Skip to content
Palisades Tahoe Logo Palisades Tahoe Logo Palisades Tahoe Logo
Explore
Main Menu
  • Explore Palisades Tahoe
  • Base to Base Gondola
  • Our New Name
  • Explore Legendary Lifts
  • Palisades Tahoe Blog
  • About Lake Tahoe
  • About Us
Plan Your Visit
Main Menu
  • Tickets & Passes
  • Lodging
  • Lessons & Guides
  • Deals & Packages
  • Rentals & Demos
  • Travel Here
  • Getting Around
Mountain Information
Main Menu
  • Snow and Weather
  • Lift and Grooming Status
  • Webcams
  • Hours of Operation
  • Trail Maps
  • Parking & Road Conditions
  • Snowfall Tracker
Events & Activities
Main Menu
  • Events Calendar
  • Activities
  • Dining & Apres
  • Shopping
  • Things To Do In Lake Tahoe
  • Groups, Meetings & Weddings
  • Ski & Snowboard Teams
Explore
Main Menu
  • Explore Palisades Tahoe
  • Base to Base Gondola
  • Our New Name
  • Explore Legendary Lifts
  • Palisades Tahoe Blog
  • About Lake Tahoe
  • About Us
Plan Your Visit
Main Menu
  • Tickets & Passes
  • Lodging
  • Lessons & Guides
  • Deals & Packages
  • Rentals & Demos
  • Travel Here
  • Getting Around
Mountain Information
Main Menu
  • Snow and Weather
  • Lift and Grooming Status
  • Webcams
  • Hours of Operation
  • Trail Maps
  • Parking & Road Conditions
  • Snowfall Tracker
Events & Activities
Main Menu
  • Events Calendar
  • Activities
  • Dining & Apres
  • Shopping
  • Things To Do In Lake Tahoe
  • Groups, Meetings & Weddings
  • Ski & Snowboard Teams
IKON PASS HOLDER LODGING DISCOUNT

Ikon Pass holders save up to 20% on slopeside lodging at The Village at Palisades Tahoe.

SLOPESIDE LODGING
Icon / FlashCreated with Sketch.
View All Offers
  • General

Travis Ganong's Favorite Zone: The Chief

  • Apr 19, 2017
  • 9:23 am

Hi I’m Travis Ganong, World Cup Champion, Palisades Tahoe local, and US Ski Team member.  I have been skiing these mountains since I was one and a half years old, and one of my favorite zones hands down is The Chief Zone at Squaw Valley.    

“The lighest, deepest and highest quality snow at the resort”

Granite Chief is the highest elevation and most wind protected zone at both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, which means that this area has the lightest, deepest, and highest quality snow at the resort.  The Granite Chief zone holds perfect winter snow longer than anywhere else on the mountain after a storm cycle (even deep into the spring), and during a storm the snow piles up light and deep in the protected north facing trees, gullies and rock-bands. 

“Adrenaline and excitement”

And, even for a World Champion skier like myself, Granite Chief still provides some adrenaline and excitement with fun granite rock outcroppings on most runs providing pillow lines, tight chutes, and fun cliffs to jump of off.  Every run and hidden corner of this zone is peppered with fun natural terrain features, and traversing left or right from the top of the lift provides a true adventure skiing experience akin to backcountry skiing, (and at the far reaches of the zone you will not see another skier is sight and can be treated to fresh tracks long after the rest of the mountain has been skied out).  

“Steepest and most sustained pitches of any groomed runs in the Tahoe Basin”

Back on the groomed sections of this zone, the runs here are some of the steepest and most sustained pitches of any groomed runs in the Tahoe Basin. Think wide open bowls that funnel down into the trees, groomed wall to wall to perfection. These groomed runs are also north-east facing which means that the snow is always dry and chalky making for a perfect snow surface for fast fun “on-piste” skiing. When I am home and its not a powder day, I love to load the Funi right at 9 with my race skis and head strait to the Granite Chief Zone to rip top to bottom fast groomers all by myself. If you go here first thing in the morning you can be treated to an almost “private ski area” experience all while having amazing views of Lake Tahoe, the base area far away, and the amazing Sierra Nevada mountains.

admin
admin

Share this article:

Recent Posts

  • General ·
  • February 1, 2023·
Sunrise scenic of the base to base gondola

Base to Base Gondola Challenge

Between February 1st and February 28th, you'll have the opportunity to win some seriously cool prizes. On Instagram, share how the Base to Base Gondola changes your experience riding all 6,000 acres uninterrupted at Palisades Tahoe using the hashtag #BaseToBase. One winner each week will score a GoPro HERO11, a YETI Hopper, and a Palisades Tahoe signature beanie. PLUS, weekly winners will be entered to win the Grand Prize: a 2023/24 Ikon Base Pass‼️ Originality, creativity, and helmets are strongly encouraged... Good luck and get out there!
Read more
  • General ·
  • January 31, 2023·

Janu-BURIED 2023 Recap

We’re nearly at our average season snowfall of 400” and we still have 4+ months of winter remaining. The massive snowfall amount in January allowed us to open 100% of our terrain including Silverado. Our crews worked hard on the mountain and in the base areas to provide an amazing month of skiing for you!
Read more
  • General ·
  • January 27, 2023·
Guests hang out in the parking lot at Palisades Tahoe.

A Guide to Busy Weekends at Palisades Tahoe: Parking, Traffic, Safety, and More.

To help you prepare for a weekend like this and have a seamless visit, we’ve compiled this guide for how…
Read more

Social

Instagram Twitter Facebook Youtube

Contact

   Email Us
   1.800.403.0206

Our Partners

U.S. Forest Service Logo
1960 Olympic Valley Road
Olympic Valley, CA 96146

©2022 Palisades Tahoe

Alterra Mountain Company
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Photo Upload Terms of Use
  • Accessibility
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Photo Upload Terms of Use
  • Accessibility
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information