Squaw/Alpine (N. Tahoe) Conditions and News- 2011/2012 Season thread

It is time to start the new season's conditions thread.  Feel free to post updates on the snow conditions and the mountain as the seasons goes. 

Looks like the snow guns and mother Nature have been working and Squaw has opened lower part of the Exhibition for race team training:

Image shamelessly pilfered from the Unofficial's site. 

This is not a conditions post but Squaw regulars will breathe a sigh of relief knowing that (this is from the latest Squaw release):

Squaw Valley’s favorite cookie shop, Wildflour Baking Company, will be reopening in an expanded location in the base floor of the Olympic House. In addition to their world-renowned cookies, Wildflour will be offering an expanded breakfast menu, delicious sandwiches, and a new express line reserved for cookie pass holders and past and present Olympians. The expanded shop is expected to open in December, in time for the 2011 holiday season.

Unofficial blog confirms the possibility of backcountry access through the FiveLakes area between Squaw and Alpine this winter...

As posted by John Parker:

I had the chance to speak with Andy Wirth after a recent event where he was presenting Squaw Valley SkiHolding’s plans for the future of the resort. It was a brief conversation and I knew he wasn’t quite ready do divulge much information on the possibility of other backcountry gates opening at Squaw, but I was able to ask him this one “interview” question.

I asked:

“is there a chance that we will be able to skin back and forth between Squaw and Alpine through Five Lakes this Season?”

His answer was a very plain and direct:

“yes.”

He did qualify the statement shortly thereafter by clarifying that Squaw is still working out the details with the Forest Service and that the resort’s utmost concern and priority is for the safety of its customers, and that the Five Lakes trail will not be opened without the proper evaluations and safety precautions etc… etc… But I did get the clear impression that Mr. Wirth was fairly pleased to be able to answer this question in the affirmative.

EndQuote

That's pretty good news, but does it mean I need make sure that I have touring bindings on all my resort skis now?  Of course a lift-serving connection through the White Wolf territory would be the best final solution to connecting the resorts, but I have a feeling that this winter I may be bringing skins to Squaw on a few occasions...  

Squaw/Alpine Merger officially closes.  There were rumors of it falling through, but the press release went out today saying that it is a really done deal.  Looking forward to ski some Alpine days this season!

Do we want to merge this thread with the Tahoe weather and conditions thread in the General skiing forum or move it there?   Moderators?

Bummer...  But looks like there is good snow out there.  I was thinking of coming up for a millisecond, but family duties prevailed...  Sledding Alpine is probably better than shredding Boreal in rental boots. :-)

Think snow, think snow, think snow...  4 more days until the opening day (Nov 23rd), and two more weeks for me :-(

While you are waiting for the lifts to spin, check out the latest Squaw EBay auction, which includes a neat package of:

• A pair of 2012 Volkl Gotamas and Marker Jester Bindings
• Two Gold Tahoe Super Passes with unlimited access to Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows.
• A private Dawn Patrol with Julia Mancuso and 20 people providing early access to Squaw’s slopes.

There are already bids for this (!)..., but....wait before you get all cynical:  the auction price is still a very reasonable $1,000, which is actually way less than the combined value of two passes.  The proceeds are benefiting the charity, so the money actually goes to a good cause. 

For the people less inclined to try their luck at an E-Bay auction, do not despair: the cheap passes are still on sale through Nov 30, the Dawn Patrol will be run by Squaw during the season, and you can check the Epic's Marketplace for bargain skis and bindings. And Jonny Moseley will most likely run his free "Ski with Jonny" events during the holiday break (this event is actually quite nice, especially after the bulk of the crowd gets left behind).  

Notice the new rates for Dawn Patrol at Squaw for this year, it is $29.  Looks like with the price Squaw dropped the "gourmet breakfast" option.  I'd say it is a good thing.

I am not sure that lower season ticket price cancels out the benefit of skiing at Squaw.  As someone with a family (who used to pay Cushing prices) I am firmly behind the new pricing schedule.   Looks like Dawn patrol will be a lot more popular this winter, and I am also sure that people will still line up for the first box even if they know that the "dawn patrollers" are going to beat them to the Silverado gates.  And at that price I would not mind trying out the dawn patrol on a proper day.  I am not paying to rip the frozen groomers though ;-)

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellside 

I just hope the price decrease does not cancel the benefit out like the lower season ticket price.
 

SUBMIT

Opening day tomorrow (I am going to miss it).  From the Squaw E-mail:

Fresh snow from Mother Nature and our own snow making system have added up to give us enough of the white stuff to open Red Dog, Exhibition and the magic carpets for the kiddos

So, not much will be open, but that't the typical story for the opening days.  Look for more terrain to open with more snowfalls.   

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philpug 

Thoughts of doing the Dawn Patrol for the Gathering day at Squaw?

 

It is should be totally worth it is the snow is good (on a bluebird powder day it may be worth twice the price, as you should be able to get multiple runs on Granite and effectively the first run on Silverado- if patrol opens the gates at the same time when the first tram starts to go up).  On an old snow day I venture to say that no one should pay for the privilege of cruising frozen Granite Chief groomer.  it is a lot of fun actually, but you can get it for free just my getting the first Funitel up.  Usually the first 30 minutes are all yours.  

P.S. I suppose Squaw hasn't warm up the idea of a specual Dawn Patrol group for the Gathering  

Backcountry link between Squaw and Alpine- it is a possibility  (but not yet).  

According to Squaw?Alpine press release, there will be an official "study" of the possibility of having backcountry gates at Squaw ostensibly for the purposes of establishing a backcountry connection to Alpine.  Note that as of now the Squaw's boundary officially remain closed, so dont bring your skins just yet.   Here is the full text of the press-release:

Squaw and Alpine Meadows Announce a Pilot Study to Determine Possibility of Backcountry Access Gates

Management staff working closely with United States Forest Service toward development of plan and policy

[Olympic Valley, CA] December 2, 2011 – Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows are announcing a new pilot study to determine the possibility of creating backcountry access gates permitting on-snow travel between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. During the 2011-12 winter operating season Squaw and Alpine Meadows management, ski patrols from both resorts, and the US Forest Service will begin a pilot study to investigate the possibility of creating several backcountry access gates permitting travel between Squaw and Alpine Meadows. If successful, the pilot study would result in a policy which could permit skiers and riders with specialized backcountry training and equipment to access the wilderness land connecting Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. 

“We will be working with closely with our partner, the United States Forest Service, to conduct the pilot study,” said Andy Wirth, CEO of both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. “With the safety of our guests and our team members as our primary concern, we will be doing our due diligence to determine whether or not backcountry access between Squaw and Alpine Meadows is a possibility.”

Since Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows joined under common ownership this fall, both resorts can be accessed on one lift ticket or season pass for the 2011-12 winter season. Shuttles will run constantly between Squaw and Alpine Meadows this winter, providing convenient and quick access between the two resorts.

The boundary management policies of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows will remain much the same as they have in previous years. With the exception of the conditions dependent pilot study, Squaw Valley’s boundary will remain closed as it has in prior years.  The Alpine Meadows Ski Area boundary will be managed as it has been in the past. The project will include route selection, potential issues relating to backcountry access during in-bounds closures, search and rescue issues, and interface with private land and wilderness areas. 

The goal of the pilot study will be to determine whether or not feasible locations for backcountry access gates exist – and if so, where the best locations would be in terms of topography and exposure. The pilot study will be launched when adequate snow conditions have been reached.