by KERI BRIDGWATER

Why You Should Ski Palisades Tahoe This Winter

Legendary Olympic Site

The Winter Olympics have only been held once in California — Lake Tahoe and the then-called Squaw Valley hosted in 1960. While the terrain’s granite faces and chutes remain unchanged and the Olympic Flame still burns at the entrance on Olympic Valley Road, the legendary site was renamed Palisades Tahoe in 2021.

The Iconic KT-22 (and Its New Midway Station)

Nicknamed “The Mothership” and littered with “technical lines, steep walls and landable cliffs,” KT-22 is a sacred site in Tahoe ski lore with terrain (one of the most infamous inbound freeride spots in the Lower 48) that’s been a proving ground for many winter athletes of note.

Stay Slopeside Adjacent at PlumpJack Inn

Back down in the village, the boutiquey and almost ski-in/ski-out PlumpJack Inn made a cozy home away from home in Olympic Valley. It sits steps from the Aerial Tram, ticket office, Funitel, and shops and restaurants in Palisades Village.

Après Ski and High-Alpine Vibes

The legendary steeps and challenging terrain at Palisades Tahoe might draw crowds, but its village has a lively and well-loved scene that leans more Europe than North America. The fire pit-dotted plaza has stores from big-name brands Patagonia and North Face, plus local retailers, including the Ledge Boardshop.

With several major storm systems having blown through since early November — including a record-setting seven-feet-per-hour monster on New Year’s Eve — it turns out those predictions have thus far been correct, making high-alpine favorite Palisades Tahoe one of the best places to chase fresh powder this winter. Throw in technical chutes, hike-to back bowls and forested glades across 6,000 skiable acres to those many multiple inches of snow, and it’s easy to see why the resort has been one of the most celebrated ski destinations in the United States for more than 70 years.

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