Ski advice needed for biz trip to Sacramento nxt wk

[ChrisC]

Nice pics

Interesting, I didn't see any tele's...

They are around. More popular at places like Sugar Bowl, Alpine, Kirkwood and Bear Valley.

Hey, what's up with the groomers? This is weird, at least from an easterner's perspective. A few top-bottom groomer runs and I'll bet 80-90% of all skiers were on the groomers. The rest of the place was empty. So many places to go, but they all stick with the groomers!

The bell curve of skiers is similar all over. Most stick to the groomed.

Western resort area mgt. has a very different approach than in the east. East: sign states - "Danger, closed, keep away" West: "Cliff"

Squaw is especially liberal with not-roping things off.

 

[tseeb]

I had passes at Squaw in the late 70s as I was living in the area. If you bought them early or worked for another resort, they were under $300. The pictures of the snow and clouds from an East wind blowing over the top of Squaw on Friday remind me of one day back then when we could see the snow blowing over Siberia from the base. Being young and dumb, we went up there and had to drop in off the ridge through snow that was being blown 20 to 50 feet high. After that experience, we made them open the bar at 9:30 AM.

I agree with ChrisC's comments on Squaw's premium pricing and even have a sticker on the back window of my SUV that says it all: Got KT? But having a free place to stay at South Tahoe, friends who mostly ski elsewhere and being crowd adverse combine with the lack of discounts to keep my Squaw visits down to less than one per year, usually late season when prices come down a little. It is a bargain if you have kids as 12 and under is $5.

 

[billski]

Premium - you ain't kiddin! I went in the Ski shop at the Squaw base, part of my rite of passage at each area, just to collect my souvenier pin. Anyways, I saw this nice looking spyder jacket ON SALE. I looked at it, I thought the price said $180. Look again. $1800. Huh? Originally $3200. Huh? I need new glasses. Nah, just shop elsewhere. I've never seen ski duds other than Bogner priced that high!


p.s., great commentary above. Helps put the experience in perspective. Thanks!

 

[Tony Crocker]

The bell curve of skiers is similar all over. Most stick to the groomed.

It looks different to me at Jackson Hole and Altabird, also at Squaw to some extent. And then there's the midweek at Mad River Glen crowd: nearly all proficient bumpers, and 1/4 of them on teles.