What's New 2007-2008

[Squaw Valley USA] For the 2007/2008 winter season, Squaw Valley USA is gearing efforts toward improving the skier and rider experience. Environmental sustainability remains a primary focus; in an effort to preserve the area’s precious ecosystems, Squaw Valley is refraining from expansion beyond the natural footprint. All projects that did involve construction were carried out through use of best management practices and the utmost regard for the environment.
 

New High-Speed Six- Person Chair Lift at Shirley Lake
Upholding Squaw Valley’s reputation as having the best lift network in North America, one of the resort’s most popular areas, Shirley Lake, will now be accessed via a DoppelmayrCTEC 2007 Detachable Grip (state-of-the-art High Speed 6 Pac).

Environmental Consideration:
Accessing 375 acres of diverse intermediate terrain, Shirley Lake is one of the most popular areas at Squaw. Squaw Valley Ski Corp has redesigned the lift profile several times in an effort to minimize the impact to the environment while replacing the lift. Less than 166 cubic yards of material will be excavated, eleven of the existing towers and footings will be reused, two towers will be replaced and the previously disturbed top and bottom terminal footings will be incorporated into the new terminals. All new lift towers will be flown to a mid-mountain staging area and refitted for the new chair. Use of a helicopter to bring in lift towers, is a sustainable method as it eliminates the environmental impact incurred by using trucks to drag the towers. After completion, any disturbed areas will be treated and nursed back to pre-construction state.

Riviera Superpipe
There will be many new additions to the terrain parks in 2007/08 including a new trenched (in-ground) superpipe in Central Park at Riviera. Equipped with lights, the new Riviera Superpipe will be the only night-access superpipe in the Tahoe basin. The addition of snowmaking in the Riviera terrain park, along with the trenching of the pipe, will give Squaw Valley skiers and snowboarders a superpipe starting at the very beginning of the season.

Environmental Consideration:
The new Riviera superpipe has been trenched in the same location as the original in-ground constructed pipe (that was no longer large enough to classify as a halfpipe), making it the least intrusive place for the project. In addition to the pre-existing trenching, this area is already serviced by night lights and has access to snowmaking. Squaw Valley Ski Corp is excited to take on this project as a potential California Alpine Resort Environmental Coalition (C.A.R.E.C.) task. Squaw is a member of this progressive environmental group that quantifies results of new techniques to establish sustainable methods. New tilling techniques incorporating mulch and wood chips to recondition the soil will be implemented, as will “monitoring techniques” that use the adaptive management process. Through C.A.R.E.C., Squaw has evaluated the success and failures of other resort attempts at halfpipe trenching in order to adopt the most sustainable method for the Riviera Superpipe project.

The Squallywood Clinic
Dates: Jan 26, 2008 and March 8, 2008
New for the 2007/08 season, Robb Gaffney will lead a ‘ski-the-book clinic’ based on his book Squallywood – A Guide to Squaw Valley’s Most Exposed Lines. Squallywood, a 200-page guide to the most technical top-secret lines at Squaw, is largely recognized as the best ski resort guide ever written. Squallywood author Robb Gaffney will lead two 1-day Squallywood Clinics that will provide an unmatched experience for advanced skiers and riders. A cinematographer will film the skiers/riders in the clinic, and piece together a summary of the day on DVD that would be included in the price of the Clinic. Local ski cinematographer, Duane Kubischta and local action sports photographer, Jason Abraham, will document the clinic. The filming and photo component provide Squallywood Clinic attendees with an “immersion” experience of what it is like to set up for shots, a simulation of being in a ski/snowboard movie.

Guide: Robb Gaffney
Cinematographer: Duane Kubischta
Photographer: Jason Abraham

Guided Backcountry Tours
New this season, Squaw will open its, until now, restricted borders for special backcountry tours of new, uncharted terrain. Adventurous skiers and snowboarders must be upper intermediate to advanced level and pre-registration is required. Groups will meet at the Shirley Lake Patrol Shack at the designated time (depending on best snow conditions) for six Sunday dates taking place between February and April. Groups of ten will receive a briefing on out-of-bounds protocol prior to the excursion which includes two private runs. Groups will be led by experienced backcountry guides.

Mountaintop Full Moon Snowshoe Tours
Dates: Dec 23 & 24, Jan 20-22, Feb 21 & 22, Mar 21 & 22
For the first time this winter, the resort is offering guided moonlit snowshoe tours around Squaw Valley’s upper mountain peaks. The tour will set off from High Camp, el. 8200,’ at 5 pm, on full moon evenings in December, January, February and March. Guided by a knowledgeable tour leader and the light of the full moon, snowshoers will trek to upper mountain vistas to take in spectacular views of the snow covered Sierra and Lake Tahoe, illuminated by the full moon. The guide will carry along hot chocolate and apple cider for the group to enjoy before heading back. A mountaintop dinner at Alexander’s Restaurant can be included as an option in the Full Moon Snowshoe Tour package.

Parking Lot Storm Water Run-off Treatment System
Environmental Consideration:
The new parking lot storm water run-off treatment system reduces sedimentation particles in parking lot snowmelt down to 50 microns, prior to being discharged into Squaw Creek. The system filters out snowmelt sediment, oil, and pollutants (from cars in the parking lot). Snowmelt runs through a system of weirs and baffles to remove constituents down to particle size of 50 microns. The treated effluent (an outflow of water) is then released into the creek.

For the most up-to-date operations schedules, event information and live mountain cams, visit Squaw Valley’s web site at www.squaw.com or call 530-583-6955.