Posted by Big Al on April 13, 2010 under The Weekly Deal | 
April (and Ski Corp) just keeps on giving… We heard that Silvy was done for the year – that those windy, blown-back-onto-the-chair offloads Sunday afternoon were the Swan Song. But bright and early, the Snow Phone announced that she was a go. After my first lap in there, Patroller Sean joked that there were more people skiing the Chimney Sweep than there were skiing in all of Silverado. It was one of those magical days. No one here, over a foot of perfectly-settled late-season pow. And once again, although it felt bluebird there was still enough cloud cover to keep things skiing great way longer than they should be this time of year. It was another one of those days when I skied by the Blue House and shouted: “THAAAAANKS ALLLLEX!!!!” And now for the eye candy…
Chimney Sweep right before Rush Hour
Ahhh, a little wind in the hair on the morning commute...Chimney Sweep again
Mainline getting Pocketed yet ever so slowly
Cornice II looking as good as it gets in a typical February
Kima's Paw in Silverado: Meeeeyow!
Granite Peak just getting blasted
I don’t want to overdue how overdone the Chimney Sweep was today but I met a snowboarder on Headwall who rode it for the first time today. I happened to snap him in the crux:
Nice work. You can now wear a 'brah'
Posted by Big Al on December 31, 2009 under The Weekly Deal |
Have you ever been to one of those rave parties that takes over a whole building, each floor offering a different vibe, DJ and crowd? Me neither. But from the stories that come out of those joints, they actually sound like the skiing at Squaw lately.
Jamie Blair getting it done on an upper floor. The tunes: Granite Trance. Photo by Nicole Blair
This was another incredible week. Great skiing led up to a Tuesday night storm that had enough snow and wind for the ‘You Shoulda Been Here Yesterday’ folks to heat up their cel texts to all the poor wretches who weren’t lucky enough to be here on Wednesday. Squaw only claimed 8-12″ but people on the hill were calling it more like 14-16″. Thursday, New Year’s Eve Day, was another treat as Ski Corp was able to get just about all lifts spinning despite fairly high winds – it was also the opening of Granite Chief since the storm. December snows totaled 127″ making this the snowiest December in 8 years.
And what about the Rave? When the mountain is skiing this well each chair is like its own floor of an oversized party. On the 31st, I shared one on Granite with a couple guys who were all fired up. Remember: it was untouched, relatively cold snow which had opened just a couple hours before. These guys needed to leave Granite so they could bang out laps on Headwall because it, too, was skiing so well even though its fresh pow got schralped the day before. Next chair I heard someone say they had to get to KT because Chute 75 was so smooth (it had been open since yesterday’s opening bell). On the next ride a happy couple told me they came straight to Granite when it opened and were planning on staying there all day.
Nicole Blair (better half of Jamie from photo above) getting funky below The Attic. Photo by Jamie.
THEORIES ON NEW YEAR’S & SKIING THE NEXT DAY
Years ago on NYE while skiing at some other resort in Tahoe I rode a chair with a guy who said he annually didn’t party on that night because he liked to start each new year fresh. And yesterday on a Headwall chair an instructor was asked by his lesson what his plans were for the big night. He replied, “There’s an old saying around here: ‘if you want to fly with the eagles you can’t hoot with the owls and become a turkey.’” So even though they agree with each other, I have to say that I think this approach is a bit lame. From my ‘Sophomore Years’ of living in Tahoe we developed our own saying: “Start Strong, Finish Strong!” Well, whatever you decided to do on NYE 2010 I hope you were able to get out on the hill the next day. Either way, Happy New Year from Big Al’s Blog!
Check out Squaw’s full list of upcoming events, including the Olympic Heritage Celebration which is just around the corner…
Posted by Big Al on November 11, 2009 under The Weekly Deal |
Squaw had its first snow of the season back in September. The shores of the Lake saw white over a month ago. Though there wasn’t a Halloween storm like so many times in the past, we have had lots of weather. May was windy and overcast for weeks and in June I biked through fresh snow above Tahoe City. Since September there have been a near-record one dozen days of surfing the windswell on Lake Tahoe. Last Thursday we got at least 6″ on the hill and we may get a couple feet up high this week. The Old Timers and the squirrels are our best weathervanes and they, too, are hinting at a Biggie on the way.
Ghost Skiers in Tram Bowl, 11/12/2009
I was asking a Squaw vet about the crazy weather we’d been having all summer and as the blue sky we talked under got swept away by fast moving stormclouds he said, “It used to be like this a long time ago and we called these days ‘Hottie Coolers.’” As I envisioned attractive ladies in bathing suits he started describing sweaty men hauling mortar to build foundations for Squaw’s tram towers back in ‘68. Oh, he was saying ‘hoddie’! Well, they had big winters back then and this weather is a lot like those days so maybe it’s time to dust off the binding leashes and get ready….
And what about El Niño? Back in the day ski folk didn’t really pay attention to water temps off the coast of Peru. But it’s hard to argue with scientists who say we should expect a season-long, perfect storm that inundates California with way more precip and nastier storms than usual. And although the data don’t guarantee anything a few numbers from modern history can certainly make make the hair on your neck tingle: 1982-3, 1994-5, 1997-8. These were all strong El Niño seasons and fantastic winters at Squaw Valley. Although my weather links are great and I love what the people in white coats are saying, I still like to listen to the Old Timers and the squirrels – and it’s especially handy when they agree….
KT-22 on November 12, 2009
If you haven’t started your yearly rituals I’d recommend getting on them soon. Yank out all your gear. Hit up a ski swap. Sell something. Buy something. Call a ski bud who you haven’t heard from in a while. Stare at Squaw’s UberCam for a bit. If none of these things are part of your yearly rituals then get bonked over the head with the approaching season and go to a ski premier. Better yet, come to Squaw on December 3 for Rob Frohlich’s ever-growing “In the Mood” event showcasing phenomenal local ski and media talent in video and stills. If you’re just too darn lazy for any of this or simply want some bottled Squaw emotion sent your way, then click here and don’t forget to expand the screen.
THE MOUNTAIN OPENS ON NOVEMBER 21 – It’s Squaw’s 60th birthday party!! As part of the celebration, JT Holmes will BASE jump from the Cable Car at 2:20. Check out everything.
This is Squaw’s official blogsite and you are now part of it. Share your Greatest Squaw Day and win something or peruse the evolving gallery of characters that help make up the soul of the world’s greatest ski area. Thanks and see you next time…
The Light Towers & The Slot, 11/12/09
Tram Face, 11/12/09
Red Dog trees, 11/12/09
© 2009 Alex West, all photos and copy
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