Holiday promises to be a big one on the slopes

Saturday, Feb. 17, 2001 | 9:44 a.m.

It's a skier's dream. And it's no nightmare for the Sierra resorts either. A three-day weekend, fresh snow and no big traffic-clogging storms on the immediate horizon.

At Kirkwood, for instance, operators hope for a repeat of the record crowd of 8,000 they got for last years President's Day weekend.

"Traditionally, this is when people plan to come to Tahoe," said Kirkwood spokeswoman Nicole Belt.

"People come up at Christmas, but it's early in the season. A lot of the mountains are only partially opened. They know if they come President's Day, they'll get the cream of the crop."

But the cream my curdle a little as the weekend wears on.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Reno said there is a possibility of two storms hitting the Sierra. The first is expected to be lightweight, arriving Saturday. The second one about Monday could drop some heavier snow in the mountains.

Mild winter temperatures are forecast with highs in the 40s in Reno and Sparks and the 30s at Lake Tahoe.

Many of the Sierra's weekend skiers drive up from the San Francisco Bay area and other parts of northern California.

"If there is a perception that the roads are going to be a pain, then they may change their minds about coming here," according to Mike Pierce, marketing director for the Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe resort.

"The scenario has been perfect," so far, he said.

"We got three feet of fresh snow right before the (holiday). It's good before the weekend because nobody has trouble getting here."