Sierra ski resorts shutting down for season

RENO -- Despite boasting an abundance of snow after a string of late-season storms, Sierra ski resorts are beginning to shut down for the season.

In the Lake Tahoe area, the Boreal, Diamond Peak and Homewood resorts plan to close today, while Alpine Meadows, Mount Rose, Northstar-at-Tahoe and Sierra-at-Tahoe will also close down April 18.

Heavenly, Kirkwood and Sugar Bowl will cease operations April 25, while Squaw Valley USA plans a May 9 closing.

To the south, Mammoth Mountain plans to stay open the longest, through July 4.

The resort has received more than 40 feet of snow this season, including more than 3 feet the first week of April. It will mark the 11th time that Mammoth has been open on July 4 in its 32-year history.

"We have the best April snow conditions I've seen in my 32 years on the mountain," said Rusty Gregory, chairman and chief executive officer of Mammoth.

"With as much snow as we have, our customers would riot if we closed down as early as the other ski resorts."