Loading

You are:

Lifts & Terrain

Squaw Valley Ski ResortHoly Smokes, the Squaw Valley ski resort has it all! The one possible exception to this is the lack of big, well spaced glade skiing common to many Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Squaw Valley has 4,000 acres, 16 bowls of various sizes, 33 lifts, heaps of vertical, 450 inches of the white stuff a year, massive groomies, cliffs, cornices, trees, steeps.......... The only problem with having it all is that everyone within a 200 mile radius knows it, so there is some fierce powder day competition from a couple of thousand of the best skiers congregated together.

Some of the terrain at Squaw Valley is genuinely gob-smacking. It seriously gives Jackson Hole a run for its money in the steep and interesting stakes. You can see why the KT22 quad was voted ‘the best chairlift in North America’. It’s fantastic but unfortunately it’s also popular.

Squaw Valley Lifts Squaw Valley is somewhat like a European ski resort in both look and the diversity of its lift system that ranges from clunky old doubles to spanking new six packs, a cable car and a funitel, which is a hybrid between a gondola and a cable car. The lift line culture is also very European and powder day lift lines can be brutal. Pleasantries are generally avoided and the locals have ‘pushing in’ down to a fine art form.

As there are no marked trails, all of Squaw Valley's lifts are colour-coded to indicate the majority of the terrain type accessible from it. There is quite a step up in difficulty between the blue (intermediate) and black (advanced) designated chairs. Intermediates should generally not ride any of the black designated chairs (eg. KT22, Headwall & Granite Chief) as there is no easy way down. The converse is not true for advanced skiers as some of the blue designated chairs access all sorts of terrain, not just intermediate. Examples are the Emigrant and Squaw Creek triples.

Whenever possible avoid the High Camp Cable Car as the loading system is absolutely dreadful. First you line up in the queue race until you get to the gate where you’re crammed into a small space with lots of others. After a time you move through a door and into what you think is the cable car but it’s only an elevator. In a scene akin to the Tokyo train system, you’re sardine packed into the elevator. The elevator goes up just one level and after exiting the elevator you’re then squeezed onto the loading deck as the cable car approaches at an agonisingly slow pace. Finally onto the cable car, everyone pushes their way in and gets close and personal with their neighbours armpits. Upon exiting you’ll be pleased to know that you only have to walk up and down, in and out, plus left and right before emerging in the fresh air at High Camp. Oh my............

Two of the best chairs for non-beginners are the Emigrant triple and the Siberia Express quad as they access good terrain and get you away from the crowds. From there the fun begins.

Lift tickets At $US79 per day (2008-09 rate), lift ticket prices are in line with what you’d expect to pay for such an impressive ski area. Significant discounts are applicable to multi-day passes. To offset adult lift ticket prices, kids under 12 years old ski for only $US10 per day which is a bargain. Only problem is, how do you get your 15 year old looking 12 again?

Snow and weather conditions This is Lake Tahoe California, and when it snows it pukes, sometimes for days. However there are also long periods where it is doesn’t snow and the sun turns nature’s goodness into what is locally known as Sierra Cement. The powder is a little heavier with more moisture content than Utah or Colorado.

As a result of the abundant snow and the steep terrain, avalanche risk is commonly present. Definitely obey any closure signs. Due to the influence of avalanche danger as well as wind conditions, a degree of local knowledge is required to really enjoy a powder day here. You need to know the order that lifts typically open and on what days.

For the Beginner High Camp is the place to be for beginners (take the Gold Coast Funitel not the cable car). There are seven green and easy blue chairs to choose from (Links, Belmont, East Broadway, High Camp, Gold Coast, Mainline and Newport) and then there is a massive cruise back down the valley to the village via a groomed highway.

Intermediate Ski and Snowboard Terrain Intermediates will find plenty of entertainment at Squaw Valley. Whilst the majority of runs from the blue designated chairs are pretty tame, there is more than enough to satisfy.

For the Family/Kids High Camp is the centre of family fun with plenty of terrain to keep most ability levels amused. Nearby lifts like Shirley Lake and Solitude all add a bit of spice and return you to the High Camp area. High Camp also has a range of other activities and eateries. The night skiing from High Camp into the village is also a family highlight. Night skiing is free with any day ticket.

For the Shredder It is safe to say that Squaw has enough natural terrain features to keep any shredder permanently concussed. However the good people at Squaw have seen fit to build the obligatory superpipe and other ancillary parks and features as well. Several terrain parks are located in the High Camp area, and a beginner park, the Papoose Discovery Centre, is located near the village. The Belmont Terrain Park is a progression park, and the mean big daddy is the Monster Park.

Advanced Ski and Snowboard Terrain Despite the statistic that only 30% of the terrain is designated advanced, there appears to be truckloads more. The KT22 area, Silverado, Headwall Quad and Cornice Bowl plus the Granite Chief areas are huge. There are also plenty of advanced lines off the Squaw Creek, Red Dog and Emigrant blue designated chairs.

Expert Skiing and Riding Experts will love anything off the black designated chairs. Cliffs, steeps, and cornices abound. If it’s open there is some terrain under the lower end of the cable car around the Broken Arrow peak that’s very gnarly. The Silverado chair has several “leaps of faith” near it, and the climb to the top of the Granite Chief peak should provide some thrills. For trees, look between the Red Dog and Squaw Creek triples.

For the Powderhound If it is a powder day and the wind isn’t blowing too hard, GET UP EARLY. Whilst this shouldn’t need to be stated to the dedicated powderhound, this is the first ingredient to getting in front of the pack. The question is, do you what to ski the KT22 or head to broader freshie pastures? Stacks of punters will ski the KT22 because it’s a cracker, so as an alternative head up the Funitel to the Gold Coast, tear a few lines down Emigrant and then head to the Granite Chief via The Funnel for some choice fresh lines. Hiking up the ridge to the Granite Chief summit will open more fresh lines. By this time the Headwall Express area should be open or better still the Silverado chair.

If the weather is bad and visibility is a problem, hang around the Squaw Creek and Red Dog chairs. This area is often overlooked by others, so keep it in mind.