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Diamond Peak - Wow!
By Tammie
Thompson
Skiers and snowboarders
stood stone still taking in the blue waters of Lake Tahoe far below. Early morning
mist lingered on the lake adding an eerie spell to the few skiers I encountered.
Over my left shoulder the brown desert of Washoe Valley contrasted vividly with
the surrounding white peaks and blue waters. Wow.
Jolted out of my reverie
by my rambunctious clan ("let's go, Come on Mom"), we took off down the Crystal
Ridge trail, making turn after turn as though we were heading straight into Lake
Tahoe. Wow. The trail is a great intermediate cruiser and leg burner that takes
you back to the Crystal Quad lift and the guts of the rest of the resort.
This once sleepy homeowner's
ski area has been transformed into one of the premier family resorts around the
Tahoe Basin. Varied terrain combined with some great values attracts locals as
well as Tahoe destination sliders.
Surrounded by world class
resorts, Diamond Peak is often neglected by die hards. But for families looking
for variety and a family atmosphere, I love it. A wonderful beginners area, dubbed
the School Yard, with its very own School House lift and Pete's Powerline moving
carpet, keeps kids safe and out of the mainstream. Plenty of intermediate terrain
and plenty of advanced vertical got my legs going. But it's the lodge that makes
the grade for families. Casual, centrally located, with a great deck, the lodge
offers good food or big tables for family picnics.
Diamond Peak offers a parent
interchangeable lift ticket. Hang out in the lodge with the little one, and then
switch with your partner. If your child is cruising, go for the Family Special
- where you get discounted parent/child ticket combos. If you really want to get your time on the slopes, enroll the
kids in the Bee Ferrato Children's Center. Bee has been at Diamond Peak for years
and the program just gets better over time. They've added a Ski and Play program
for little ones (three years old). The half-day session includes two hours of
private lessons, two hours of play, lift ticket, rentals and supervised lunch.
Parents report so much progress that the price is well worth it.
 Close
to the end of a full day I left the kids with dad and some hot chocolate. I headed
up for one last run. Once again I lingered at the top of Crystal Ridge, looking
out at the sparkle of the massive Lake Tahoe and marveled at its variations in
color. With a silver shimmer in the morning, a blue noon and a green to purple
afternoon, the lake sleeps into a green then black night. So many colors, such
sparkle, it indeed mimics a precious stone.
My Zen moment over, I headed
down the ridge to my rowdy group. Another day on the slopes - picture perfect.
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