Squaw Valley Ski Resort ski area

Squaw Valley

It’s not unusual to hear a first-time skier at Squaw ask “Where are all the trails?” and it’s true that Squaw is unique in the U.S. as it offers wide-open bowl skiing rather than traditional, named ski trails. The vast lift-served acreage is the fifth largest U.S. resort and you are actively encouraged to use the lifts as a reference. Lifts are rated beginner, intermediate and advanced, based on the type of terrain that they access. In that respect, the area offers 25 percent beginner, 45 percent intermediate and 30 percent expert terrain, encompassing 16 open bowls and well over 100 runs. The highest elevation is 9,050 feet (2,758 m) while the lowest elevation is 6,200 feet (1,889 m)—that’s a vertical drop of 2,850 feet (868 m).

Something for everyone
This ski area is famous for terrain ranging from the tamest to the toughest. The high peaks and bowls are treeless, but lower down much of the terrain is lightly wooded. Skiers and snowboarders will delight in the variety. The steep chutes and dynamic descents of KT-22 (22 kick turns to make it down safely) beckon the wild freeskiers while miles of groomed trails and wide open mountain bowls for cruising cradle the novice. And two beginner areas (one at peak level, one at base level) satisfy all other levels of skier. Mix in long intermediate cruisers, expanded terrain parks, halfpipes and panoramic views of Lake Tahoe, and Squaw Valley is surely a must-visit ski destination.

Ski safety
The more advanced “expert only” skiing is not for adventurous intermediates nor for the foolhardy, who could easily find themselves in serious difficulty (or worse!) with cliffs and potentially fatal falls waiting for the unwary. Just about everything is visible from the lifts, but newcomers wishing to venture into unfamiliar expert sections are well advised to join an Advanced Ski Clinic or find a guide. There's no need for beginners and intermediates to be put off by Squaw’s reputations for ski extreme, though: the ski area is well marked with a variety of safety markers including “slow” signs, ropes, bamboo poles and markers that explain a range of the terrain's characteristics. In addition, members of the Ski Patrol regularly ski the mountain to ensure the safety of guests and offer assistance if needed.

Snow conditions
Lack of snow is not going to be a problem here, since Squaw has invested over US$8 million over the last decade in its state-of-the-art snowmaking system which enhances natural snow conditions and ensures consistent snow coverage. The artificial snow system includes over 500 snowmaking guns—some fixed, others portable, allowing the snowmaking crew to make snow in areas beyond the normal coverage zones—and it covers some seven miles (11 km) or 10 percent of the mountain’s terrain. The season here is exceptionally long (November to end of May) and sometimes the resort is open for 4th of July weekend (two days only) but only when conditions permit.

Night skiing
Night skiing is an additional big draw, available on the 3.2-mile (5-km) mountain run and in the Riviera halfpipe and terrain park. Night operations are generally open mid-December through mid-March. Lift access is via the aerial cable car and the Riviera chairlift.