Dr Robb Gaffney, M.D. has released a new bounce chapter to his legendary book Squallywood.

“Tram Face commands the attention of anyone driving into Squaw Valley as it abruptly rises nearly 1,200 feet straight up from the valley floor. The rock is primarily decomposed granite, which does not make for great climbing. But the skiing? There’s nothing like it. The entire face offers an array of runs from extremely difficult on rider’s right to easier and more open “advanced” runs towards the end of the ridge on rider’s left.” – Squallywood

Download Here – Squallywood.com

Routes: Map 1: Sylvester’s Slot (1), Big Boy (1b), The KK Line (2), Half Baked (3), Tram Chute Steep Entrance (4), Hidden Gem (4b), Tram Chute Middle Entrance (5), Tram Chute Left Entrance (6), Lua’s Lane (7), Mole’s Chute (8), Keep Squaw True (9), Gnarnia (10), Daydreams (11), Sluice Way (12).

Here is a look at just one of the lines described in the new chapter.

TF 8: Mole’s Chute: Since Mole’s is the most defined shot coming down from tram tower 1, people who aren’t familiar with the area commonly mistaken it to be Tram Chute or Sylvester’s Slot. As stated in the Forbidden Areas chapter, allegedly, Tom “The Mole” Caramila made 280 Lua’s Lane and Mole’s Chute SQUALLYWOOD history in the early ’70s by making his way down on a pair of 120cm skis. This line does not get skied often and for good reason. Water melting off adjacent cliffs tends to stream right down its gut, forming solid blue ice, which is often hidden beneath the snow. But when one pays attention to all the important details, this line can offer an amazing experience. It’s remarkably steep, straight as an arrow, and it’s a direct fall line shot, offering a view of the valley far below you for the entire descent. If there’s a place to get a rope out on Tram Face, this is it. There are great anchor opportunities above it and a standard rope length will get you far enough into the chute that you can fully assess the snow and what’s underneath it. Particular care should also be made to assess the hang fire on rider’s left. You don’t want anything shedding from above you on this one. Difficulty: 9

Pitch: 55-60 degrees

Fun Factor: 4

Rope: Good idea

Download Here – Squallywood.com

Julia Mancuso pulled the Wonder Woman outfit out of the closet and made this little kid’s day to promote this Santa Letter Sweepstakes by Squaw.  To learn more about the contest go HERE.

You many remember her bathing suit from this video that went full viral in late 2014:

This contest is trying really hard to be cute but they aren’t that upfront with the prize possibilities. Here’s what they say about that:

GRAND PRIZE Could range from any of the following prizes:

1. Dawn Patrol
2. Season Pass
3. Lift Ticket
4. Ski or snowboard equipment
5. Cat ride with Santa
6. Stay in the Village at Squaw Valley
7. Meet Squaw Alpine athlete
8. Exclusive access to terrain
9. Free meal at Rocker@Squaw
10. Demo skis

Big difference between a season pass and a lift ticket. Not sure how that gets decided?

Folks in Tahoe City have a bummer of a detour to get to the mountain today with highway 89 south to Squaw and Alpine closed due to avalanche. The avalanche hit two cars shortly after 3am but no one was injured. CHP is reporting the avalanche was 200 ft. across and 12 ft. high.

With 33 inches in the last 72 hours and winds reported in the 140mph+ range it is safe to say that Tahoe is experiencing a wild little winter blast. CalTrans Twitter is reporting road closures and chain requirements across the area.

Hopefully they open up the road soon before all those Truckee people come from the north and track it out all the freshies.

Respect the backflip off The Eagles Nest / McConkey’s. What you can’t see in the video is the runout is directly into trees. Please someone chime in and identify this Squaw Valley champion:

UPDATE: Squaw Valley Ski Patroller’s Death Was Explosives-Related

According to resort officials, a Squaw Valley ski patroller was killed this morning during routine avalanche control work. 

Squaw Valley officials said the accident happened around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday during avalanche control activities.

The ski resort will remain closed today as a result of the accident, Squaw Valley officials said.

In 2009, ski patroller Andrew Entin, also died during avalanche control activities at Squaw Valley.

Official Statement:

This is a developing story. We will update this post as more information becomes know.

*Our deepest condolences to the patroller’s family, friends as well as to the entire Squaw Valley community.

Squaw Valley has released a statement saying that the victim of the fatal incident this morning was ski patroller Joe Zuiches, a 42 year-old resident of Olympic Valley.

The Sierra Sun is reporting that, “Multiple sources familiar with the resort have confirmed to the Sierra Sun that the incident involved the use of explosives.”

Official Press Release:

(Squaw Valley, Calif.) January 24, 2017 – UPDATE 11:00 AM – Joe Zuiches, a 42 year-old resident of Olympic Valley and a member of the Squaw Valley professional ski patrol since 2012, was killed in a fatal incident at 8:35 AM this morning during avalanche control activities. The incident, which occurred at the top of Gold Coast Ridge at Squaw Valley, does not appear to be avalanche related. North Tahoe Fire Department and the Placer County Sheriff’s Office are on scene, and an investigation is underway. Updates will be posted here as they become available.

The team at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows is deeply saddened by this tragic event, and we extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends affected.

A press conference has been scheduled for 2:00pm today at the Alpenglow Conference Room in The Village at Squaw Valley.

Photo Credit: Matt Zimmerman | Cover Photo: Steve Jurvetson

In a recent post to their Facebook Page, Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows is letting its followers know that they will no longer tolerate “haters.”What exactly that means has yet to be seen but it seems as though they will likely be blocking followers and hiding user comments moving forward.

While Squaw Valley is obviously no nation– they would do well to learn from former president John F. Kennedy who once said, “We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.” 

Squaw Valley: An Open Letter To Our Small Corner Of The Internet

Image of CHP – Truckee

A man was shot and killed in near Squaw Valley this morning after the DUI suspect exited a car, holding his female passenger hostage, at gunpoint. Below is a a official press release from the Placer County Sheriff.

Placer County Sheriff’s Office Press Release:

“The Placer County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred around 3 a.m. today near North Lake Tahoe.

At around 1:40 a.m., CHP officers attempted to pull over a suspected DUI driver, who was driving dangerously and erratically on Highway 28. The pursuit was terminated a few minutes later for safety reasons. CHP issued an alert, and at 2:45 a.m., a deputy saw the car on Highway 28, near Dollar Hill, again driving erratically, and attempted to pull him over. The male driver failed to yield, and a pursuit began.

Spike strips were successfully deployed by CHP officers, and the car stopped on Highway 89, between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows. The driver exited the car, holding his female passenger hostage, at gunpoint, and walked away. He pointed his gun at deputies and at passing vehicles. He walked up a residential driveway with deputies and CHP officers behind him, attempting to negotiate with him. Fearing for the safety and lives of the hostage and the people inside the home where he was headed, deputies shot the suspect. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The female, as well as all deputies and CHP officers, were uninjured.

Highway 89 will remain closed between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows for a significant time while the investigation is conducted.

Tyler Curle, Moment Skis builder and avid punk rock listener going big off the Palisades at Squaw Valley USA

Squaw Valley is having a historic season with snow totals making for some truly hero conditions. Check out this video from February 22 of some Fingers action under KT-22.

[Video from gavinlura]

Squaw skier Aaron Fox sends some classic Squaw lines before stomping a big ol’ backflip over old highway 40 on Donner Summit outside of Tahoe.

Image From This Morning | April 16, 2017

Squaw Valley ski resort in California had such a big snow season this winter that resort officials are considering keeping the ski hill open through the summer, fall and right into the start of next ski season…

Squaw Valley CEO Andy Wirth told Truckee Tahoe Radio:

“I’m actually considering staying open through the summer and fall so it becomes the 16/17/18 season. We’re taking a hard look at that. Maybe we spin Shirley through the summer. There’s so much snow up there.”

“We think it’d be a cool thing if people uploaded on the tram and likely hiked up a couple of hundred meters and dropped Shirley.”

Listen to the full interview below:

Squaw Valley has received 700″ of snow so far this season. 

Also Read: 

Closing Dates For California Ski Areas [2017]

WATCH: 5 Years Of Snowpack History In The Sierra… As Viewed From Space

Image via Squaw Valley’s Facebook Page

Next Saturday, May 20th, Squaw Valley will be running the greatest chairlift in the world, KT-22 aka the Mothership,  until 7 p.m.

Related: These North American Ski Areas Are Still Open [Closing Dates]

Squaw made the announcement via social media. May 20th was originally scheduled as the closing date for KT-22 but resort officials are currently looking at the possibility of keeping the iconic lift open even longer if weather allows.

“This season is the longest KT-22 has been open in our history, so we are celebrating on May 20th by spinning the Mothership [KT-22] until 7pm.  See you there.” – Squaw Valley

This is the first time that squaw has done anything like this, that we are aware of.

Find the entire Facebook announcement here: KT-22 Staying Open Until 7pm

Tahoe historic winter sure stacked a lot of snow on the Sierra. In fact, North Lake Tahoe snowpack is sitting at 1,043% above average. What’s even better is that the slopes are still OPEN at Squaw Valley. 

Tahoe is not the only area of the west that is still holding deep snowpacks. Cottonwood Canyons in Utah are at 920% and Central Idaho is still holding strong at 264%.

Images: Squaw Valley USA

Squaw Valley Spring/Summer Operating Schedule

• Open for skiing and riding on Saturdays & Sundays June 10-25, 10am-2pm
• Open for skiing and riding July 1-4, 10am-2pm
• Open for skiing and riding on Saturdays starting July 8 into summer as conditions allow from 10am-2pm
• Aerial Tram open for sighseeting daily. Monday-Friday: 10:40am-4:20pm, last download 5pm. Saturday-Sunday: 10am-4:20pm, last download 5pm.

A look back at an absolutely massive season @ Squaw Valley.

Images from Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

USAToday brings us a look at their list of the 10 resorts for extreme skiers and snowboarders. The list is actually pretty good with only two resorts we would care to differ with. However, the list only includes ski areas in North America. We would like to see their list of ski resorts across the entire world.

10 Resorts for Extreme Skiers and Snowboarders

Jackson Hole, Wyoming
If only for Corbet’s Couloir, a world-famous chute that begins with a 30-foot drop, Jackson Hole’s reputation would be cemented.

Crested Butte, Colorado
Home to the Extreme Freeskiing Championships, Crested Butte has some of the most difficult inbounds terrain in the country.

Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
Whistler is so huge it’d be surprising if there weren’t a solid spread of expert terrain.

Snowbird, Utah
Double-black steeps like The Cirque dominate the upper terrain at Snowbird, making it an expert draw among the region’s many resorts.

Squaw Valley, California
Trail maps don’t make a distinction between advanced and expert here, maybe because a good portion of the expert terrain is unmarked.

Kicking Horse, British Columbia
Fully 60% of its runs are advanced or expert — and by expert, Kicking Horse means expert.

Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont
New England’s only triple black diamond run is here, a 1,600-foot trail called the Black Hole that falls at a grade of over 65% for its first 600 feet.

Telluride, Colorado
The trail map gods at Telluride make a distinction between merely “expert” double black diamonds and “extreme” terrain, and they mean it.

Big Sky-Moonlight Basin, Montana
Take the Lone Peak Tram to the summit and choose your own adventure: bomb down the world-famous Big Couloir, take your chances on the A-Z Chutes or plunge down your pick of insane fall lines at The Headwaters.

Sunshine Village, Alberta
The three mountains of Sunshine Village in Banff National Park have some truly scary off-piste terrain. When ski patrol allows, a freeride zone known as Delirium Dive opens — but only to those with avalanche gear and a buddy. The drop averages a perilous 40 degrees for 2,000 vertical feet of cornice-and-cliff glee. Another experts-only freeride area, The Wild West, gives Delirium a run for its money and is also subject to the same backcountry rules.

The proposed route | Image: Squaw/Alpine

• Gondola would stop on KT-22, easing Red Dog and KT-22 lift lines
• Would operate only during the winter months
• Will transport 8 skiers per gondola
• Large spacing between gondolas
• 1,400 skiers/hour
• Would allow Alpine guests to visit Squaw’s dining options and shops at night 

The dream to combine Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows has been in the works for nearly a decade but a recent meeting of the minds shows that they’re getting close to breaking ground on this monumental project.

Related: Squaw Valley Pens Open Letter To Facebook With Plans To Censor ‘Haters’

The meeting, as reported by the Friends of Squaw Valley, occurred on August 4th and involved Squaw Valley CEO Andy Wirth as well as pivotal land owner Troy Caldwell. The owner of the land between the two resorts, Caldwell has been a proponent of the gondola and stands to benefit financially from the new lift.

“Connecting Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows is something skiers and snowboarders both who live here and who visit have dreamed of for decades. We are excited to have reached a new milestone in the effort to bring that dream to fruition, and are moving forward with plans to provide our guests with a seamless way to experience both of these incredible mountains.” – Andy Wirth, Squaw Valley President & CEO

Of the many pertinent points covered in the meeting, the most impactful seems to be that federal and local agencies are currently completing environmental reviews for the new lift. Those reviews should be complete later this fall at which point there will be a public comment period.

The planned route will travel from Squaw to Alpine and visa versa bordering The Five Lakes area. Although this route is the primary choice, it’s not set in stone by any means. If environmental reviews recommend against traveling so close to these wilderness-based water sources, they can always change the route and do another review.

BASE-TO-BASE GONDOLA FAQ

What is the purpose of the Base-to-Base Gondola?

The Base-to-Base Gondola is intended to provide a connection between Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley, so that skiers can take advantage of the offerings and terrain at both mountains without traveling by vehicle between the two areas.

What are the project benefits?

The proposed gondola would provide an exciting new dimension for guests at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows with convenient and scenic lift service between the two mountains, offering access to terrain for all ability levels at both mountains. The Gondola will allow Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Ski & Snowboard School programs to utilize both mountains in the same day, enhancing the product offering for guests.

Based on survey and other data, it is estimated that the proposed Gondola could reduce daily traffic volumes by approximately 100 vehicles along Highway 89 (between Squaw and Alpine) as well as on Squaw Valley Road.

Where will it be located?

The project site is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, in Placer County. The Gondola would extend from the base of Alpine Meadows Ski Area to the base of Squaw Valley Resort. The portion of the project within Alpine Meadows would be located at Alpine Meadows Ski Area which operates under a Special Use Permit on the Tahoe National Forest. The project will be subject to review and permitting under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The portion of the gondola on the Squaw Valley side would be located on private lands owned or leased by Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, including land owned by Troy Caldwell, with whom Squaw Valley has arranged an agreement to operate the gondola in winter months.

Will the Base-to-Base Gondola be located on wilderness area?

No, the Base-to-Base Gondola will be located on area leased or owned by Squaw Valley Ski Holdings.

When is the estimated completion planned, and when will the gondola open to the public?

Applications for the project have been submitted to Placer County and US Forest Service and are pending approval—at this time an approval date has not been specified. Once approved, the Base-to-Base Gondola will take approximately 10 months to construct.

What are the specifics of the Gondola?

It will be an eight-passenger gondola with a design capacity of approximately 1,400 people per hour in both directions. In total, the gondola will be about 13,000 feet in length. There will be two base terminals and two mid-station terminals, connected by approximately 37 lift towers. It will take approximately 13-16 minutes to take the gondola from one base terminal to the other.

Where will the four gondola terminals be located?

The Alpine base terminal will be located on National Forest Service Land (NSFL) and situated to the southwest of the Alpine Meadows base lodge. The Squaw Valley base terminal would be located on private lands between the bottom terminals of the KT-22 and Squaw One express lifts. The Gondola is designed with two mid-stations: one on private lands atop the Saddle trail ridgeline approximately 1,100 feet southwest of the KT-22 express top terminal, on the left side of the Saddle run just beyond the Dead Tree run, and the other located on NFSL about 650 feet north-northwest of The Buttress in the northern portion of the Alpine Meadows special use permit area.

What kind of access will guests have from the four gondola terminals?

Guests will be able to load and unload at the Squaw Valley base terminal, the KT-22 ridge terminal and the Alpine Meadows base terminal. Guests disembarking at the Saddle mid-station near the KT-22 Express top terminal on the Squaw Valley side will be able to ski or snowboard down to Squaw Valley.

Will the Base-to-Base Gondola operate year round?

No, it will only operate during ski and snowboard season. The gondola cabins will be removed from the gondola cable after it closes operations for the season in order to reduce impacts on the surrounding view shed.

What is the official name for the Base-to-Base Gondola?

A name has not yet been finalized.

Will lift tickets and/or season passes prices increase?

There are no plans to increase prices based on this access. The gondola would simply make it easy for skiers and riders to explore both mountains with a single lift ticket or season pass, without needing to travel between the two by car.

Will skiers and riders have access to White Wolf?

There are no plans currently being contemplated to allow skiing or other non-skiing activities along the lift route or on the White Wolf terrain, privately owned by Troy Caldwell.

Will any existing skiable terrain be reduced during or after construction?

No. Existing skiable areas of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows will not be affected by the gondola construction.

Will Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows continue to operate the shuttle bus between the two mountains?

Yes. Shuttles will continue to operate in order to provide transportation during ski season when the gondola is not running. Shuttles may also continue to operate during ski season in order to provide another alternative for transportation between Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley. The planning process will include the completion of a traffic study to help determine the frequency and schedule of shuttles.

What environmental considerations are being taken into account with this project?

Squaw Valley Ski Holdings and Troy Caldwell have worked extensively with the mountain planners at SE Group to design a gondola that ensures stewardship of the high alpine environment whose natural beauty is integral to the overall Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows experience. The project will be subject to review and permitting under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The planned Base-to-Base Gondola will be carefully designed to minimize the overall footprint and potential visual impacts to the adjacent Granite Chief Wilderness, as well as maintain the scenic beauty of the area.

To accomplish this, design elements include locating the gondola as far from the Wilderness boundary as possible given the rugged terrain, minimizing the number of lift towers and diminishing the need to construct access roads. The Gondola capacity is intentionally planned to be relatively low at 1,400 people per hour (a typical high speed lift transports at least 2,000 people per hour) in order to minimize the number and height of lift towers. In addition, the gondola would utilize an innovative power generation system to supply necessary electricity to the two lift mid-stations thereby avoiding the need to install above or below ground electrical power. The result of these efforts would significantly reduce necessary timber removal and vegetation clearing for construction, and would minimize impacts on watershed, soils and natural resources throughout the planned lift corridor.

Recognizing the visual sensitivity of the surrounding area – particularly the adjacent Granite Chief Wilderness, measures will be implemented to minimize the potential for adverse visual impacts from the perspective of design, materials and equipment selection, and operational practices. Specifically, materials and equipment for the gondola would be selected using blending coloration and low reflectivity. The gondola would also be designed to allow the cabins to be completely removed from the line during non-operational periods.

In addition, it is anticipated that the operation of the gondola would substantially reduce guest vehicular traffic between the two resorts, leading to a reduction in overall vehicle emissions.

What about avalanche control around the Base-to-Base Gondola?

As part of the Base-to-Base gondola project, Gazex Inertia Exploders would be required in zones at Alpine Meadows that traditionally require hand charges or artillery for avalanche mitigation, in order to eliminate the hazard of direct artillery or indirect shrapnel impacting the lift. The Gazex Inertia Exploder is a remotely controlled avalanche mitigation system that uses compressed gas to create a concussive blast, triggering controlled avalanches before they become a hazard. Four gas shelters and eight exploders are incorporated into the current project plan for the Base-to-Base gondola.

Find out more here: Base-to-Base Gondola @Squaw

Tesla’s Powerpacks will power an energy storage installation at Squaw Valley in North Tahoe, California. Electrek.co reports Squaw and Liberty Utilities have announced the proposed “Olympic Valley Microgrid Project” in the North Tahoe region.

Squaw will be providing the land for the battery system, which will provide grid services and have a power capacity of 8 MW. Local renewable electricity will charge the system which should help the company achieve its goal of being 100% powered by renewable energy by the end of the year.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows President and COO Andy Wirth commented:

“It is inspiring to work with a motivated and innovative utility provider like Liberty Utilities on a project that will bring tangible, long-lasting benefits to the power grid that supplies our entire community. This project has the ability to significantly increase the resiliency of Olympic Valley’s current power sources, and help set the entire Tahoe Truckee region on a path toward a greater goal of identifying and implementing 100 percent renewable energy sources.”

The project has been submitted for review and approval by the California Public Utilities Commission and Placer County ahead of the start of construction.

Squaw has an entire page dedicated to their goals of being 100% renewable you should check out HERE.

A hiker was killed on Wednesday night after he fell 100-foot down a Sierra Nevada cliff, according to The Sacramento Bee. 

The hiker, Rene Dewarrat, 36, of Truckee was climbing with two friends after dark with plans to camp at Big Chief, just east of Highway 89 and Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows Ski Resort. About 9:45 p.m., the two friends called 911 to report that Dewarrat had fallen off a cliff.

The three men were climbing on what Sgt. Dave Hunt of the Placer County Sheriff’s Office called “a pretty expert trail” in a popular rock climbing region of the Sierra Nevadas.

The accident occurred when Dewarrat fell off the edge of the trail after attempting to skirt around a boulder in the middle of the trail.

His body was found about 8:20 a.m. Thursday. He appeared to have died on impact from the fall, said Sgt. Dave Hunt of the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.

“I was conscious for about 45 seconds while I was under the snow then I ran out of oxygen and passed out.” – Even Huck

Its one of those things unique to the ski resort industry…sometimes the more dangerous conditions get, the more people want to ski. Business is thriving at Squaw Valley the day after the entire resort was shutdown due to avalanche danger that left 5 people buried, two of which injured enough to be sent to the hospital.

Please ride safe out there in Tahoe. Always ski with a friend and if you own a beacon its a good time to wear it even if you are on a resort.  Be alert and don’t assume that being inbounds means you are safe from avalanches.