North Shore Mags: Squaw or Alpine this year?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by freshies

I hear ya 3PIN, Alpine b/c of the hikes is what makes it....maybe that idea of just buying the Alpine pass as I usually do and then buying afew days @ Squaw is the way to go...

3PIN, idn't know you moved down the hill, how is reno treating you? Do you commute up to Truckee every day for work?

---

Reverse commute.... our office is now in Reno (moved down here on July 1st), and I'm still living in Truckee. Once production dies down for the winter, I'll be working more from home instead of commuting, which should give me a little more time to ski.

The hikes are my favorite part about Alpine. But as Guermo said, I would kill to have a lift like KT on storm days. The least Alpine could do is run Roundhouse/Alpine Bowl on stormy days. Did they even do that once this year? I never saw it. Sucks.

Quote:

---

Squaw - Where's the fucking lodge? Where the hell are you supposed to put your boots on?

---

Downstairs in Olympic House.
http://squaw.com/winter/olyhouse.html
By Wildflower Baking and the Video Arcade.

I tend to get more excited about visiting Squaw than Alpine, although I do love Alpine.

2 Questions.
Which is the better resort on a hardpack "Icy" day, I wonder ?
(I remember almost dying in Hot Wheels Gully at Alpine, once, though :redface: )
Which has more open on a storm day ?
(Once at Squaw, they were only running Exhibition/Searchlight & Far East :nonono2: )

one more factor favoring AM is the fact that on weekends, the hikes can be pretty empty, more so than a mid-week pow day, b/c then its all locals hiking too.

I have had some amazing pow days on a Sat and Sun @ Alpine, where I was basically on my own out towards Twin Peaks and/or Estelle, b/c the gapers didn't know where to go/weren't strong enough to get out there...and jjust did lap after lap of fresh snow. That's not gonna happen at Squaw...

Alpine for me. No doubt Squaw has the goods, but I can't ever remember not being able to find something to challenge me at Alpine...Beaver, Estelle, Bernie's, the backside...plus, there's that $600 difference, which equates to a new pair of KW fats or Bros or some other quiver enhancer.

Freshies - About 6 years back I was in the same boat as you. I felt as though I knew every tree at Alpine and only the basics at Squaw. Then I started skiing with a crew that that grew up in the valley and my world changed. They took me to school and showed me where to go days after a storm and find untracked snow. And how to ski specific roll overs that never seem to get tracked out. So don't worry about the Squaw getting track out faster than AM. For sure Squaw can be intimidating at first if you don't the mountain but at the same time learning the mountain is a whole new challenge.

Just like Big Blue said, there is nothing in the world like standing in KT line up at 7am on a big day. You walk up to KT with your breakfast and coffee in hand, surrounded by friends and poised for another epic 8 hours, the buzz is just huge (very hard to describe)! The energy level is high enough to power the mountain.

Also, the terrain and caliber of skiers push you to another level. Skiing Squaw on a regular basis is very humbling. Especially once you sync up with a fun crew that pushes you to ski lines that you would not ski on your own, as I did w/my buddies that grew up in Squaw (they make me feel like I'm a total hack - which I am of course).

In my opinion the lift lines are shorter at Squaw. As long as you don't follow the crowds over to Granite on Saturday at 10am, but why would you do that anyway. 90% of the time you're on KT and Headwall with the remainder of your time being split between BA, Silvy, SB, RD days after a storm and Granite just to remind you how much slow lifts suck.

Here are the top reasons for Squaw over AM:
1. KT
2. KT
3. Cheap beer at the Chammy w/friendly faces
4. KT

i would never try at all costs to ski squaw every day that i can for the rest of my life. i would never try that.

In my best Warren Miller voice, "Remember, if you don't sack up and buy a Squaw pass this year, you'll be one year older when you buy one next year." That being said, I hope you're not giving up on yourself because you're 37. That's no excuse. Just seek out steeper, more body-friendly landings! Give Squaw a try. I can't imagine you'll be disappointed. You may return to Alpine next year, but you won't regret the one season you hit Squaw up.

Very well said Green Run ,
my sentiments exactly.

What Sinecure said.

And when you're looking for passes/kids programs for 5 people, the savings really add up.

Not to mention that Squaw's kids program starts at 8:15, compared to 9am at Alpine.

Ss much as I love Granite Chief, Silverado, Broken Arrow, and Headwall (and even KT, although not like some of you), to me, it's just not worth twice the cash, the lines, or the gaper slalom.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jim S

Get the Squaw pass.

FYI: I'm 43 and keep pushing it harder and scarier every year. Maybe not big like the major players at Squaw but at least I try to push myself every year so far.

---

Like Huckasoreass said and in the context of what I said.

And skiing amongst skiers of an amazing caliber makes me better and push myself. Skiing with Huckasoreass and his bro is one example. When I was standing on top of the Palisades at the Tube and thinking should I or shouldn't I because of a crevasse...then Alkasquawlik hucks with no hesitation and in style, made me go for it. (....like a lemming)

Granted there are fantastic reasons for Alpine and remember, you can always get BOTH passes or get ONE and still hit the other area.

The nostalgic history of Squaw, seeing it in soooo many DVDs/films, and being amongst icons makes it a place I simply have to hit over and over on a regular basis. And my two sons feel the same way.

I did the same pro/con thing - except with Squaw, Alpine & Kirkwood.....at a very weak moment I pulled the trigger on a Squaw pass....I can't wait...

....I have 2 years out here under my belt and last season I improved more than I thought possible in my life (it's all relative though - started quite low)....this will be my second season on big skis, I'm 34 and I think I may actually have it me to do some crazy shit...I just hope I don't have to change my name to 'huckacripple'....

....now over never...step up to squaw bitches :FIREdevil

(I may still get the K-wood value....and I'll def get the Rose value for quickhits....and I'll see you Alpine foos a few times in the spring prolly)

i was re-reading some of the comments on Squaw vs AM. if i were single, no family, no kids, and at my fresh age of 36... i would be at Squaw hands down. i don't rip as hard as i used to... but that is mostly due to only getting 40-50 skier days/year under my belt vs. 100-150 when i was racing etc.

as soon as my girls are old enough to really learn how to rip, we'll be at Squaw. i am guessing 2 more years at AM, then we'll switch over....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TurxSki

Downstairs in Olympic House.
http://squaw.com/winter/olyhouse.html
By Wildflower Baking and the Video Arcade.

---

Yeah, I'd found that, but its a bit of a zoo in there. Better than nothing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TurxSki

2 Questions.
Which is the better resort on a hardpack "Icy" day, I wonder ?
(I remember almost dying in Hot Wheels Gully at Alpine, once, though :redface: )
Which has more open on a storm day ?
(Once at Squaw, they were only running Exhibition/Searchlight & Far East :nonono2: )

---

I'd venture to say that Squaw might be better on an icy day just because their grooming tends to be better and I'd rather ride/ski well groomed hardpack (we don't get real ice in California) than poorly groomed hardpack.

On a storm day Alpine tends to have more open than Squaw. I've noticed this a lot over the past few years. Especially if the wind is blowing.

ICY DAY....? Squaw blows! Leave the skis; bring the ice axe and crampons.

Alpine...never had the mispleasure of being there on an icy day

alpine is beat on a storm day.
Go to squaw shred Red dawg and KT come home wet, tired and full of snow.
Laugh at freinds who skied 30 laps on roundahouse.
repeat tomorrow
smile

I have a Squaw Pass through work and my wife and I buy Alpine passes. I have skied at Alpine for 15 years. I would buy an Alpine pass because of the open boundary policy and the fact that you can get away from people even when the parking lot is full. Granted that Squaw has more sustained steeps but as for vertical there is a lot of run out on Granite Cheif, Silverado, Headwall, KT, and even Siberia. When it has not snowed in a while, it is a bump fest at Squaw and you can still ski smooth corn on South facing slopes off of the High Traverse or Estelle and Beaver. This year, there was too much powder for the corn cycle but silky smooth corn is much more abundant in your typical Sierra Spring at Alpine.
The talk about Kt vs roundhouse on a storm day is valid but there is many a storm day that Summit is spinning and the Funitel is the top of Squaw. Kt getting tracked out vs. a deserted Summit and all of that Terrain is a toss up. I am glad I do get to ski both but if I had to choose, I would still choose Alpine and have no regrets. I am a knee dipping forest fairy so that probably has an influence as well.

I think I have just been convinced to open a new bank account. The "Squaw Valley USA - Home of the 1960 Winter Olympics Ski Pass" account. I'm saving in $NZ, so it should only take a couple of years.

If you want to bring your skiing to the next level, spend a season at Squaw. If you want improve your horizontal travel skills and ski little shots, then Alpine is better. Nowhere in the world can you ski 10,000 vert an hour of off-piste except on KT. Squaw is the perfect training ground for the big leaugues!

what timing.... but a buddy of mine just forwarded me a response from Squaw about their pass prices. Squaw sounds just a little "arrogant" about things...

FYI, he sent them the following comment via their website:
"your season pass prices are a joke!!"

this is their response:
"Xxxxxx,
The good news is you don't HAVE to buy a season pass at Squaw. You can
buy a season pass at an array of other mountains in the area. And guess
what? You may think our pass price is a joke, but I think a lot of
aspects of other mountain are jokes. If Squaw went the cheap pass route
like Northstar, I'm sure we would be kicking ourselves 3 years down the
line. Have you ever sat in Northstar traffic? I have and I think it's
a joke. Have you ever had to park 5 miles away and then take a shuttle
to the mountain? I have and I think it's a joke. Have you ever had to
wait in such ridiculously long lift lines that it makes you question
whether or not the price you paid for your ticket/pass was even worth it
because you spend more time waiting than riding? I have and I think
it's a joke. My point is that the very reason why we keep our pass
prices high is to make sure that the people who ride Squaw don't have to
deal with traffic, parking issues, long lift lines, and all the other
inconveniences that come with a super cheap pass. We like the fact that
you can come to Squaw on the busiest day of the season and park no more
than a 2 min walk from the lifts and never wait in long lift lines, or
wait in lines to hit features in our park. We could have pass prices
that weren't, in your eyes, such a joke but then there would be a whole
lot of other nuisances that most people probably wouldn't be laughing
about. That said, I do value your opinion. I'm not going to try to
convince you to buy a Squaw pass, but I can tell you that that pass
price is probably not going to get any cheaper any time soon and that's
no joke."

Squaw Valley marketing machine at it's finest. I always loved calling the fantasy phone in the mornings to hear the update.

SQUAW: WE CARE ... IN OUR OWN WAY

I kind of like the 'tude in that response and I think that person is dead-on accurate about Flatstar.
After the Ritz is built, to ski Flatstar, they'll ask you to park at Squaw !

that email reponse from Squaw was fooking classic! he could have saved a lot of time typing all that with a simple: "fook you. if you don't like it, don't buy it"

hmm, lots of good feedback here, thanks all! still on the fence, but I have a month to figure it out. 10 yrs of passes @ Alpine makes it a natural right of summer to renew, hard to think that I may be going over to the dark side and cheating on my lady with that hussy Squaw :D

still the $749 full pass @ Alpine would allow me to still buy 5-10 daily tix @ Squaw over the season, and have good days @ both. but over the last 10 years or so, I have probably only skied Squaw like 20 times max...you know how it goes: once you have a pass somewhere, you don't want to spend extra $ going somewhere else, unless you can get a hook-up.

Freshies, do you know about Squaw's Frequent Skier Club? Nominally $5 or $10 to join (I think Snowbomb or someone does an early season freebie deal, though), you ski every fifth day free, and Tuesday through Thursday tickets are $12 or so off face.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by alpinedad

Freshies, do you know about Squaw's Frequent Skier Club? Nominally $5 or $10 to join (I think Snowbomb or someone does an early season freebie deal, though), you ski every fifth day free, and Tuesday through Thursday tickets are $12 or so off face.

---

And if you live within a 50 mile radius (ID required) you get a discount on T-Th as well. Last season it was $41 or $43.

A buddy and I have talked for years about buying a Squaw pass for a season. It's something that I'll do within the next few years. I'll combine it with a Mt Rose pass to avoid those warm storm doldrums. I was amazed at the number of Squaw Vally passholders who had Mt Rose passes as well this past season. It usally takes a few storms for Squaw Valley to get good in the early season.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gageyk

I was amazed at the number of Squaw Vally passholders who had Mt Rose passes as well this past season. It usally takes a few storms for Squaw Valley to get good in the early season.

---

Opening Day at Rose last season was a laugh. All the Rose passholders were sitting in the lodge drinking coffee and BSing and not going anywhere as of about 8:20, and there were four guys already in line who had obviously been there for quite a while. Finally people started rolling out to join them at about 8:30.

I noticed once I got out there that they were Squaw locals with day passes :D