Pacific Crest Snowcats

Everyone knows Tahoe's the greatest place in the world, giving you the unique opportunity to pay $100 to share the wonder of skiing on not-snow with thousands of people who love waiting in lift lines as much as you do. Or, if you're some sort of contrarian who thinks that all sucks, go with Pacific Crest Snowcats.Run by an ex-Alaskan heli-ski guide on 2000 private acres of advanced-to-expert slopes between Sugar Bowl and Squaw, PC offers way-affordable, heli-like dawn-to-dusk fresh powder runs for about the price of two days at Squaw (if you somehow quit the ice rink). Runs average out to 1200 vertical ft, while the predominantly north-facing, wind-shielded terrain (often compared to a post-storm KT-22) ranges from wide-open bowls, to technical tree runs, to 20ft cliffs you're actually encouraged to hit -- since rupturing your ACL always seems a bit scary without that jocular encouragement. Rides to the top take about 20min, and skiers're split into two groups based on skill level following the first run; they run two cats each day, with room for up to 12 skiers/riders and two expert avalanche-/rescue-trained guides who promise they won't make you "spoon" them (ski in their tracks), unless they've had a really rough day.After it snows (and it just did), it can take two weeks for PCS's terrain to get tracked out -- allowing for so much cat-skiing action, you'll be forced to recreate the joy of mainstream Tahoe by waiting for a bus to the top of Russian Hill, and grinding your Rossignols all the way down.