Whitewolf here we come! Alpine + Squaw. Dreams can come true.

[Sinecure]

Great interview/article with Troy Caldwell.

http://www.moonshineink.com/articles.php/6/2509#

Troy Caldwell Talks Squaw-Alpine Merger
By David Bunker/Moonshine Ink
* Web Exclusive *
Published: September 28, 2011
The man with the only logical ski lift link between newly merged Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski resorts sounded remarkably relaxed on Tuesday.

As the news of the merger that created the nation's largest, but still unconnected, ski area became public, everyone wanted to know what was on the mind of Troy Caldwell, the former professional skier who bought the 460 acres of railroad land in 1989 that sits smack dab in the middle of Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows.

As anyone who has looked northeast from the slopes of Alpine Meadows and seen Caldwell's lift towers punctuating the rocky hillside leading up toward the backside of Squaw's KT-22 knows, Caldwell's White Wolf property is intriguing and challenging ski terrain. And today, it may be among the most coveted pieces of property in the West.

With his phone ringing away in the background, Caldwell detailed the extensive analysis he has conducted on his White Wolf property. He knows that the area's exposure, which faces southwest in parts, but also turns east and west in other locations, makes it burn off approximately a month before Alpine Meadows closes in an average snow year. He knows he can route intermediate skiers through the property's many challenging rock features. And he knows that there are flat areas on the property that would accommodate large-scale development the size of the current Squaw Valley village.

Caldwell has been speaking with Squaw Valley owner KSL Capital Partners, but says a deal is not currently in the works for them to purchase White Wolf.

“I wouldn't say we are in active negotiations, but we certainly have all talked about the possibilities," said Caldwell. One thing that strikes you as you speak to Caldwell is his patience. He bought the 460 acres from a railroad company that handed over the deed with a hand-signed signature from U.S. President Grover Cleveland. Since that day over 20 years ago, Caldwell has analyzed the property's slope angles, groomed paths on the hill to judge skiing capacity, placed lift towers on the slope, and analyzed development potential -- all without any financial return.

All of that work has put Caldwell in the unique position he is in today, holding the one piece of property that could join two of Tahoe's most iconic ski resorts into an interconnected mega-resort that would dwarf any other in the nation.

After more than 20 years of waiting, Caldwell sounds like the patient, pragmatic -- and lucky -- landowner who saw decades ago what everyone else sees today.

"It makes it a pretty giant mountain if we get to that point," said Caldwell.

The development potential of the property, not only the lift linkage between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, might be one of the most surprising aspects of the future of White Wolf. Caldwell says two flat locations on the property could hold base villages that rival the size of Squaw's village. Caldwell has done preliminary planning work that lays out a base village on the property. The property currently holds residential zoning, but no commercial zoning, he said.

Alpine Meadows has been unique in the Tahoe ski world because of its near complete lack of commercial and real estate development at its base area. The lack of development has often been attributed to the fact that very little private land sits near the ski resort, which operates almost exclusively on U.S. Forest Service land. White Wolf, while being a strategic lift connection between the mountains, could also open up the opportunity to build on private land at the base of Alpine Meadows.

Caldwell is currently waiting as the merger unfolds. After 20 years of planning and patience, Caldwell can wait a little longer.

[The Dad]

Great interview/article with Troy Caldwell.

http://www.moonshineink.com/articles.php/6/2509#

Inaccurate on at least one front.

Alpine does not "operate[] almost exclusively on U.S. Forest Service land." According to court filings, and contrary to public perception, the majority of Alpine Meadows' skiable acreage is on private land.

[Unaware]

JMA will now purchase Kirkwood. Stay tuned.

[gone2alpine]

JMA will now purchase Kirkwood. Stay tuned.

It would make sense in several ways.

Except the Homewood <-> Kirkwood interconnect network is gonna be a bitch!

[Jim S]

And while it may not matter to you, I'm looking forward to finally making turns with you.

Hah..right on bro`!!!

[HiGrade1]

"Caldwell says two flat locations on the property could hold base villages that rival the size of Squaw's village. Caldwell has done preliminary planning work that lays out a base village on the property."

THAT. yuck.....

[The Dad]

He can lay out whatever he wants. He's not going to be able to get the requisite re-zoning.

As for Squalpine, they could build out the Subway lot or the meadow above the Stanford Chalet without the avalanche risk that would threaten the White Wolf plots. And even then, Squalpine wouldn't build a base village at Alpine at least until they run out of expansion room at Squaw.

Fundamentally, this is mainly pre-negotiation posturing between Squalpine and Troy. Both sides want to convince the other that they're prepared to go it alone, because the only real leverage in any negotiation is being willing to walk away. Objectively, I think there's no question that, on the one hand, both sides can walk away from the table and fly solo, but on the other hand, the combined property would be more valuable to everyone than separate entities. So I'd lay odds at 2:1, maybe 3:1, that a deal gets done.

[GrumpyPilot]

JMA will now purchase Kirkwood. Stay tuned.

Word is that this was tried by KSL and it didn't get far.

[onehotchili]

Which is essentially the same thing, at least from her perspective.

looks like the new owners of AM are already mixing things up. i'll have to attend a job fair with the new owners if i want to apply for a coaching gig at AM. what a way of "thanking" me for my 5+ years of coaching....

[skinnyskier]

looks like the new owners of AM are already mixing things up. i'll have to attend a job fair with the new owners if i want to apply for a coaching gig at AM. what a way of "thanking" me for my 5+ years of coaching....

On one hand, that's kind of disrespectful. On the other hand, is there any question you can't charm the pants off em?

[4matic]

looks like the new owners of AM are already mixing things up. i'll have to attend a job fair with the new owners if i want to apply for a coaching gig at AM. what a way of "thanking" me for my 5+ years of coaching....

Don't take it personally. There will be changes in mgt. and operating structure at AM with new owners. Count on some middle management being gone. They want to test your loyalties. Play the game if you want the job. You just might end up with a promotion. Show them the value you bring to the business and what you can add to that value. Unfortunately the way business is now you have to add value just to stay where you're at.

[brannen]

off topic of whitewolf but this is the first year that Squaw employees MUST pass a drug test before employment. if this rings true for Alpine now too, who the hell is gonna work there?

[powdork]

off topic of whitewolf but this is the first year that Squaw employees MUST pass a drug test before employment. if this rings true for Alpine now too, who the hell is gonna work there?

are you for serious???

[Wickedbrew4u]

off topic of whitewolf but this is the first year that Squaw employees MUST pass a drug test before employment. if this rings true for Alpine now too, who the hell is gonna work there?

Wow really, that seems preposterous that Squaw employees must take drug tests. Is that common practice for other resorts around Cali, and what if you have a card.

Also, Im guessing Troy would be much more willing to give up his land now that KSL is the owner and not the Cushings. Not sure if this story is fully true. I heard that they feuded over the land when the railroads finally decided to sell the land back in the day. Originally Squaw had dibs but Troy somehow managed to 100 year lease/buy the land before Squaw could get to it.

So the story goes that Squaw then tried to get Troy to trade the land for the old Cornice II chair (maybe wrong on this), but the deal fell through when Squaw tried to screw Troy over, hence the feud with the Cushings. So maybe hes lightening up a little and gonna sell it at some point. Also I think hes also tied up in litigation with Squaw concerning the rights to Whitewolf anyways so Im sure thats not helping his finances at all. I dont know if my above rantings are true or have been posted earlier so excuse my post.

God those empty lift towers below the South east face of KT look sooooo lonely up there. On the flip side there is major avy danger on that whole slope and if that goes then probably 20 houses on AM acccess road are toast.

[powdork]

just checked. from their online application

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SUBMITTING APPLICATION Pre Employment Drug Policy I understand that, as a condition of my employment, I will be required to submit to, and voluntarily agree to submit to, a drug screen and to any procedure to assess my qualifications for employment.

FUCK YOU SQUAW VALLEY!!!!

[splat]

I dreamt it would all be interconnected by tunnels like that big mountain railroad or whatever at Disneyland which, I believe, was modeled after the rocks at Squaw. It's fate.

[4matic]

what if you have a card.

Card doesn't mean squat with regard to workplace requirements and at will employment. I wonder if they are testing for weed?

[Sinecure]

Wow! If you screen ski area employees for weed, you'll eliminate a huge portion of applicants.

[4matic]

Wow! If you screen ski area employees for weed, you'll eliminate a huge portion of applicants.

Private Equity will cut costs any and every way they can. I suspect they saved a considerable amount on liability insurance by implementing testing. As you said, good luck fielding a team.

[nickwm21]

Oh no... these guys have to refrain from smoking pot for two weeks in order to get a job! When I worked at alpine, they had random drug tests, meaning if you fucked up, they would drug test you and get rid of you.... No different. People should not be stoned while working. Period. I don't care what you do after work, hey Ill partake, but don't be stoned while operating heavy machinery that could easily kill someone.

[The Dad]

Originally Squaw had dibs but Troy somehow managed to 100 year lease/buy the land before Squaw could get to it.

As I understand it, they called Squaw, got the responsible bean counter on the line, and asked him if Squaw wanted to buy it. He responded that they already lease it, so why would they want to buy it, and turned it down. Troy got wind from a buddy and the rest is (somewhat obscure) history.

As for drug tests, Alpine's online application says "ALPINE MEADOWS MOUNTAIN RESORT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND PROMOTES A DRUG FREE WORKPLACE."

[SnowHot]

Oh no... these guys have to refrain from smoking pot for two weeks in order to get a job! When I worked at alpine, they had random drug tests, meaning if you fucked up, they would drug test you and get rid of you.... No different. People should not be stoned while working. Period. I don't care what you do after work, hey Ill partake, but don't be stoned while operating heavy machinery that could easily kill someone.

A lot of resorts are enforcing randoms for groomers, for liability reasons. If a groomer has an accident on the job, then he/she automatically goes for a test.

[HiGrade1]

as long as they don't start drug testing passholders........

[dookeyXXX]

When I worked at alpine, they had random drug tests, meaning if you fucked up, they would drug test you and get rid of you....

um, that's not really random now, is it?

random would be where they just drug tested whenever, whomever, and however they wanted regardless; i.e. you show up for work and they pull you aside, hand you a cup and ask you politely to pee in it without any provocation whatsoever.

If you f@#k up on the clock and they drug test you, well that's hardly random at all...

[The Oxford English Dictionary defines 'random' as: "Having no definite aim or purpose; not sent or guided in a particular direction; made, done, occurring, etc., without method or conscious choice; haphazard."]

to the best of my limited range of knowledge on the matter, a great deal of ski resorts have a "don't ask/don't tell policy" which means that they do not drug test you up front, but if you are an employee and are involved in any kind of accident that causes either severe physical harm or property damage in excess of $500 they will test you for drugs and alcohol. i'm not sure, but i think this is pretty standard policy with any large business (time for The Dad to chime in!).

[TahoeJ]

That's one way to cut down on the KT-22 line on storm days...

as long as they don't start drug testing passholders........