Posted By:

Maggie aka "The Turninator"

Welcome to the Real-time Information Hub, a collection for our favorite tips, tricks, and handy links to help you stay connected with what’s happening at Sugar Bowl Resort. If knowing information before everyone else is your thing, you’ve come to the right place! Bookmark/follow/download these tools for quick access to this crucial information. Stay in the loop and have your best possible day on the slopes.

Weather & Road Conditions

Knowing the weather and road conditions will help you know what to expect when traveling to the resort.

Weather

Sign up for the Powder Planner Email

• When we see a storm on the horizon, we let you know so you can plan accordingly.

Check Donner Summit Weather

• Be sure to check high elevation weather for Tahoe, above 7,000′ for the most accurate data.

Road Conditions

• Check Caltrans for i80 Road Conditions 
• Old 40 Updates
  • Old 40 is the best shortcut from Truckee to Sugar Bowl. If you want to know the status of Old 40 this winter, text “Old40” to 855-835-5599 and we’ll send you a message anytime Old 40 opens or closes.

Current Conditions on the Mountain

This mega page is THE page to check. It has our updated snowfall (recorded twice daily) plus snow reporters notes. It has real-time lift operations that are updated every time a lift status changes. You’ll also find a detailed grooming report plus an interactive grooming map. It also pulls in basic weather and road conditions to give you a solid overall sense of the conditions to expect at Sugar Bowl that day.

No Frills Twitter Updates

Want to get direct updates with no frills? We’ve got just the thing. We tweet a daily conditions report each morning along with any changes to operations, whether it’s a lift going on hold during a wind event or new terrain opening during a storm day.

Real-time Mountain Operations Updates

Seeing is believing: Up-to-Date Images

If you want an updated image of what conditions look like at Sugar Bowl check our webcams or social media.

Webcams

Do you need to decide what goggle lens to wear? Check the webcams, they are located all over the mountain.

Social Media

Do you want to see how good the powder is skiing while you’re stuck at work? You know we’ll be posting stories to our instagram account if there is any new snow on the ground. Que the FOMO!

In Case of Emergency

Oh oh… it does happen, so be sure to add this important contact into your phone. If you witness an injury or you’re involved in one, you’ll be able to reach the dispatch office who can send a team of ski patrollers as necessary. Unless you’ve memorized this place inside out, it can be helpful to carry a paper trail map in your pocket. That way, if you need to report the precise location of an injury, you won’t be fumbling for the name.

When reporting an accident, always remember to be brief, direct, and report the most important information first. First state your location, then a brief description of the injured person(s), and the nature of the injury. Dispatch will also want to know the number of the phone from which you are calling. If you suddenly get disconnected or your phone battery dies in the cold, at least dispatch will know your location, so they can send a ski patroller for further investigation. You can also report injuries to the chairlift attendants or anyone in a Sugar Bowl uniform.

Ski Patrol and Emergencies

• call (530) 426-6727
• or 9-1-1

Posted By:

Maggie aka "The Turninator"

Let’s Get Comfortable

Dialing in your outerwear and gear will help you have a great day on the slopes. Here is some insight on how you can prepare for your best day possible. Forget something? Stop by one of our retail stores at the Judah Lodge or the Village Lodge. We have just about everything you might need. 

Sierra Weather 

Our California winters run the full spectrum of Sierra weather. Conditions at Sugar Bowl range from blizzard days with gale-force winds to sunny spring T-shirt weather. Be prepared to dress for success in a variety of different weather scenarios. 

Outerwear

Start with the basics: a wind & water resistant jacket and pants. As with all ski gear, there’s a wide range of price/quality in outerwear. You can kit yourself out with brand name Gore Tex, or there are plenty of budget friendly options out there. Some retailers even rent soft goods, so you don’t have to buy a full ski kit to get started. 

Pro Outerwear Tip

The water resistant pants you choose should have a wide enough cuff to fit over your boot. This will prevent snow from getting into your boots. Try to choose jackets and pants with thigh/underarm vents if possible to help regulate your body temperature.

The Beauty Within: Layers!

Next, make a plan for your layers underneath. Non-cotton, sweat-wicking pieces of clothing will help keep you dry and comfortable. If it’s a sunny day and temps are above freezing, you may choose to simply go with a light pair of long underwear or yoga pants underneath your ski jacket and pants. If it’s a cloudy day or temps are below freezing, you may want to add additional layers, like a fleece or wool sweater. 

Pro Layering Tip

if you are bundling up, try to choose some upper body layers that don’t all have hoods. Stacking too many hoods might make you feel like you’re in a straight jacket once you zip everything up!

Fingers and Toes

Socks

Your socks should follow the same rules as your layers— no cotton. If possible, choose a pair of ski-specific socks. Whatever you do, don’t be tempted to double up socks, it doesn’t help. 

How can I keep my feet from getting cold?

Start with a high-quality pair of ski-specific socks. Look for a non-cotton, wicking pair of socks that fit slim to your foot without wrinkling or bunching. Next, if you’re wearing ski boots, you can unbuckle your boots as you walk across the parking lot or every time you ride lifts. This will help get the blood flowing through your feet while you aren’t using your boots for downhill performance. Just remember to rebuckle before you take your next run.

Gloves

While you probably don’t need to run out and buy a new pair of gloves just for skiing or riding, here are a couple considerations. It can be helpful to choose a glove with a synthetic exterior, like nylon, that has some kind of a water resistant layer. Choosing a glove with some insulation will help you stay warm in cold, wet conditions. Ski & ride-specific gloves will often have abrasion-resistant patches on the palm and fingertips for durability.

Pro Gloves Tip

It can be helpful to stash an extra pair of gloves in the car, even if they aren’t the ones you plan to ski in. If you have to put chains on before arriving at the mountain, you won’t want to get your gloves sopping wet before you even start your day. It can be nice to switch gloves midday or before your après activity.

Get your Head in the Game

Let’s protect your noggin! First, we always recommend a helmet. If you don’t want to purchase one, many retailers have helmets for rent. If you are taking a ski or board lesson at Sugar Bowl, we’ll include a complementary helmet rental.

Next, given our weather extremes in Tahoe, we highly recommend goggles over sunglasses. If it’s snowing, sunnies just don’t cut it. If it’s a bluebird day, the sun will be reflecting off the snow and you’ll want eye protection from all angles. Getting a sunburn on your eyeball is not a good look. 

The third element you should plan for is a balaclava or neck gaiter. Depending on the temps, you may want a light stretchy neck gaiter for light sun and wind protection. If it’s really cold, you may choose a fleece neck warmer. Our go-to choice is typically the light stretchy neck gaiter. If it gets wet, it’s really easy to have an extra one stashed in your jacket (they are inexpensive and fold up really small!)

Pro-tip: How should my helmet fit?

Your helmet should be snug but not so tight that you can feel pressure on the sides of your head. A good test is to rock your head side-to-side / yes-and-no. If your helmet sloshes around, it’s too loose. If it’s giving you a headache, too tight. There are many different helmet types to accommodate different shaped heads. A good rule of thumb is to use a helmet that is 5 or less years old. 

Pocket Essentials

How to Properly Wear your RFID Ticket

Seems simple right? Buy your ticket online, use the QR code to redeem it at a kiosk, then pop it in your jacket pocket… You’d be surprised how many people get stuck in the lift line because they’ve done it wrong! Here’s a couple things to remember (in additional to zipping your pocket up tight!)

• Choose a pocket on the left side of your jacket.
• Your ticket rides solo, not in your wallet or with a phone.
• Don’t punch a hole in your ticket
• Essentials for the other pockets: sunscreen, lip balm, medicine if needed, and a Cliff Bar or other light snack.

Posted By:

Maggie aka "The Turninator"

Chairlift Safety for Children under 55″ Tall

Planning for a fun day of skiing or riding with young kids? Awesome, it’s going to be a blast! But first, let’s make sure you know the essentials of chairlift safety. Here at Sugar Bowl, chairlift safety is important for kids of all ages but we have specific guidelines for children under 55” tall. Follow these steps to ensure a safe lift ride:

One adult buddy please!

Let’s start with the basics: ALL children under 55” tall must be accompanied by an adult on the chairlift. Even if you have an advanced little ripper on your hands, they’ll still need an adult buddy to ride the lift with… until they hit the growth spurt jackpot! You’ll find handy measurement signage throughout the resort if you need to double check a child’s height.

Before you’re ready to load the chair, order is important.

As you shuffle through the lift line, make sure you’re in the optimal order for loading the lift. A single child under 55” tall should sit on the lift operator side of the chair next to the adult accompanying them. Said another way, as you’re about to sit on the chair, the child should be lined up in between the adult and the lift operator.

Two children? Have one child sit on either side of the adult.

Pro Tip: while the chairlift ride is a great place for a quick Clif Bar snack, try to make most of your adjustments at the base of the lift before you get in line. It can be tough to juggle gear on the lift; it’s easy to drop a mitten or lose a wrapper from an unzipped pocket.

All Aboard! Let’s Load Up

• Want the lift slowed down for you? Just ask our lift operator.
• There are always two lines on the snow. Stop at the first “wait here” line and await instruction from the lift operator. 
• When it’s time to move forward, scoot forward to the second line. Turn and watch the lift approach.
• As the chair arrives, you’ll probably need to give the child a little boost or a full-on lift so they can reach the chair, depending on their height. 
• If you need assistance or fall while loading the lift, our lift operators are here to help. We’ll stop/slow the lift and help everyone load up safely.
• The lift operator will let you know that they are assisting with lowering the restraining bar by saying “bar coming down.”

How to Sit on the Chairlift

• Is there a seat white “seat target” on the chair? Make sure the child’s bottom is covering the target
• Make sure the child’s back is all the way back against the back of the chair
• Children should ride the lift facing forward
• Holding the restraint bar is A-okay, but don’t lean forward on the bar.
• Got the wiggles? The chairlift is no place for horseplay, so make sure that the child is sitting (relatively) still.
• Keep the safety bar down until you reach the green, “raise bar” signage at/near the top lift terminal

At the Top

• If a child needs help getting on the lift, chances are they’ll need some assistance hopping off the lift too. Be ready to support the child getting off the seat as you arrive in the top terminal.
• After everyone has unloaded the chair, clear the unloading area as swiftly as possible to make room for the next group behind you. Every Sugar Bowl lift has ample space at the top where you’ll be able to regroup before starting down the hill, so take care to not accidentally clog up the unloading zone!
• If someone falls while unloading, don’t panic, our lift operators will stop or slow the lift to give you extra time to clear the area.

It’s everyone’s responsibility to adhere to our Kids on Lifts Safety Protocols. Together, we can make sure that everyone has a safe day on the slopes. Now that you’re dialed in with chairlift policy, have a fun day with the kids!

Sugar Bowl Mountain Safety

Need some help? In case of emergency call SKI PATROL at (530) 426-6727 (save this contact in your phone) or 9-1-1.

First Aid – lower level of Judah Lodge past Special Tickets; Village Lodge past The Lodge front desk down the corridor from the Gondola terminal.

Ski Patrol block houses – are found at the top of the following lifts: Mt. Disney Express, Mt. Lincoln Express, Jerome Hill Express, Mt. Judah Express and Summit Chairlift.

Mountain Safety Patrol – You’ll see Mountain Safety personnel in their bright yellow jackets throughout the day in slow zones and high traffic areas helping guests and controlling the flow of traffic.