I've been skiing at Squaw off and on for 18 years now and I've never seen as much wind hold on the lifts as we're seeing this season. I work for myself in SF and can drive up to Tahoe pretty much any time I want. If anyone could plan trips around the conditions it's someone like me. The equation for a non-local without a pass just doesn't work anymore. Every single time I've tried to go this season it's been wind hold. For me, given the other options, It's just not worth the money to only ski KT or only hit the upper mountain on blue bird days when everything is tracked out and turning to corn, or go to Alpine instead, which itself is definitely not worth Squaw money. I've gone up to Tahoe 5 or so times this season and only used 1 day of my 4 pack because I'd rather spend on good conditions and open lifts somewhere else than run down the 4-pack for limited terrain just bc I already spent the money. I would return my unused days for a refund in an instant if I could. I'm over it. You locals enjoy!
LineSkierI wasn't in the lift line. Reading comprehension. Try it sometime.
He way referring to one less person skiing at squaw, referring to you.
That being said, you want them to run the lifts when it's unsafe? Idk what more you want from the resort here, if it's too windy they cant run their lifts sometimes.
eheathHe way referring to one less person skiing at squaw, referring to you.That being said, you want them to run the lifts when it's unsafe? Idk what more you want from the resort here, if it's too windy they cant run their lifts sometimes.
I can't make the line shorter by leaving if I wasn't in the line to begin with. Anyway, who said anything about wanting them to run lifts when its unsafe? I'm just saying the wind hold is a real killer if you don't have a pass.
DeebieSkeebiesWith the amount of people buying up these multi-resort passes now, I think its both a snow safety thing and crowd-control. I have a feeling this presidents day weekend across the west will be an absolute shitshow. Its been a few years since a lot of places in the west have decent snow.
Would the multi resort passes not spread some of the crowds across more mountains.
My pass is blacked out at least for the weekend and lodging is probably crazy expensive for visitors so I don't even think about skiing over prez day weekend or "ski week."
I don't know if OP has spent much time at the top of Emigrant, Siberia, or Headwall on a windy day but the safety issue with gusts over 100mph in those spots is getting blown off a cliff let alone off the chair. Windholds are just something you deal with whenever a big storm blows through.
I can absolutely confirm that it’s been windier more often this season. I don’t think this is a case of mountains just all of a sudden deciding the margin of safety is now bigger, but I can speak for my ski area that we have simply seen more wind on more days.
We had 98mph winds just 2 days ago which just simply isn’t safe.
I think it might have to do with the jet stream’s position and some other weather factors. Plus, we are on the continental divide which artificially ramps up wind speeds with orographics and the like.
LineSkierI don't dislike it, but I don't think it's worth $100+ a day. Speaking of which, I can't help wondering if all these $79 Alpine-only flash sales have something to do with the wind holds at Squaw.
hm i guess i missed the fact that you're a day pass buyer. i feel ya there, buying day passes anywhere makes you justifiably a lot harder to please. i hear that
but it sounds like going to these mountains is a big thing for you-- wouldn't it be worth it to get a season pass? it pays for itself quickly. maybe the price has skyrocketed since i was there but mine paid for itself after like 4 or 5 uses
that said, dude alpine is an amazing mountain and IMO if squaw is worth the price tag, Alpine almost certainly is, so i suggest exploring it. it's got bits every bit as gnarly for the most part (gotta traverse or hike to a lot of them tho), it's got sick side country, it's got more sheltered zones than squaw, it's got generally longer fall lines and smaller crowds. alpine is the most underrated mtn in the US i say. when i bummed at squaw i ended up charging Alpine almost as often (esp for the sake of crowds!). estelle bowl for example is in the same tier of zones as the fingers and silverado in my mind, as in, some of the best inbounds zones in the country
SofaKingSickhm i guess i missed the fact that you're a day pass buyer. i feel ya there, buying day passes anywhere makes you justifiably a lot harder to please. i hear thatbut it sounds like going to these mountains is a big thing for you-- wouldn't it be worth it to get a season pass? it pays for itself quickly. maybe the price has skyrocketed since i was there but mine paid for itself after like 4 or 5 uses
that said, dude alpine is an amazing mountain and IMO if squaw is worth the price tag, Alpine almost certainly is, so i suggest exploring it. it's got bits every bit as gnarly for the most part (gotta traverse or hike to a lot of them tho), it's got sick side country, it's got more sheltered zones than squaw, it's got generally longer fall lines and smaller crowds. alpine is the most underrated mtn in the US i say. when i bummed at squaw i ended up charging Alpine almost as often (esp for the sake of crowds!). estelle bowl for example is in the same tier of zones as the fingers and silverado in my mind, as in, some of the best inbounds zones in the country
Honestly I don't know if I'd feel much differently even if I had a pass. In fact I might be even more upset because the part that annoys me is I prepay, but then I go there and the mountain is basically closed. I'll take another look at Alpine, though. I haven't spent much time there around storms.
dan4060An ikon pass is 900. That is dirt cheap for someone who lives in the bay. Why the fuck would you not buy an ikon pass?
$600 for the base if you buy early.
And for any parents out there, if you have the opportunity to buy your youngsters a pass before their 5th birthday it's only $29, we bought our passes last spring and my youngest has a summer birthday. Regular kid's passes are $149 if you buy early anyway.
mystery3$600 for the base if you buy early.And for any parents out there, if you have the opportunity to buy your youngsters a pass before their 5th birthday it's only $29, we bought our passes last spring and my youngest has a summer birthday. Regular kid's passes are $149 if you buy early anyway.
It hardly makes sense to do anything else. I did the same thing - base ikon for me, and the kids were cheap. Passes paid for themselves back in November.
mystery3Go check out Northstar?If you're serious about skiing Squaw you should have bought the Ikon pass last spring, skied some spring days and not have to worry about blowing a ticket on a half-day or a day with crap conditions? Just my two cents though.
Yes. Thank you. Northstar has way better terrain than Squaw