Squaw Valley Resort :

With no direct flights from New York I headed to Squaw Valley, California via Seattle making use of my three-hour layover to catch up on history of the resort. Having hosted the Winter Olympics in 1960, Squaw Valley is often referred to as Olympic Valley, site of the first Olympics to be televised live, creating significant visibility for a resort modeled after European ski destinations that originally opened in 1946.  

I arrived in Reno on a late Saturday afternoon in mid-March to sixty-five degree sunshine, a welcome respite from another harsh New England winter. In Reno airport I met my host Connie, a spunky young public relations person, at the Giant Slalom bronze ski sculpture close to baggage claim.  A few moments later, we were eating Chinese food inside the Peppermill Casino, a popular destination for Reno gamers. As the sun began to set in the high desert west of Reno, Connie was gracious enough to drive me to The Village at Squaw Valley, a forty-five minute ride west into the stunning Sierra Nevadas. 

Squaw Valley Resort Lake Tahoe - One Bedroon Vilage Suite
My one-bedroom suite on the second floor of one of several lodges overlooking the village at Squaw Valley was simple, comfortable, and straightforward.  A small kitchenette and countertop separated a rectangular shaped living room with a dining table, pull out coach, flat screen television, and gas fireplace. In the bedroom, there was ample closet space, a window overlooking the village below, and a flat screen television. The bathroom was simple and straightforward too, enhanced by excellent water pressure in the shower. With no direct flights from the New York area to Reno, I was exhausted from nearly fourteen hours of door-to-door travel, and crashed early in a comfortable queen size bed. 

The next morning, unusually warm and brilliantly sunny, I strolled around the village which emanated an upscale feel that reminded me of Beaver Creek and yet more down to earth too. There were several cute, boutique shops and restaurants, a full-service spa, a brand new Wanderlust yoga center, and art galleries. At 6200 feet, The Village at Squaw Valley has everything one needs to enjoy a terrific week of skiing including magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. 

I met my first host adjacent to my lodge at the Starbucks, had a quick latte outside in the bright sunshine, and walked across the way to the ski rental shop.  A painless and easy ten minutes later and I had a pair of Solomon skis, along with boots and polls.  My guide led us to the cable station where we boarded the Funitel, a fast, comfortable gondola that fits up to sixteen skiers though it was just us and a couple from Seattle.  The views on the way up the mountain were breathtaking. I took plenty of pictures including several depicting an eighteen-hole golf course in the valley below. 

Squaw Valley Resort Lake Tahoe - Spring Skiing
The ski conditions on Sunday, my first day, were decent considering how little snowfall the region has received this winter. Normally Squaw Valley averages well over 400 inches a year, and in some years as much as 800 inches. However, this year the resort had just over 200 inches. Mountainsides and rock faces, normally completely white, were brown and bare in some places. Along the way up, my host shared his love of the Lake Tahoe region, and the Squaw Valley Ski Resort in particular, which is now merged with Alpine Meadows and in the midst of a 70 million dollar renovation. The two resorts, currently separated by a quick bus ride have a combined 270 trails and 43 lifts. 

From the cable station, we skied down to another lift that took us to one of the peaks at nearly 9000 feet. The snow was soft, what locals call “corny” as the temperature approached fifty degrees. I was impressed with how much beginner and intermediate skiable terrain Squaw had at higher elevations. Skiing the back side of the mountain near the Solitude lift was especially peaceful almost as if we had the entire Sierra Nevada wilderness to ourselves.  At multiple spots near the top, Lake Tahoe was quite visible to the east even though a fog layer formed from warm air mixing with frigid water.

Squaw Valley Resort Lake Tahoe - Dining
At Twenty-Two Bistro and Bar in the village, I met my host after a thoroughly enjoyable half day of bluebird skiing. Known for their Kobi beef burger and Ahi tuna, I ordered a kale salad and French fries. There are many restaurants to choose from throughout the village, including pizza, pubs, and Japanese. Across the way at the PlumpJack Café that evening, I enjoyed a super-tasty seafood sashimi cone ....