Over 7 feet of new snow since Wednesday
And 23 Feet Over the First 23 Days of 2017
We made it through the latest storm cycle, which delivered 94 inches of new snow since Wednesday, January 18. That brings our January total to 23 FEET of new snow since the beginning of the New Year. Here are some fun facts from this historic month:
- We’ve received 397% of average January snowfall
- We’ve already accumulated 85% of our annual average snowfall of 450 inches
- With 23 feet over the first 23 days of 2017, we’ve averaged a foot new snow a day since the start of the New Year
- January 2017 is officially the snowiest month on record at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows!
Today’s Operations, January 23
With over 7 feet of snow in the past 5 days, including 2 feet of rapidly accumulating snowfall overnight, our mountains faced a number of challenges to start today. Highway 89 between Tahoe City and Squaw Valley was closed due to an avalanche early this morning and did not re-open until 11am. Fortunately, no one was harmed in the event, but this delayed both employees and guests on their way to the mountain. Alpine Meadows Road also closed for several hours this morning so that ski patrol could complete control work. In addition to helping with road safety, our mountain operations crews have been working tirelessly to put the ski area back in order. After this significant snowfall, our crews had to conduct snow safety and control work, rebuild access roads, dig out chairlifts and reset ski area boundaries to ensure guests remain safely inbounds.
At Alpine Meadows, we opened Roundhouse at 11:25am, followed by Yellow, Hot Wheels, Meadow, Subway and the carpets over the course of the day. Patience paid off for skiers and riders because conditions were outstanding!
Photo by Jackie Megnin at Alpine Meadows
At Squaw Valley, we opened KT-22 and Exhibition at 11am, followed by Far East, Red Dog, Squaw Creek, and the Tram with access to Tower 16 terrain and Mountain Run. The powder was deep and the conditions were incredible!
Operations for Tomorrow, January 24
Tomorrow we are expecting all-time conditions as we continue to open more terrain!
At Alpine Meadows, the following lifts are scheduled at 9am:
- Summit
- Roundhouse
- Hot Wheels
- Meadow
- Yellow
- Scott
- Kangaroo
- Subway
- Big Carpet
- Little Carpet
Sherwood and Lakeview Chairs are scheduled to open around noon. Please check our lift status and app in the morning for real-time updates.
At Squaw Valley, the following lifts are scheduled for 9am:
- Exhibition
- Far East
- Funitel
- KT-22
- Red Dog
- Squaw Creek
- Tram
- Gold Coast
- Carpets
The following lifts are scheduled to open later in the morning following snow safety and resetting boundaries:
- Big Blue
- Mountain Meadow
- Shirley Lake
- Emigrant
- Solitude
- Granite Chief
Headwall and Siberia will be assessed in the morning, so stay tuned for updates!
Bluebird Days Ahead
Weather forecast updated at 7:42am:
Tuesday the sun returns as we head into a prolonged dry period. Temperatures will stay cold into the weekend with highs in the 30’s. There is a weak system that will push through on Thursday with some clouds and a few flakes possible. Next week high pressure over the area continues to bring dry weather and we may warm into the 40’s at lake level. – BA
With plenty of powder, temperatures remaining cold, and more terrain on the way, skiing and riding will continue to be unforgettable as the week unfolds. Don’t miss these all-time conditions at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows!
HAVE FUN & Stay Safe
With all the new snow, skiing and riding conditions will be incredible but please use caution on the slopes! Here are some deep snow tips to stay safe and have fun:
- BUDDY UP, especially in any non-groomed/off-piste areas
- Please ski with a friend and make sure you and your partner stay within viewing distance of each other at all times
- Be aware and stay clear of tree wells
Check out more deep snow safety tips here.
