Chasing Icons: It’s Miracle March at Squaw Valley
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Coming to Squaw felt like a homecoming. For Amie who grew up skiing the mountain, the steep terrain at Squaw is where she originally honed her skills. Originally learning the mountain from her dad Jeff—who even has a run named him out here—it's here that Amie ignited her passion for the sport.
"Growing up in Squaw was a dream. It is a small, close knit community that revolves around pursuing a life in the mountains." -Engerbretson. TGR photo.
The resort gained attention worldwide for being one of the three U.S. sites to host the Winter Olympics back in 1960.
We were joined by Squaw athletes Errol Kerr and Sammy Luebke. TGR Photo
Opened originally by Alex Cushing in 1949, it started as a humble ski hill. However, Cushing had big ideas, and sought to put Squaw on the map with an Olympic bid. His impulsive idea took a tiny resort that had only one lift and a lodge for 50, and transformed it into an Olympic venue. Now it's the second largest ski resort in the Lake Tahoe region.
Depending on the season, the area can average 450 inches of snow and experience 300 days of California sunshine. It's also proud to boast the longest ski season in the Sierra Nevada. TGR photo.
In 2011 the resort continued to expand by merging with the nearby Alpine Meadows. The combination of the two means over 6,000 skiable acres between the two mountains.
The Tahoe area is centered completely around a giant alpine lake—Lake Tahoe—that straddles California and Nevada. The area is a quintessential ski destination but stands apart from other mountain communities because of the massive alpine lake.
Todd experiencing some of the goods from the Miracle March storm cycle. TGR photo.
Tahoe is second deepest lake in the country and is most infamous for its rich saturated color. The water which fluctuates between deep cobalt to turquoise, is also incredibly clear. Visibility ranges to 69.5 feet deep. Here at Squaw there's a good chance you can catch a glimpse of the sapphire beauty. 19 of the 23 aerial lifts have views of the lake, which is only a 15-minute drive away.
"I feel like Squaw/Alpine has a very committed group of locals, more so than most ski towns I've visited there are a lot of people that have moved here not just for the mountain lifestyle but specifically for the hill and the skiing." - Ligare. TGR photo.
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Proximity to the lake is one just of the many perks to Squaw. The skiing is so good that there's an old saying around here : If you can see it, you can ski it. It all just hinges on if you're good enough, and people show up here to prove themselves.
In fact, Squaw is home to more US Ski Team Members than any resort in the nation. Not a surprise with terrain like this. TGR photo.
"I feel like Sammy has a solid natural talent on a snowboard, there's a reason he's a multiple world champion... he consistently sticks everything and makes it look easy." -Ligare. TGR photo.
Mother Nature delivered the goods upon our arrival. Through quite the epic storm cycle, "Miracle March" has tripled the snowpack for the Sierras—228 inches alone at Squaw-Alpine—and we got our fair share. We linked up with big mountain snowboarder Sammy Luebke and ski cross skier Errol Kerr, to hit our favorites: The Fingers, Eagle's Nest, and the Palisades. Luebke and Kerr are prime examples of the passionate culture that resonates deep here.
"The Freeride seen at squaw is thriving. Everyone shows up early to get those classic lines ticked off the list before the next person tracks it out. Kids are getting into it at a young age, which I never had growing up. I feel like it's the Freeride capital of California, if not the whole west!" -Luebke. TGR photo.
Le Chamois is the place to be when it comes to après, you can ski right up to it and it's a Squaw classic. The après only gets rowdier when temps being to rise. The unofficial spring skiing capital, there's mayhem ranging from hot tub parties to Cushing Crossing. We're excited to partake once the trip wraps. Until then we're off to Mammoth.
Say hello to Bill, our dog! TGR photo.
