Incredible place the former Reno Hilton! Shuttles all over to ski areas departing at 0700 and 0900 pick ups at 1630 (4:30pm for the non-military or medical time people). Superb place, not smokey. The view from the 14th floor to the city and snow capped mountains was great! No coffee maker, but, StarBucks below! We were too tired to eat out. Laughing silly with Fritos, peanuts and so on, it was cool. Heavenly was, well heavenly. Gunbarrel was the usual bumpy excursion! It was clear and in the 40's. Great snow and could not have asked for shorter lines, friendlier skiers, better food, or snow. Well, not much powder left, but, great hard packed. No problems there! Awesome. As we were descending on Hwy 50 to Folsom I told my friend and believed every work of it: "We are not leaving Heaven and going to Hell below!"
Spooner lake was amazing. We took a group XC lesson that was a blast and very informative! I also met a woman from Italy married to a French Canadian! She spoke of the Italian Alps! They were up from the Palo Alto are and doing the speed skating on XC skate skis! I made it at a fast pace around the 3.5 mile Spooner Lake trail, a snow covered lake except for about 2 feet in a remote sunny corner with icy water peeking out! I learned a lot of XC techinque I did not know before. The best instructor on earth as well "Janet". The lodge was great, folks with kids in rented sleds, on and on. It was Heaven. The right timing. My freind fared well learning in her 70's! She is now at the college dancing and teaching ballet after skiing! I ran into other seniors while living at Big Bear who came to my ballet class after skiing all day. I am aspiring to do the same one day!
Spooner lake was amazing. We took a group XC lesson that was a blast and very informative! I also met a woman from Italy married to a French Canadian! She spoke of the Italian Alps! They were up from the Palo Alto are and doing the speed skating on XC skate skis! I made it at a fast pace around the 3.5 mile Spooner Lake trail, a snow covered lake except for about 2 feet in a remote sunny corner with icy water peeking out! I learned a lot of XC techinque I did not know before. The best instructor on earth as well "Janet". The lodge was great, folks with kids in rented sleds, on and on. It was Heaven. The right timing. My freind fared well learning in her 70's! She is now at the college dancing and teaching ballet after skiing! I ran into other seniors while living at Big Bear who came to my ballet class after skiing all day. I am aspiring to do the same one day!