Heavenly Mountain Resort, Lake Tahoe, Calif./Nev – Behind the strength of the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system, Heavenly Mountain Resort announced that when it opens for skiing and snowboarding on Friday,  November 20, 2009, weather permitting there will be more skiable terrain than originally announced. Heavenly will open at 9:00 a.m. with almost 40 acres of available terrain accessed by the Heavenly Gondola, Tamarack Express and Dipper Express Chairlifts.
 

 
“Thanks to our incredible snowmaking crew and system, Heavenly will offer mid-winter conditions on the trails we open,” said Heavenly’s COO and co-president of Vail Resorts’ Mountain Division, Blaise Carrig. “Our guests can be confident that they will be skiing and snowboarding on the best snow surfaces Lake Tahoe has to offer.”

Orion’s run is Heavenly’s one-mile long signature trail on the upper Nevada side of the mountain accessed via the Dipper Express Chairlift.  
 

For the season, Heavenly’s snowmaking system has operated for over 180 hours. The resort will open with California Trail available for skiing and snowboarding. The resort plans to follow with more terrain as weather conditions permit. Heavenly asks that skiers and riders observe all posted signs and warnings, especially during the early season. Closed trails may contain hazards due to early snow coverage. Please keep off closed trails and out of closed areas for safety reasons.

 
Heavenly will operate for skiing and snowboarding, weekends from 8:30 am to 4 pm, and weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm; Gondola sightseeing and on-mountain dining are also open.

 
The National Weather Service is calling for snow storms on Tuesday and Friday, with Friday’s storm bringing as much as a foot of snow, as well as winds that could impact lift operations. For all the latest news and information, visit Skiheavenly.com, or call 1-800-HEAVENLY.

 
Early-Season Deals and Events

With the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system creating excellent early-season conditions, it is the perfect time to purchase Lake Tahoe’s best snowsports value – the $369 Heavenly season pass. Heavenly is also offering its “Refer a Friend” program (Skiheavenly.com/friend), open to all adult Heavenly Pass holders, as well as Heavenly College Pass holders. It offers $20 in “mountain money” redeemable at all on-mountain dining and retail establishments for each referred friend who purchases a Heavenly Pass, Heavenly College Pass or Epic Pass. And everyone benefits: The referred friends receive a $20 discount on the $369 Heavenly Pass, reducing the price to just $349. Pass holders can refer as many friends as they want, and will be paid for each successful purchase in a one-time payout, sometime in mid-January. Referred friends cannot have owned a Heavenly Pass in the last two years (2007-08 or 2008-09).

 
Heavenly is also offering its “Heavenly for the Holidays” vacation package, featuring three nights lodging and two days of lift tickets, valid December 16, 2009 through January 3, 2010. Starting at $425 per person, this package represents a substantial value during the holiday period.

 
In addition to the opening of skiing and snowboarding season, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will bring their irresistible live show and massively successful fusion of jazz, swing, Dixieland and big-band music to Harrah’s South Shore Room November 21, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, visit Skiheavenly.com.