info on squaw valley
- Thread starter Guigsy1
- Start date
Killclimbz
New member
Just be careful at Squaw. The place is absolutely incredible, but it has a ton of you better know what your doing or die terrain. Only a few other resorts have as much inbounds cliff terrain as Squaw. Few are as good. I hope it dumps for you while you are there. It's crazy how much snow can fall in a day at that place.
If you get a chance, check out Alpine and Sugar Bowl. They are both close by. Kirkwood is good too, but it's a little bit more of a drive from Squaw.
If you get a chance, check out Alpine and Sugar Bowl. They are both close by. Kirkwood is good too, but it's a little bit more of a drive from Squaw.
Guigsy1":2reit3ew said:
Firsthand reviews? Good God, with the 8 or 9 feet or whatever that fell out of this storm cycle, I'll place a heavy odds on what I suspect it's like right now at Squaw.
You'll find some good terrain to suit you off the beaten path on Granite Chief. Also, if you're there on a weekend, once you get up the mountain stay up on the mountain. The groomer from Gold Coast back down to the base (Valley Run, or something like that) gets busy, and you'll be in lines trying to get back up -- it's not worth it.
Final advice from me: Alpine Meadows is right next door, and don't miss a chance to visit one of my favorites, neaby Sugar Bowl. But I'll let the Californians around here give more definitive advice -- it's been years since I've been to Tahoe.
I wrote a Resort Guide for Inside Tracks http://webpages.charter.net/tcrocker818/sqawguid.htm .
I would not have recommended Squaw up to Christmas this season, but last week's 5-8 foot dump has changed all that. Nearly all of Squaw's marquee terrain should be skiable once the storms let up and they do control work. The last lifts to open are Broken Arrow (first open today) and Silverado (not open yet, but likely a control issue rather than coverage).
Your trip timing is perfect in terms of both coverage and surface conditions. It may be less so if the storms continue. Do not try to ski Squaw Valley or Alpine Meadows on a big storm day. Over 3/4 of terrain will be closed for wind, visibility or avalanche control. There are several North Shore areas with good tree skiing that will be sheltered: Northstar, Homewood, Mt. Rose, Diamond Peak, maybe Sugar Bowl.
I would not have recommended Squaw up to Christmas this season, but last week's 5-8 foot dump has changed all that. Nearly all of Squaw's marquee terrain should be skiable once the storms let up and they do control work. The last lifts to open are Broken Arrow (first open today) and Silverado (not open yet, but likely a control issue rather than coverage).
Your trip timing is perfect in terms of both coverage and surface conditions. It may be less so if the storms continue. Do not try to ski Squaw Valley or Alpine Meadows on a big storm day. Over 3/4 of terrain will be closed for wind, visibility or avalanche control. There are several North Shore areas with good tree skiing that will be sheltered: Northstar, Homewood, Mt. Rose, Diamond Peak, maybe Sugar Bowl.