Skiers were greeted to a wind buffed playground at Squaw Valley on Monday.
All smiles on the reverse traverse prior to the Palisades opening.
Category: News (Page 20 of 30)
Cornices on roof at PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn
PlumpJack pool deck
PlumpJack patio
Squaw Creek
Squaw Valley Clock Tower
Bedroom Window
Start shoveling!
Heavy snowfall continued yesterday and intensified to a rate of four inches per hour later in the day. Here is some video from around town on March 24:
Summer home?
Buried!
Snowbanks almost reaching power lines in Serene Lakes
Schallenberger Ridge
Post storm sunrise over Mt. Rose
Donner Lake enters the Nice Age
If the amount of snowfall this year is starting to seem like something special that’s because it is. Ski areas are having to trench below lifts to keep them from hitting the ground, cars are buried beyond recognition, and first floor views have disappeared. With resorts on the west side of Tahoe exceeding 600 inches it’s time to start looking where this winter stacks up historically. Tahoe Weather Discussion provides a great recap of years past and the direction we are heading: A look at where this winter is headed vs. past big seasons.
The recent storm dropped five to seven feet of snow. The next round comes in tonight and a cycle of several more storms will continue through the weekend.
Walkway at the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn
Truckee residence
Typical first floor view
Norman Wright Mechanical Equipment hosted renowned climber Ed Viesturs at their annual client retreat in Squaw Valley last Thursday. Ed Viesturs is perhaps the most accomplished and respected American high altitude mountaineer in history. Ed spoke about his entire climbing career from his early days as a guide on Mt. Rainier through the completion of his Endeavor 8,000 project in which he became the first American to climb all fourteen, 8,000 meter peaks without the use of supplemental oxygen. Ed is one of the most responsible, thoughtful, and ethical climbers in the game. His motto: “summiting is optional, getting down is mandatory”. He is always willing to assess conditions, respect turnaround times, and pull the plug on summit attempts if conditions are not favorable. He once retreated just 300 feet from the summit of Everest. Shelving his own summit attempts to assist injured parties is standard protocol for Ed. He spoke about his involvement with the Everest Imax production filmed during the 1996 climbing season. The film crew ended up being critical responders to the tragedy in which six climbers died including guides Rob Hall and Scott Fischer.
Ed is the author “K2 Life and Death on the Worlds most Dangerous Mountain” and the national bestseller “No Shortcuts to the Top”. He has a new book coming out this October that examines the difference between commitment and obsession, specifically as it relates to Annapurna, which takes the lives of 50% of those who attempt to climb it.
Living legend Ed Viesturs with Squallywood Author Robb Gaffney
A bit of new snow caked over Squaw Valley Wednesday night resulting in really nice conditions Thursday.
A lovely solo effort exits Tram Chute Proper Friday morning.
Upper Tram Face looking sugar coated and ready to rock.
Saturday was a busy one at Squaw Valley. Really busy! Absolutely perfect post storm conditions and the masses were out. Forty minute lift lines on Squaw One? Two runs by 10:30? Here’s a flashback to the Fingers ritual of radness:
By Rob McCormick
Just when it was starting to seem as if the ski season had fallen asleep at the wheel we got hammered with a multi day, super low moisture content storm. This is the third storm of the season that has approached the 100 inch mark along the Pacific Crest. Lots of shoveling, lots of skiing and lots of smiles. Last Thursday the backcountry was alive beneath our feet as slow moving rivers of unconsolidated snow flowed around us on low angle terrain. The bottom was nowhere in sight. Whoomphing, shooting cracks and snow settling under my skis led me to finally ski Squaw Valley on Friday and Saturday. It was fantastic! Deep, dry, friendly snow and hilarious hucking everywhere. Two skiers had to be dug out from their landings on Adrenaline Rock on Saturday. By Sunday the backcountry was setting up and firing on all cylinders. What else could go right? Well, cold sunny weather followed the storm cycle and kept conditions rocking this week.
Squaw Valley’s improved service standards continue to reverse the curse that has shadowed the ski area for decades. My sister was stuck on a chairlift yesterday for a half hour and guess what happened when she finally unloaded? She was met by a dozen apologetic ski patrollers and a complimentary future lift ticket! That sure as hell would not have happened in the past.
The future looks bright as another storm rolls in this Thursday and Friday and should give way to another weekend of phenomenal conditions. More storms on par the following week. Yay!
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