Resort closed Best backcountry skiing in basin, Diamond Peak says

As the last wave of tourists tucked tail and ventured back to the floodscape of the Bay Area, the sun crept slowly over the basin Tuesday to reveal up to four feet of fresh snow atop area peaks.

One resort, however, seems to be missing out entirely.

Diamond Peak, whose rain-soaked holiday crowds were chagrined last week to find themselves unable to tackle the slopes, will be closed until power is completely restored to Incline Village/Crystal Bay and Kings Beach.

Last Thursday was the one day the rainy skies cleared enough to get in a full day of skiing, said Diamond Peak general manager Ed Youmans.

While more than 2,500 people visited the ski resort that day, the crowds quickly evaporated as clouds gathered to portend the worst weather conditions yet.

"Certainly, this is the most difficult (weather) I've ever seen far and away," Youmans said. "The rain and the conditions in general - it's never been this bad."

Youmans, who was here for the New Years storm of 1997, said the recent weather has been "much worse than that (year)."

"It was only two days of rain then," Youmans said. "We've gotten ... how many days of rain in the last two weeks?"

Other Diamond Peak officials were quick to point out while the lifts are closed, some locals, not to be denied, are still taking advantage of the "best snow of the year."

"They're putting skins on and trekking up the hill," said the resort's marketing director Milena Regos. "Some people just aren't going to be discouraged. Yes, it's just great snow up there."

Local officials were busy working on area peaks for avalanche control in the respite of recent storms Tuesday.

"We're still doing avalanche control when necessary," said Scott Magruder, public information officer for the Nevada Department of Transportation. "Especially (in the) upper regions."

Youmans said the amount of electricity even his resort's smallest lift needs to operate could be a drain on the entire Incline Village/Crystal Bay region as Sierra Pacific power crews work to restore lines coming both from the Carson Valley and Truckee.

"It just isn't a good idea for us to run at full power until the (power company) gives the area the go-ahead," said Youmans. "So far, we don't know when that's going to be."

Sierra Pacific officials could not give a concrete timeline, but did note they have nine crews working in and around the basin to restore power completely by week's end.

Other area resorts including Heavenly, Mt. Rose, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows have back-up generators to operate lifts during major outages. Kirkwood supplies its own power, but Diamond Peak only has enough "back-up juice" to run the lifts temporarily in an emergency situation.

"We can't afford (back-up) generators at this point," Youmans said. "It would be a very expensive proposition.

"But, for now, Diamond Peak has the best back-country skiing in the basin."