California snow
 

In California ski resorts between Dec 23rd to Dec 31st, what would be the least busy days in terms of roads and crowd?
Also seems there is not enough snow now. What are the chances ski resorts will open by then?

resorts are open, but many have limited number of lifts running and low % of terrain open. Since it's a holiday week I would not bet on any day being better or worse for crowds.

You can follow the links in this article to check individual mountains. https://www.kcra.com/article/califor...-2023/45781388

As to when more snow will fall, that's in the hands of El Niño.

Other than a few showers in the coming week no snow is forecast until right around Christmas Day and then every day for almost a week. No way to tell yet if that will be real SNOW accumulations or just light snow -- but it will be on top of the man made snow that many of the resorts already have. As J62 says ,during that week no day will be 'less busy'. Even with crappy snow - if it is open it will be busy.

Thanks for the answers! Is it recommended to avoid driving there while it's snowing? I have never driven in snow condition. We have AWD.

Yes, it is generally advisable to stay off the roads when it is actiively snowiing. It is best to wait until the snow stops and crews have had a chance to clear the roads. Also, be aware that some roads may require you to carry snow chains in your vehicle - and you should know when and how to install them! CA experts like janis can give you more info about that.

That said, the only places it'll be snowing are above some elevation level - which may be 3000' or 4000', or higher, or lower depending on the conditions... So depending on where arre you coming from/going to you could drive part way at lower elevation then stop for a night.

Since "actively snowing" in the Sierras can mean feet of snow during a storm, now is not the time to learn to drive in snowy conditions....

Palisades at Tahoe is currently limited to the beginner intermediate slopes off the Gold Coast chair on top of the mountain, the Resort run and easiest way down to return to the bottom of the Red Dog chairlift. However, they are anticipating three or more days of storms starting Sunday so that snow conditions might be drastically changed. Tahoe at Palisades will require parking reservations during the holiday and on weekends. I am not sure if the parking rule applies to Alpine Meadows which currently has only the beginner runs around the base lodge open, plus Weasel which is a beginner/beginner intermediate run.

🤫 (it is 'Palisades' on the website -- but to locals, it is still Squaw Valley)

FYI: Mt. Bachelor near Bend Oregon has been open for a week. You can get on the Amtrak Coast Starlight northbound from Sacramento about midnight and be in Chemult by 10AM. The small bus takes you from Chemult to Bend arriving before noon. There is bus service up to Mt. Bachelor to avoid the sometimes full parking lot. More snow is expected before Christmas.
Another reason to visit Bend is the High Desert Museum which currently has Andy Worhol paintings on display until April.

Mammoth Mountain is open and expecting major snow on Monday and Tuesday


www.mammothmountain.com

I-80 is extremely accustomed to snowy conditions, but it closes down often when it gets heavy. I agree with others that you may want to carry chains and know how to install them OR be prepared to pay a small fee for someone to put them on for you (there are lots of pulloffs where this takes place).