In 1950, the old Mt. Rose Highway was merely a summer road connecting Reno with beautiful Lake Tahoe. As the years marched on, the old SR 431 continued to be improved thus allowing winter travel to higher elevations; more terrain became easily accessible.

“This postcard view clearly demonstrates the potential for tremendous snowfall in the Tahoe Basin. This is the summit along Mount Rose Highway in July 1952. the depth of the snow is so overwhelming that it needs a photograph just to be believed. The automobiles provide a convenient sense of scale. (Courtesy of the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society)”

Reports of 20′ of snow falling from October to Jan 1, and then another 12′ in January.