On a cloudy Friday afternoon, skiers and snowboarders enjoy the fresh snow from recent storms and a quiet crowd.
Between the short lines, expert terrain, and light Bay Area tourist traffic, this mountain holds a special place in the hearts of many locals.
Mt. Rose, a ski resort established in 1964, has been a favorite of Reno Tahoe locals for many years. The loyalty created by those who enjoy Mt. Rose has created a unique subculture in itself of Mt. Rose devotees.
The Pettengill and Holmberg ski crew enjoyed the fresh snow on a recent cloudy afternoon. Photo by Malia Ascuaga.
Local Jamie Pettengill has been skiing at Rose for 25 years. Pettengill says he enjoys the easiness of the commute as well as the friendly ski culture up here.
“This place is more low-key than the other places. More family oriented. A lot of kids and families up here. It’s just got a good vibe to it. Everyone is really nice up here,” Pettengill explained.
Unlike some of the larger resorts in the area, it takes only a matter of minutes to get from the parking lot to a chair lift. From Rose’s upper parking lot, you can ski in-and-out from the slopes to your car.
At Mt. Rose, it takes just a couple minutes to get from your car to the base of the mountain. Photo by Malia Ascuaga.
Eric Holmberg, dating Pettengill’s daughter, is impressed by the overall variety in runs Rose has to offer while on a family ski day.
“Really nice terrain and variety out here. A lot of good greens. A lot of good blues. And a lot of good blacks. It’s a good all-around mountain,” Holmberg said.
For experts like Michael Hataway who has been coming up to Rose since 2006, Mount Rose is all about “the Chutes and the people. It’s a local’s hangout,” he said.
“There’s rarely ever a lift line,” Hataway says. “You run into all of your friends here in the Chutes and in the bar. Even if it is a holiday, the tourists don’t go in the Chutes.”
“8260’, where the snow is.” Photo by Malia Ascuaga.
Hataway’s friends who have been skiing at Rose for 10 years similarly enjoy the expert terrain, good vibes, and quality snow.
With consistent snowfalls in recent days and weeks, Mt. Rose is as usual one of the few resorts with a snow pack that covers the entirety of the mountain, and as in other winters, many locals are finding their spots of when to go, as it’s one of the main reasons they stay in northern Nevada.
Reporting and photos by Malia Ascuaga