Has anyone skied at Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley? My mom lives in Tucson and it would be cool to ski at the southern-most ski area in the US. The way it sounds is, if there is enough snow to ski on the road is closed and by the time it gets plowed the snow on the hill has melted!
I lived in Tucson for a time. I usually skied at Snowbowl or Sunrise because conditions are usually much better at either one of those places. Mt. Lemmon is not a place I would go out of my way to get to, but it definitely should not be ignored if you are a local.
If a big storm is anticipated, it is best to go up there and camp out and weather the storm. I never did that myself, but as others have said, when a big storm comes in, the road can get closed for a day or two.
There is actually decent snow retention up there, though, so it doesn't melt the next day (usually). They plow the road, and you can go in a day or two. It's all north-facing, and the runs are kind of narrow and don't get much sunlight. I only skied there a few times in total, and it has all been a very long time ago, so someone can correct my memory if I am off-base. As I recall, a typical random winter day is icy and full of hazards. Much like spring skiing in most other locales. But it can be a fun and uncrowded place when it randomly gets hit. Doesn't happen every year, but it shouldn't be skipped if it does. Probably don't bring your super nice skis, it's definitely a rock-ski kind of place.
