Mother Nature answers Sierra's call

Just in time.

If you're employed at a ski resort in the Sierra and you see more dirt than snow on the ground in early December, you have no option -- you keep the faith.

Faith was rewarded the last four days with the first major storm of the winter. The prospect of a snow-less Christmas was whisked away with a blanket of snow that ignited chairs from Sierra to Sugar Bowl.

Good for business. Good for fun. Great for Christmas and New Year's.

"From New Hampshire to California, you have to keep the faith," said Emily Fisher, marketing director at Dodge Ridge. "We knew it was going to snow. It's gone from fall to winter here in a couple of days."

Faith in the so-called snow gods is taken to a serious degreee at Dodge, the Sierra's lowest ski/snowboard resort in elevation. Devoid of any snowmarking capacity, Dodge relies only on the whims of Mother Nature.

Mother Nature delivered and, on Tuesday morning while snow fell off and on, Dodge Ridge officials announced it will open Friday. A work force of between 450 and 500 -- about 150 from the snowsports school -- is poised for the season's beginning. All chairs will be humming, and about 75 percent of the terrain will be available.

About 28 inches have fallen at Dodge since the storm arrived Saturday night. Fisher reported a base of about nine inches, enough to invite skiers and riders. Rocky's Road Terrain Park will be open Friday, along with all amenities at Dodge's new Family Lodge. Overall, Dodge missed its average starting date by only about a week.

"It changes here minute by minute, but we're set up for a great Christmas," Fisher said.

Bear Valley, located off Highway 4 east of Murphys, opened its Front Side on Friday. The Cub, Super Cub, Koala and Kuma chairs were switched on to access the bulk of its beginner and intermediate trails near Bear's mid-mountain lodge.

The news wasn't so positive, however, at Badger Pass, the ski playground of Yosemite National Park. It needs one more storm system, which may arrive early next week according to the National Weather Service.

"We need more (snow) to lay down a good solid base," Badger spokesman Kenny Karst said. "This could be a fierce and wet storm next week. We'll take snow any way we can get it."

Regardless, the consensus reaction across the Sierra is one of relief.

Before the storm, the snowpack was only 2 percent of the average for the date. The 2008 season in the Lake Tahoe area ended with only about 85 percent of its average snowfall.

Until last weekend, only six resorts reported partial openings. Today, most facilities have jumped to action.

Heavenly reported an addition of 18 inches to add to its 24-inch base. Kirkwood opened Sunday. Sugar Bowl, Squaw Valley USA, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Boreal and Mt. Rose are open top-to-bottom.

Tahoe Donner, Diamond Peak and Sierra-at-Tahoe will formally open on Thursday, though Sierra offers free skiing on some of its beginner terrain today at 1 p.m. Homewood, the scenic resort on Tahoe's western shore, plans a Dec. 24 opening day. Tahoe Cross Country and Tahoe Donner Cross Country got under way on Tuesday.

"All it takes is one good storm for a white Christmas," said Andy Chapman, tourism director for the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. "From our ski slopes to our beaches, everywhere you look is covered in new snow."

SKI NOTES -- Dodge lift tickets will be discounted to $36 for adults and $26 for teens Friday through Sunday. ... The Dodge Ridge Snow Cruiser, the bus service sponsored by Save Mart and Storer Coachways which transports skiers and riders to Dodge from several valley cities, gets under way on Dec. 26. Visit dodgeridge.com. ... Diamond Peak, located at Incline Village, has dropped lift ticket prices to $29 for its opening Thursday.

Bee sports columnist Ron Agostini can be reached at ragostini@modbee.com or 578-2302.

To see snow and road conditions, click on the link with this story at www.modbee.com/sports.