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 November 22, 2009 under The Random Deal |
Just a quick post to show you how JT’s jump looked – photos then a video link. There are two more story-length posts below this one so check ‘em out!
Finesse on the Release, photo J. Kelley. BTW, that's Mountain Manager Jimmy King enjoying the best view of it all...
Not all Opening Days are created equal, photo J. Kelley
photo J. Kelley
photo J. Kelley
Video of JT Holmes jump…as seen from the crowd
Posted by Big Al on November 19, 2009 under The Weekly Deal |
FR 11/20/09, 2:38 Update: IT IS DUMPING!!!!! BIG WAVES ON THE LAKE, SNOW IS PILING UP – WE ARE IN IT!!
Saturday is the first day of skiing for The Big Year! Before this storm was forecast most of us were thinking it would just be nice to spend time at the hill, a little wind in the hair on a lower mountain schuss. But now that we’re supposed to get two feet or more, well, we might have to actually consider which boards we’re going to ride.
Snowshoe Thompson readies to witness a big weekend
If you think about it this is the perfect weekend to get started for the season (you can’t really call it a ‘dry run’ because there’s potential for weather through Sunday). The meat of the storm is supposed to roll through on Friday afternoon and winds are to be light and westerly after that. It’s not Thanksgiving yet so everyone should be able to sneak away for at least a day. And the crowd is going to be a fired-up gathering of diehards, comers-back (thanks to the 50/60 Pass), and newbies who want to see what this Squallywood stuff is all about.
JT Holmes warms up for Squaw, photo Jim Scripps/RSCVA
And you know what? We’re all going to walk away psyched! Here’s why: Squaw is this huge, bold place with unbridled talent and terrain yet it’s got significant history and tradition such that you can see and hear and touch it everywhere you go. Squaw Valley has a knack for throwing huge parties that have an intimate feel. And all you have to do is show up.
So here’s the plan, short version first: Ski. Sip champagne. Chuck some guy out of the Cable Car. Boogie. Flick. That’s Saturday.
Long version: First we’ll click in and ski for a while. Will it be faceshots? I’m not going to say it is but neither am I going to say it isn’t…! Then we’re going to enjoy a delicious brew and kick back on the KT Sundeck. Then we’ll watch 9 year olds who can outski just about everyone watching as they do their Mighty Mite parade. Then we’ll lift a glass with Squaw President Nancy Cushing and the most famous bump skier of our time, Olympian Jonny Moseley. They’ll offer toasts to Squaw’s proud heritage. Next we’ll watch JT Holmes fly from the Cable Car and BASE jump into the Valley. The pageantry continues with the official 50/60 birthday cake and biodegradable balloon drop from the Funitel. After that we’ll get treated to a movie dedicated to the last 60 years at Squaw. For those with the juice, or babysitters, to continue there’ll be a DJ party at Plaza Bar and then another movie called “Flame in the Snow.”
So here’s to it! Get some early use out of that pass and let’s help Squaw combine two of the best things we have up here at elevation 6200: snow and show….
Nuts and bolts (which, of course, are available on squaw.com):
Anniversary Toast and Celebration with Jonny Moseley on the KT Sundeck (2 – 3:45)
2 pm: Mighty Mite Parade and Cake Lighting
2:10 pm: Champagne Toast by Nancy Cushing
2:15 pm: Jonny Moseley toast
2:20 pm: JT Holmes BASE Jump from the Cable Car
2:25 pm: Balloon Release from the Funitel and 50/60 Anniversary Cake
2:35 pm: Screening of “Squaw Valley USA – 60 Legendary Years”
A screening of Flame in the Snow Movie & Gathering with DJ Paul at the Plaza Bar to follow.
In addition to skiing, riding, and opening day festivities, guests can enjoy the snow as Papoose will be open for snowtubing from 10 am to 3:30 pm. High Camp, el 8200′, will be open for ice skating from 11 am to 4 pm and for lunch and drinks at the Terrace overlooking Lake Tahoe from 11:30 am to 4 pm. Beginning at 10:40 am, Sat & Sun, the Cable Car will be leaving every 20 minutes, with the last trip up at 3:40 pm and the last trip down leaving at 4:40 pm. All lift tickets also include Cable Car access. The Cable Car will be closed for uploads and downloads from 2:15 to 2:45 pm for JT’s BASE jump.
Tahoe Wave Forecast for Friday (yes, those heights are in feet). From NOAA.gov, see link below
Tram Face, 11/18/09
© 2009 Alex West, photos and copy (unless noted otherwise)
Tags: "high camp", "lake tahoe", "resort openings", "ski lake tahoe", "Squaw Valley USA", "Squaw Valley", "squaw weekly", "tahoe weekly", champagne, cushing, deep snow, granite, jonny moseley, kt, kt-22, kt22, moseley, nancy cushing, palisades, powder skiing, resort, riding, ski, skiing, Squaw, tahoe information, tahoe resort openings, tahoe ski areas, tram
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
Tags: "eagles nest", "high camp", "lake tahoe", "resort openings", "shane mcconkey", "ski lake tahoe", "Squaw Valley USA", "Squaw Valley", "squaw weekly", "tahoe weekly", cable car, deep snow, el 8200, elevation 8200, funitel, granite, granite chief, im better than you, kt, kt-22, kt22, links, mainline, mainline pocket, mother ship, newport, palisades, powder, powder skiing, resort, riding, shane, shirley, silverado, ski, ski patrol, ski resort, skiing, snowboarding, Squaw, squaw ski patrol, steeps, stick it, straightline, straightlining, tahoe, tahoe information, tahoe resort openings, tahoe ski areas, the couch, tower 1, tower one, tram, tram face, tram face ski event, tramface, weekly, yones
