mid-mountain average) 500 inches/1,270 centimeters
2004/05 Snowfall (mid-mountain) 722 inches/1,834 centimeters
2005/06 Snowfall 850" inches on top of the mountain.
Average Percentage Sunny Days 70%
Average Length of Season November through April
Skiable Acres/Hectares 2,300/930
Trails 65+
Vertical Rise 2,000 feet/610 meters
Base Elevation 7,800 feet/2,377 meters
Top Elevation 9,800 feet/2,987 meters
Lifts 2 high speed quad chairs, 1 quad, 6 triples, 1 double, 2 surface lifts
Uphill Capacity 17,905 skiers per hour
Longest Run 2.5 miles/4 kilometers
Terrain 15% beginner, 50% intermediate, 20% advanced, 15% expert
Snowmaking Top to bottom coverage on four runs
Hours Lifts Daily 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Lodge Daily 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
PHONE NUMBERS General Information (209) 258-6000
Group Sales (209) 258-SNOW
Lodging Reservations (800) 967-7500
Ski and Snowboard School (209) 258-7245
Kirkwood Real Estate (888) KWD-PROP
Toll Free Ski Report Hotline (877) KIRKWOOD
Internet Web Site http://www.kirkwood.com
E-mail Address info@kirkwood.com
FACILITIES & RESORT SERVICES Two Day Lodges, Seven Bars and Restaurants, Two Cafeterias, Three Ski Shops, Children's Ski and Board School, Day Care Center, Three Rental Shops, Performance Center/Repair Shop, Slide Mountain Tube Park, Ice Rink, Recreation Center/Swim Complex, Dog Sled Rides, Post Office, General Store, Massage Services, Yoga Classes, In-Valley and South Lake Tahoe Ski Shuttle, Service Center, Medical Clinic, Conference Rooms and more.

Interesting Kirkwood Mountain Resort Links 

Click on a link below for more information.

Sierra Club

Kirkwood Mountain Resort and other valuable links.
Kirkwood Snow Report
So, how's the skiing today at "The Wood"? This is a direct link to the official Kirkwood Report. Not only will you find out the current base depth, new snow recieved on top and mid-mountain, but also which runs have been groomed, ski slope surface conditions, weather and road conditions getting to the resort too!
Kirkwood Live Webcam
Check out the Kirkwood Conditions for yourself with our link to the Kirkwood live webcam. The webcam is at the base of Kirkwood and the chairlift on the right is Chair #6.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort Ski Trail Map
Kirkwood is known for it's challenging ski terrain and deep powder, however it's great for beginners too! Just look at this ski map and you'll see a few chairlifts with lots-n-lots of beginner runs.
Sierra Avalanche Center
The Sierra Avalanche Center is a not-for-profit organization run by volunteers who are dedicated to promoting safe backcountry travel.

The mission of the Sierra Avalanche Center includes disseminating current snow pack stability information to the general public; providing educational information, knowledge, and understanding of avalanches to recreational users and groups; and facilitating communication in the region to reduce the impact of avalanches on recreation, industry, and transportation through a partnership with the United States Forest Service.
Kirkwood Resort Expansion Plans
As if Kirkwood wasn't good enough, mountain improvements are in the works. What exactly are they doing? Check out this photo I took of the Master Re-Development Plan hanging in the liftie locker room last April. You can see all the new lifts etc.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort Slide Show
We shot over 30,000 photos at Kirkwood last winter. I've put together a slide show for you of a few hundred shots to give you a feel for the resort. Make some popcorn and enjoy the show!
Photos from the 2006 Subaru Extreme Freeride Championship World Tour Finals held at Kirkwood
The Cirque, an area on Kirkwood Mountain that is so dangerous, that the resort opens it up only once a year for the extreme ski and snowboard competition. The Cirque is steep, rocky and avalanche prone, not a place for the average skier. In fact, last winter there was an avalanche during the competition! No one was skiing at the time, but it was an eye-opener for sure.
Kirkwood Video and Photo Galleries
Check out Kirkwood at the video and photo gallery. Scope out the Kirkwood photo of the day, resort pictures and on-mountain photos.

Recent Kirkwood Photos 

The most recent photos from the Kirkwood Photo Gallery

We're on the mountain everyday, if the weather isn't too bad. Here's a feed of our 10 most recently uploaded ski pictures from Kirkwood, enjoy!

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The Cirque at Kirkwood

Kirkwood Powder Skiing Tips- Now, let's say you called the ski report and it snowed 20" last night, here's what to do. 

Rise and shine, eat a good breakfast and get to Kirkwood early, early, early!

Ka-Boooooom, We woke up early this morning, to huge explosions going off all around us. It sounds like a war zone, so I get up to see what's going on outside. I can't see 50 feet, it's snowing so hard. This can mean only one thing. IT'S GONNA BE POWDER-DAY! Kirkwood is known for it's legendary steep and deep. The steeper it is and the deeper it gets, the more likely it is to slide, so the Ski Patrol uses a 75mm Howitzer Cannon to shoot explosive shells at avalanche prone areas of the mountain! Then, for slopes out of range with the Howitzer, they actually ski, hike and climb around the mountain throwing 2 pound sticks of dynamite around breaking off massive cornices.
  • Getting First Chair- The powder hounds get up, pretty early in the morning to shred Kirkwoods legendary powder. How early? The lifts are scheduled to open at 9am, you should be in the lift line at chair #6, Cornice Express, ready to go no later than 8:30am for a good chair. Goods not good enough? Wanna be on the first chair ride up? Try 7:30-7:45am on EPIC powder days!
  • Run Selection- If your one of the first chairs up and don't feel like hucking your body off of a cliff, float self-indulgently from the top to bottom in fluffy Sierra powder on Look Out Janek or Olympic Runs. If you would rather fly (you can't get hurt in the air), Chamoix is an excellent choice.
  • Your second Run (or if your late)- Check to see if Palisades is open yet. It is? Make tracks as fast as you can, freshies await!
  • Now what?- Keep skiing and keep your eyes peeled to see if Chair #10, The Wall is opening yet. It takes ski patrol a while to perform their avalanche control work there. But when it opens it's powder bliss. You're going to do a few of these.
  • Now Head to the Backside!-The snow is always deeper on the other side of the fence, I mean mountain. This is the stuff dreams are made of. My favorite way of getting to The Backbowls at Kirkwood is via Eagle bowl to the bottom of Chair #2 Caples Crest. Now you may have to wait for ski patrol to open the pearly gates to powder heaven. Theres no telling when or if they'll open it. It's a huge area and lots of avalanche control work must be performed before it's safe for the public, but when it opens, it's a crazy race to see who can get to #4 Sunrise first, cause the first one down is, the first one up is, the first one down and that's a good thing!
  • Sloppy Seconds- Now think to yourself, where was the best snow I've skied today? Probably Palisades, so take Thunder Saddle back to the front of the mountain and back over for some more hot skiing action!

Current Radar Image for the Southwestern, USA 

Click on it for moving radar image. Photo: Barley the Avalanche Rescue Dog



Skis.com: Your Winter Sports Superstore

Flowski's Kirkwood Mountain Resort Flickr Photo Gallery 

Check out these great pix shot at the resort from the 2005/2006 winter ski season at "The Wood".

As one of the on-mountain photographers at Kirkwood, I've got my camera with me all of the time, so I get some amazing shots and this is where I share them with the flickr community.

Jump For Joy by Flowskis

Jump For Joy

Snowslide At Kirkwood Mountain Resort by Flowskis

Snowslide At Kirkwoo...

Avalanche on 99 Steps at Kirkwood Ski Area by Flowskis

Avalanche on 99 Step...

Halfpipe Snowcat Working by Flowskis

Halfpipe Snowcat Wor...

Howitzer Cannon Fire Causes Massive Avalanche by Flowskis

Howitzer Cannon Fire...

First Chair on an Epic Day by Flowskis

First Chair on an Ep...

Great Ski Bargains on Amazon 

Buy some cheap Rossignol skis online...

Rossignol Roc X Used Shape Ski with Bindings B

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Rossignol Edge Used 140cm Jr Shape Skis A w/ binding

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Most Popular Kirkwood Photos 

These are the most popular photos at our Kirkwood photo gallery!

As voted on by gallery viewers, these are our most popular Kirkwood photos. You Wanna Rock The Vote? When viewing the photos at our Kirkwood Photo Gallery, click on the green "Thumbs Up" that appears in the upper right hand corner of the photo if you like it! Why, cause we live in a democracy, So Let Freedom Ring!

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Getting to Kirkwood 

Getting there is half the fun!

Here are driving directions from a variety of different starting points to Kirkwood Mountain Resort.

From Reno/Tahoe International Airport:
U.S. 395 South to State Route 88 West
Exit the Airport on E. Plumb Ln (go 0.2 mi) to US Hwy 395 South (go 7.5 mi) Take exit 57B to remain on US 395 (go 35.2 mi) Turn right onto Hwy 88 (go 34 mi) about 90 min.

From South Lake Tahoe:
US 50 West to Hwy 89 South to Hwy 88 West.
Take US 50 West to where US 50 meets Hwy 89. Turn left at the Y onto Emerald Bay Rd. (go 4.9 mi) to Meyers. Turn left on Hwy 89 South (go 11.1 mi) Turn Right on Hwy 88 West (go 14.3 mi) about 35 min.

From North Lake Tahoe (east shore route):
Route 28 E to Hwy 50 W to Route 89 South to 88 West Take NV Route 28 East/South (go 13 mi). Turn Right onto US 50 West (go 17.4 mi) to Hwy 89. Turn left at the Y onto Hwy 89 (Emerald Bay Rd.) (go 4.9 mi) to Meyers. Turn left continuing on Hwy 89 South (go 11.1 mi.) Turn Right on Hwy 88 West, (go 14.3 mi) about 60 min.

From San Francisco Bay: Via Hwy 88 - If the Carson Spur on Hwy 88 is Open:
Interstate 580 East to Interstate 205 to Interstate 5 North to Route 4 East to Route 99 North to Route 88 East
Connect with Interstate 580 East from your area to Interstate 205 East (go 13.5 mi.) to Interstate 5 North (go 13.3 mi.) exit Downtown Stockton Hwy 4 East (go 3.4 mi.) to Hwy 99 North (go 1.8 mi) Exit CA Hwy 88 toward Jackson (go 97.4 mi) about 3.25 hrs.

Via Hwy 50 - If the Carson Spur on Hwy 88 is Closed:
Interstate 80 East to Hwy 50 East to Hwy 89 South to Hwy 88 East
Take Interstate 80 from your area to Sacramento where I-80 becomes US 50 East (go 93 mi. on US 50) Turn Right on CA Hwy 89 South (go 11.1 mi) Turn Right on Hwy 88 West (go 14.3 mi) about 3.5 hrs. from the Bay Bridge

From Sacramento Area:
Via Hwy 88 - CA Route 16 East to Hwy 49 South to Hwy 88 East Then take State Route 16 East (about 30 mi.) Turn Right onto CA Hwy 49 South (go 10.6 mi.) Turn Left onto CA Hwy 88 East through Jackson (go 55.4 mi) about 2 hrs.
Via Hwy 50 - US Hwy 50 East to Hwy 89 South to Hwy 88 West
From your area in Sacramento where I-80 becomes US 50 East Take US 50 East (go 93 mi.) Turn Right on CA Hwy 89 South (go 11.1 mi.) Turn Right on Hwy 88 West (go 14.3 mi) Turn Left onto Kirkwood Meadows Drive. about 2.25 hrs.

From Monterey Bay Area:
Hwy 156 East to 152 East to Interstate 5 North to Hwy 4 East to Route 99 North Hwy 88 East
Take Hwy 156 East to 152 East to Interstate 5 North, exit Downtown Stockton Hwy 4 East (go 3.4 mi.) to Hwy 99 North (go 1.8 mi) Exit CA Hwy 88 to

Book Your Kirkwood Weekend Getaway Now! 

While your in the mood book a quick getaway to Kirkwood Mountain resort.

Why a Kirkwood Lake Tahoe getaway? Flying into Reno is a snap, then book a rental car and enjoy the scenic drive up to Lake Tahoe's Kirkwood Mountain Resort for a great last minute trip filled with fun and recreation, entertainment and adventure!

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South Lake Tahoe Movie Listings 

Here's whats playing in South Lake Tahoe today.

One of the great things about Kirkwood is it's proximity to some of the best nightlife ever. Kirkwood is just 30 minutes from Stateline Nevada which is renowned for it's casinos and entertainment. If your staying at Kirkwood you may want to go out on the town one night to partake in the after dark activities.

Anyway's here's a current list of the movies now playing in South Lake Tahoe, it's automatically updated daily so it should be accurate. Enjoy!
Body of Lies
A CIA agent (Leonardo DiCaprio) plans to infiltrate a major terrorist's organization.
The Express
Ernie Davis overcomes poverty and prejudice to win college football's Heisman Trophy in 1961.
Quarantine
A reporter and a cameraman become quarantined in an apartment building.
City of Ember
Two teens must find the secret of their underground city's existence before its light dies forever.
RocknRolla - Opens Limited Friday, Oct. 10
London's crime lords scramble to cash in on a Russian gangster's crooked land deal.

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Kirkwood Reviews from Yelp the Popular Review Site 

Here's what Yelpers have to say about Active Life in 95646

Kirkwood Mountain Resort (Kirkwood)  
"I just went up 'boardin with a friend of mine yesterday and after he talked me into buying an end of the season pass with him because it really is the most..." more
Kirkwood Mountain Resort Disc Golf Course (Kirkwood)  
"Kirkwood may be best known for its killer snow in the wintertime, but in the summertime the mountain offers up a whole new challenge: Mountain Disc Golf...." more
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Kirkwood Mountain Resort Squidoo Poll 

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Blog Posts from Google 

Kirkwood Mountain Resort
Wide open bowls, cornices, cliff bands, terrain parks and great beginner terrain - 45 minutes southeast of South Lake Tahoe.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort (Lake Tahoe) Season Pass $429 ($140 off)
Posted By: weirded - Use the following special login to get $140 off a Kirkwood Season pass: Link: Club Name: zier Password:...
Ski resorts: Economy won’t slow the season
?Season pass sales are currently up over 20 percent from the previous season,? said Daniel Pistoresi, marketing communications manager of Kirkwood Mountain Resort. ?Lodging preseason bookings are up a percent or two, as well. ...
Kirkwood Mountain Resort Lifts
Kirkwood feels off the beaten track because it is. It stands alone among Tahoe-area resorts in its relatively remote location on Highway 88, just out of reach of Bay Area day-trippers. If you come to Kirkwood, you'll probably want to ...

Featured Lake Tahoe Skiing and Hiking Related Lenses 

Flowski Pix On-Mountain Photography Blog 

Recent posts from Flowski Pix the On-mountain photography service at Kirkwood.

We shoot you free! Our on-mountain photographers are located at the scenic overlooks on the mountain for portrait photos just stop in. Our action photographers roam the slopes and terrain parks in search of great action images of you.

Our Lake Tahoe Photographer blog is where we post important information.

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Overstock.com Wintercoat Steals 

It's a great time to get a deal on a coat at "The O" while they last!


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iconList Price: $120.00
Today's Price: $55.99
You Save: $64.01 (53%)
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iconList Price: $529.00
Today's Price: $189.99
You Save: $339.01 (64%)
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Kirkwood Mountain Resort Squidoo Guestbook 

We enjoy hearing from our visitors!

Please leave a blurb.

mannie

kirkwood 08/09 unlimited (ie. no black out days) season passes for only $399. If you buy direct from kirkwood, the same pass currently costs $529. The pass pays off in 6 visits to kirkwood. If you're interested, it's super easy.

just grab your plastic and go to:

http://www.kirkwood.com/networkpass
or
https://skikirkwood.com/e-commerce/grpLogin2.aspx

and enter:

login = epa
password = kirkwood

do it by:
$399 is good until September 15th (11:59pm)
$429 from September 16th until October 15th (11:59pm)
$459 from October 16th until November 15th (11:59pm)
$499 from November 16th until sale ends at 11:59pm on December 15th

Posted August 25, 2008

GlobalOpps

Great lens! Welcome to theBest Places to Visit in California group. Be sure to drop by ourSan Diego Coastal Homestays lens as well.

Posted March 08, 2008

Vonpeter

Congratulations on a great lens. Visit my lens, Does Timeshare Work? If you want to visit ski resorts all year round and pay less than the annual timeshare maintenance fee, you just have to read this.

Posted January 26, 2008

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