Fortunately, mother nature provided a ‘white’ Thanksgiving this year in South Lake Tahoe. Fortunately for several reasons, 1) the whole family had made it safely to the Marriott near the gondola at Heavenly in between winter storms and 2) we had brought boards and skis in hope that the slopes would open. Boy, did they ever open. Friday was calm, warm (at least in the morning) and while my younger son got to go to snowboard school for the day, I was able to jump on the gondola about when it opened and soon was truly in ‘heaven’. Within a couple of hours I was done in, jello knees and sweat, sitting at the umbrella bar and munching SunRidge Farms’ All-Natural Antioxidant Mix which is loaded with Berries and Chocolate and sipping a ‘Steve special’ bloody mary. Staring up at the slopes, I couldn’t believe how much it looked like ants crawling over the sparkling white mountains. Like us, the 10 feet of snowfall had come like an early Christmas present and brought anyone and everyone who was already there to the mountain. Everyone was joyous, even the workers. Too early in the season to have built up any frustration and having left the upheaval of the world behind when the gondola doors opened at the summit, the blanket of white seemed to provide a template for what many of us would call a ‘perfect day’. I can only hope that everyone gets a chance to have their ‘perfect day’ this holiday season.
If you go: The new Tamarack Lodge at Heavenly opens in a few weeks at the top of the gondola. It will be spectacular! I understand Steve will be there serving his special cocktails as well. You can get SunRidge Farms bulk products at Raley’s right there at Heavenly Village. The Berries and Chocolate Antioxidant mix is new and absolutely wonderful. A great way to stay fueled up either on the slopes or sitting fireside after a powder filled day.