I learned to ski at Sierra Ski Ranch. I have fond memories of the place! (Especially that one black diamond run that I accidently went down... on my butt.)
You know I was in my early 30’s when I was working at a maintenance shop at the upper level of Heavenly, I was a sno-cat mechanic.
Working for Heavenly gave me all the free skiing I wanted, but Heavenly has to make its own snow from time to time and around 1990 it was one of those snow-drought years. man made snow shot from water cannons all along the tracks isn’t the same. Not like good prime “corn” snow my favorite.
At Sierra Ski Ranch I would head to the very top and just cruise downhill for the about 6 miles of moderate levels, and I would do it all day long.