Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows 1/18-1/21/16

Two days squaw. They have the sickest lines. Hiking to them is a snap. Those powder hounds out there will chew everything up quick. My room looked out at the k-22 and they start looking up early. I didn't get the hard on everyone had for that lift. Yeah great terrain but there are about 20 lifts there that service great terrain. Over by the granite chief was a funky place to do ski. Granite chief quick hike signature line. I forget the hike left of the summit lift but that's another signature line you need to hit.  Different drop in depending on the size of your balls. I have medium sized.

Thanks TJ!

My brother is officially NOT coming, and the forecasts are sufficient for me to lock on Tahoe.  Either two days Squaw, or 1 day at Squaw and a backcountry day at Sugar Bowl.  Given the $111 Squaw lift ticket, a guided day in the Sugar Bowl backcountry (gratuity included) would only be an extra $100 to $140.  Would get me a day of touring/skiing and increase my untracked possibilities.  Would be a group, but I could deal.  Actually, ASI offers a day right on the back side of Sugar, or they also have a Ski Mountaineering Techniques day on the 4th, which could be cool.

For the Squaw day/days.....I've figured out what the best deal is!  A daily lift ticket is $111.  A FULL DAY advanced/expert  group workshop WITH LIFT TICKET is $199.  For $88 more (call it $108 with a tip maybe?) you get a full day of being guided around the mountain with instruction and lift line privileges.  So long as they do a good job separating ability levels (the person at their ski school I spoke to said to be very vocal about what I want and they do a good job).....seems like a no brainer?

One concern with that, starts at 10:00.  What time do lifts generally open at Squaw?  Don't want to miss the powder rush first thing waiting for a lesson to go out!

I would do the guided bc day at Sugarbowl. They get the most snow in the region and it is next to Royal Gorge, which is supposed to be spectacular.  Sugarbowl seemed a bit more open, not quite as steep as Squaw; more old school. It also felt more alpine style and was spread out. But, when we went, they were already on late season ops with a few outer lifts closed, so we didn't get the full experience.

Watch lift reports.

And if you decide to do a BC day, make sure you can get your money back if Avalanche danger is too high. It was "considerable" the entire time I was there. I wouldn't have messed with anything in the BC. I saw a guy recovering from an inbounds slide at Squaw, about 400 yards over some rocks. He was considerably shaken up.

You were out there during a big snow.  The weather coming in Thursday and Friday isn't as extreme, and if should be done (or severely tapering off) by the time I land.  I rented a 4x4.  Are tire chains something I should worry about?

I don't talk from experience, but I spoke to a few locals and they said chain restrictions are a real possibility during a storm

Yeah, in some of my (limited) research it seems most restrictions are during a storm, when snow might pile up quicker than can be cleared.  This system isn't a monster and by the time I'm driving in (after midnight) the storm should be done.  So I'm hoping it's a non issue.  Anyway, 4x4s with proper tires don't need chains, so maybe I'll rent the Jeep Wrangler for a couple bucks more....

Still time for the forecasts to change, and the latest trend is down a little in the snow totals, but it still looks like a 2-3 inch QPF storm with freezing levels no higher than 7,000, so it should be good for a couple feet of snow.  Excited for Tahoe!

i agree you should be fine
kudos to you for going cross country for the weekend

From Squaw's daily email blast:TAHOE SKI AND RIDE REPORT
Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Today will be breezy with partly sunny skies - one last day of clear weather to finish off this long stretch of sunshine.

Tomorrow clouds and winds increase as the next storm approaches. Mixed wintry weather charges in Wednesday evening and we should see heavy snowfall Thursday into Friday. Current models show snow levels fluctuating throughout the storm so we’ll see how this dynamic system shakes out. Stay up to date with real time lift and trail information on our website or download our all new app.

Open snow seemed to be the best weather source while I was out there:

https://opensnow.com/dailysnow/tahoe

Thanks guys!

Forecast are being tweaked, adjustments here and there, but this still looks like a decent event.  As much as 2 to 4 feet (depending on elevation).  Most of that now seems to be Fri/Fri Night, with some strong winds during the storm.  Light snow will continue throughout the weekend, with summit winds of 30mph give or take.  Given all that, limited ops seem like a possibility, so now I just have to figure out which day to ski Squaw to avoid negative impacts....I'm open to advice!

Just spoke to a friend who lives in the bay area..He said Tahoe was a Zoo last weekend....Heavenly had lift lines up to 1hr...
FYI

Skiing Squaw on Sat.  I am actually going to roll the dice on an expert group lesson.  The expert group lesson I did at Whiteface a few years ago was the best thing I've done for my skiing in 25 years.  Ended up being a private because there were no other experts taking lessons.  Not that I expect the same thing to happen at Squaw, but if they get the ability levels right (and I'll be vocal to tell them what I want and try to make sure they do), I'll have lift line privileges, I'll be with a knowledgeable local so I don't have to fumble my way around terrain and lift openings, and I won't have to ski alone.  Kind of baffles me but I'll take this......a daily lift ticket is $111.  A full day expert workshop with lift ticket is $199.  88 bucks (plus a gratuity) for front of the line access and a local to sow me the goods, with a little instruction along the way?  Almost sounds too good to be true, hope it isn't.  I'll let you know how it works out!  Worst case scenario is i beat the powder crowds to the goods early, then bail on the lesson in the afternoon if it blows.

Sunday crowds won't be a problem.  I'm doing a backcountry day with Pacific Crest Snowcats.  3,000 acres of private terrain off the Crest between Granite (Squaw) and Judah (Sugar) peaks, with a crew comprised of Alaska heli-guides to show us around.  Yes, no more than 24 people will get first crack at the new snow on Saturday , but my confidence level is pretty high that with all that acreage they'll find fresh lines for the 10 or 20 of us who go out on Sunday.

Looks like the PNW is actually going to get some snow (but not as much as Tahoe).  However, conditions reports off the groomers haven't been great the past week.  Furthermore, with a rain crust being a factor above 5,000 feet and a significant sleety/grauple layer at lower elevation, I'm not sure I'd want to risk the backcountry.  So, all in all, I'm happy with the Tahoe call!

Excellent plan..When I traveled solo I always took a 1/2 lesson..great way to eliminate the crowd problem..

Matt.....on Saturday I need to meet up for the lesson between 9:45 and 10:00.  If I'm at the hill early, would I have time to take a quick run before I have to meet?  That assumes that one of the lifts will actually open at 9:00, and I pick the right one to line up at.  Any thoughts?

JTG4eva! wrote

Matt.....on Saturday I need to meet up for the lesson between 9:45 and 10:00.  If I'm at the hill early, would I have time to take a quick run before I have to meet?  That assumes that one of the lifts will actually open at 9:00, and I pick the right one to line up at.  Any thoughts?

If everything opens on time you should have enough time to take the Funitel up, ski down to the Siberia Lift, you will not quite get to the top of Squaw but close. You will definitely have time to get one run to the bottom and if you hit it right you might get to take a second ride up Siberia then head to the bottom. Great warm up. Have fun. Too bad you weren't going next week, Silverado will be opening for the first time this season, talk about some gnarly fun terrain.

Yeah, just do one on KT 22. Ski down right under the lift, send the fingers, land switch, and just ride right into the lesson like that.