Drought Forces Sierra-At-Tahoe To Cut Its Season Short Due To Lack Of Snow
TWIN BRIDGES (CBS13) — Sierra-At-Tahoe has suspended winter operations as the impact of California's drought continues to spread.
What should be a ski run this time of year is instead patches of mud, slush, and even a small stream. Winter came lightly to the hills, followed by an early, warm spring. Sierra-At-Tahoe finally decided enough was enough on Monday.
In all his decades of skiing in Europe and the United States, Tomislav Veljac has never had to load up his gear this early—in shorts, no less.
"I never believed I would finish a season the 15th of March and go home. Unbelievable. Unbelievable," he said.
The snowfall slowed to a trickle, and manmade snow only goes so far.
John Rice, general manager at the resort, said they had to face facts; there just isn't enough snow to keep the resort open right now.
"I've been in the business 37 years, never closed in March," he said. "Financially, it's devastating."
Several hundred seasonal employees are out of work much sooner than usual.
Rice says resorts across California are being forced to reconsider how they do business in California. They're thinking of pushing other recreational, family activities and events, catering to a new clientele for when the snow isn't falling.
"We'll just have to get tough and figure out another way, we're a very adaptable group of folks, and in the mountains you have to be," he said.
Pat Higashi says he's already picked up his season pass, hoping next year will be different.
"Oh, it's real weird. It's not even Easter and they're closed already," he said.
They resort hasn't ruled out reopening. In some cases, the resort has been open all the way through April. They just need some snow, but that's not likely as California's drought stretches on.
The resort will host a party in place of skiing on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. They will have live music, free tubing, and sales on ski gear.
