Some resorts to stay open into May

Thanks to the latest cool spell, skiing and boarding should hold up for another weekend or two.

Lots of rocks were showing through last weekend at Heavenly and most of Gunbarrel was closed but you could sneak down a narrow corridor. It's time for rock skis and boards but it's still spring skiing out there.

- Saturday Heavenly will be throwing one of the largest Hawaiian celebrations around, with a luau barbecue menu at East Peak, a Hawaiian band and hula girls. Guests are invited to wear their finest Hawaiian attire to the mountain.

Also at the top of the Gondola will be a Slush Pond event with prizes.

Come out and see who can make it across Lake Heavenly without getting wet. In addition to distance, competitors will also be judged on style appearance and crowd appeal. Costumes are encouraged. Contest begins at 12 p.m. A reggae fest on East Peak Deck is the ultimate in laid-back festivals and will be complete with Jamaican barbecue cook-off at East Peak Deck.

Heavenly will close Sunday but reopen May 1-2 for a "Uno de Mayo" party. More barbecue and a concert by Sammy Hagar and friends.

- Alpine Meadows will be open into May with closing dates not released. Squaw Valley also will be open into May. Sugar Bowl has closed the Mt. Judah side and all action is from the gondola and old hotel side. Lift tickets are $40. Kirkwood will be open at least the next two weekends, offering lift tickets good for two days for $40. Mt. Rose will close this weekend but is offering $38 lift tickets for the weekend. Northstar-at-Tahoe closes this weekend but offers $39 lift tickets. Sierra-at-Tahoe closes Monday.

The Carson City shop Sporting Rage will host its fourth annual Try Before You Buy kayak demonstration at Washoe Lake State Park Saturday May 1 at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kayaks by Wilderness Systems, Hobbie and Eddyline will be on display and ready for testing.

This is an excellent way to try out a kayak before making the purchase and refreshments will be served. Trained kayak instructors will be on hand to help beginners get rowing. Details, call 885-7773.

- Sierra-at-Tahoe will uphold its 10-year tradition this season by hosting Customer Appreciation Day on its final day of winter operations, April 19. Skiers and riders of all ages can purchase a lift ticket for $10 and bid farewell to Sierra-at-Tahoe until the snow flies next November.

All proceeds raised from the day's lift ticket sales will be donated to sponsor local sports teams.

Ever since Sierra-at-Tahoe was founded in 1993, the resort has offered Customer Appreciation Day, in order to give something back to the community that so generously supports the resort throughout the winter season.

Call (530) 659-7453.

- Squaw Valley USA and the Village at Squaw Valley are teaming up with local volunteers from the Tahoe Truckee Earth Day Festival Planning Committee to celebrate the earth and our responsibility toward it during the 2004 Earth Day Festival on Saturday.

Squaw Valley's Village will be filled with educational and environmental booths, earth-friendly vendors, hands-on activities, arts and crafts, food and drink, mural and face painting for kids, a bouncy house and more.

One of the highlights of the Festival is the Push, Pull or Pedal Eco-Parade! For this, grab your wagon, bike, scooter or trike, cover it with colors and environmentally friendly or recyclable things and join in the parade. Entries may include anything that can be pushed, pulled or pedaled and does not have a motor, including bikes, wagons, skateboards, scooters or big wheels. Judging will be based on originality, creativity, appeal and environmental friendliness.

Registration for the parade takes place at the South Entrance of the Village at 11 a.m. and the parade begins at noon. Prizes include a child's full season pass to Squaw Valley USA for the 2004-2005 season, a summer 2004 Club Pass (unlimited cable car rides, skating and swimming) and a pizza party for 10 at Fireside Pizza in the Village.

The Festival is from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and admission is free. For the first 500 guests arriving in a vehicle with three or more passengers (including the driver) on Saturday, each adult in the car will receive one coupon for $5 off their adult all day ticket for that day.

Sam Bauman is a Nevada Appeal Staff Writer. Contact him at sbauman@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1236.