Boreal Mountain Resort does it again

Boreal Mountain Resort will again be the first to open for the season. Mostly on Machine Made Snow with one Lift. Operations will be Friday and Saturday with early season skiing. There will be obsticles both marked and unmarked. Pray for snow, be aware Ride and Ski with care.

WINTER IS HERE: HEAVENLY, NORTHSTAR BEGIN SNOWMAKING

Skiers and Snowboarders Can Expect Best Early-Season Conditions Thanks to Lake Tahoe’s Largest Snowmaking Systems

South Lake Tahoe and Truckee, Calif. – October 26, 2011 – Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California Resort began making snow last night, a sure sign that winter is upon us and sweet music to the ears of skiers and snowboarders everywhere. Signaling that the Lake Tahoe snowsports season is just days away if temperatures continue to cooperate, Lake Tahoe’s two largest snowmaking systems give the resorts’ guests confidence that they will be skiing and snowboarding on the best snow surfaces at Lake Tahoe on opening day, scheduled at both resorts for Friday, November 18, 2011, weather and conditions permitting.

Under optimum conditions, the West Coast’s largest snowmaking operation can cover 73 percent of Heavenly’s trails in machine-made snow. In more visual terms, Heavenly can produce three-and-a-half feet of snow over one acre in an hour. That’s enough snow to blanket a football field with eight-and-a-half feet during an average three-hour game.

“Snowmaking is such a critical service that really improves the overall ski and snowboard experience,” said Pete Sonntag, Heavenly’s general manager. “It’s another element that differentiates Vail Resorts’ Tahoe properties from the other resorts around the Lake.”

Heavenly has begun making snow at the top of the Gondola and on California Trail.

With the ability to open limited terrain with just 48 hours of snowmaking if cold temperatures and low humidity continue, Northstar features the largest snowmaking system on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, and can cover 50 percent of its trails in machine-made snow.

“It’s always exciting when temperatures cooperate and we’re able to fire up the snowmaking system for the first time of the season,” said Bill Rock, vice president and chief operating officer of Northstar California Resort. “In addition to offering guests $30 million in improvements this season, we’ll also offer the best early season snow conditions in North Lake Tahoe.”

Northstar has begun making snow on trails including Main Street, Lower Pioneer, Pinball, Lumberjack, in the Big Easy beginner learning area, and on Cat’s Face where Shaun White’s signature 22’ halfpipe will be built.

Photo and Video Assets

Available by noon PT at https://public.me.com/vail.resorts under the “Public” and “Heavenly” folders, or upon request.

Heavenly and Northstar Are Making Snow and Offering Early Season Deals to Celebrate!

It's official, Heavenly has turned on the West Coast's largest snowmaking system in preparation for the 2011-12 ski and snowboard season! To celebrate we’re offering a screaming early-season deal; spend three nights and ski or ride two days at Heavenly starting as low as $255 per person!

Guests interested in experiencing Northstar are invited to Stay & Ski FREE™ starting at just $105 per person, per night. Some restrictions apply. For reservations or more information, visit NorthstarCalifornia.com or call 1.800.GO.NORTH.

The 2011-2012 winter season is scheduled to run from November 18, 2011 to April 15, 2012, weather and conditions permitting. Season passes are now on sale, starting at just $389 for the Tahoe Value Pass, which provides seven-day-per-week access to Heavenly Mountain Resort and six-day-per-week access to Northstar California Resort. Some restrictions apply. Other pass options are available, including the Epic Pass, priced at just $669. The Epic Pass offers unrestricted access all season long to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, and both Heavenly and Northstar California Resort at Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada. For more information, visit www.epicpass.com.

About Heavenly Mountain Resort

Heavenly Mountain Resort is a world-class destination offering guests a one-of-a-kind combination of scenic beauty and exhilarating on-snow experience. Heavenly is a subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc., the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. One of the largest resorts in North America, Heavenly spans 4800 acres, climbs to Lake Tahoe’s highest elevation at 10,067 feet and features more than 94 trails for every level of skier or snowboader. For more information on Heavenly Mountain Resort, please visit www.skiheavenly.com or call 800-HEAVENLY.

About Northstar California Resort

One of the finest year-round mountain resorts in North America, Northstar is host to a base area village featuring unique shops and restaurants, a conference center, 9,000 square foot outdoor skating rink, movie theaters, on-site lodging, special events and more. A winter sport enthusiast’s paradise, Northstar offers 97 ski trails spread across 3,170 acres, award-winning terrain parks and snow sports including alpine and Telemark skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tubing. Summer activities include mountain biking, golfing, scenic lift rides for sightseeing and hiking, horseback riding, fly-fishing and more.

Northstar is located on Highway 267, just six miles north of Lake Tahoe and six miles south of downtown Truckee. For more information, call 1.800.GO.NORTH (1.800.466.6784) or visit www.NorthstarCalifornia.com.

About Vail Resorts

Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado, and the Heavenly Ski Resort and Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across the United States and in the Caribbean. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.

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Squaw Opens SnoVentures™ Center with New Activities for Kids and Families

[Olympic Valley, CA] October 25, 2011 –Squaw Valley announces the details of the resort’s new SnoVentures center featuring new and expanded activities for kids and families. The SnoVentures center will offer new mini snowmobiles for kids and enhanced snow tubing, all conveniently located at the base of the Lake Tahoe resort. In addition, SnoVentures will offer dog sledding, horse-drawn sleigh rides, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing for guests of all ages.

Kids ages 6 to 12 will be able to strap on a helmet and ride a snowmobile that is just their size around the SnoVentures mini snowmobile course. The groomed, oval loop will be located directly in front of the remodeled SnoVentures Lodge, and adjacent to the parking area – offering both easy access and an accommodating viewing area. Rides are $25 for a 15 minute interval. Kids must be over 40 inches tall and less than 110 pounds to ride.

This winter, Squaw Valley’s snow tubing course has also tripled in size, elevating this popular mountain adventure experience. The SnoVentures tubing area offers three thrilling lanes accessed by a new covered magic carpet surface lift. Guests can choose from all new tubes in two sizes to accommodate tubers of all ages. Both snow tubing and the mini snowmobiles will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays when night operations are in effect.

Also at the new SnoVentures center, guests can book a dog sledding adventure or a horse-drawn sleigh ride at the SnoVentures cabin, located next to the tubing hill. The cabin will also be renting cross-country skis and snowshoes, and selling tickets to access the cross-country trails through the beautiful Squaw Creek Meadow.

The new SnoVentures center and expanded family offerings are part of the Squaw’s Renaissance – the resort’s five-year and $50 million capital improvement plan. In addition to the new activities, this winter welcomes three new dining experiences, revamped terrain parks, new facilities and expanded skier services to the resort—and this is only the beginning.

For more details on the new SnoVentures center, the renaissance and family events, please see www.squaw.com.

Squaw Hires Jessica Richitelli as the Resort's New Terrain Park Manager

[Olympic Valley, CA] October 21, 2011 –Squaw Valley welcomes Jessica Richitelli as the resort’s new terrain park manager. Richitelli joins the Squaw Valley team with over nine years of terrain park experience, including a background in park construction and maintenance, event execution, sponsorship relations, hiring, training and marketing. Most recently Richitelli served as the terrain park manager at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, NH.

Richitelli joins Squaw Valley’s terrain park program just a month after the announcement of the resort’s new partnership with Snow Park Technologies (SPT), designed to bring a substantially elevated level of terrain parks and half-pipes to the Lake Tahoe resort. With a resume including the ESPN Winter X-Games and the Dew Tour, SPT will be working with Richitelli and Squaw Valley to improve all facets of the resort’s terrain park program through design collaboration, recruitment and development.

"Jess has a proven track record to be a rock star as a park manager and a leader. She will be instrumental at Squaw as the resort works to put their terrain parks on the map," said Chris "Gunny" Gunnarson, SPT president.

Richitelli and SPT both emphasized the importance of consistency when it comes to the terrain park experience. “Our first step will be to deliver a consistent, high-quality park – one that is consistently well maintained,” said Richitelli. “We want to make sure we are meeting people’s expectations, and then we can work towards exceeding them.”

Richitelli comes to Squaw Valley with the knowledge of what it takes to produce great terrain parks and half-pipes, as well as the dedication and enthusiasm to take Squaw’s parks to the next level.

“I was really excited to about Squaw’s renewed dedication to terrain parks as part of the resort’s renaissance and their partnership with SPT,” said Richitelli. “I’m thrilled to be working with SPT and the Squaw Valley team to bring the terrain parks up to par with the mountain’s incredible terrain. The possibilities at Squaw are truly endless.”

About Squaw Valley

Host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley is internationally renowned for legendary terrain that spans 3,600 skiable acres, six peaks and 30 chairlifts, and ranges from an expansive mountaintop beginner area to unrivaled expert steeps, trees and bowls. Off the mountain, families relax in The Village at Squaw Valley around the cozy fire pits or enjoy a host of restaurants, bars, boutiques and art galleries. Guests can stay in one of The Village at Squaw Valley’s one, two or three bedroom suites, each with a fireplace, kitchen and balcony, for the ultimate ski-in/ski-out lodging experience.

Squaw Valley recently joined forces with neighboring Alpine Meadows, bringing the two ski resorts under common ownership. Skiers and riders can now access 6,000 skiable acres, 44 lifts and 270+ trails at Squaw and Alpine Meadows on the Tahoe Super Pass or any lift ticket. More details are available at www.squaw.com.

Squaw Valley Hosts Job Interview Fair on November 11

[Olympic Valley, CA] October 18, 2011 – Squaw Valley will be hosting the resort’s seasonal job interview fair on Friday, November 11, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Taking place in the Palisades Conference Room adjacent to the lobby of The Village at Squaw Valley, the interview fair will include interviews for a wide range of positions including snowsports instructors, ski patrol, lift operations, grooming, terrain parks, culinary services, rental services, retail, security, parking, product sales and services, and transportation. Opportunities include full-time as well as part time positions. Skiing or snowboarding abilities are not required for all available positions.

With Squaw Valley’s Renaissance currently underway, Squaw Valley has more jobs to offer than ever before. The five-year, $50 million capital improvement plan will add dramatic improvements to the on-mountain and village experience. $15 million has been invested for this winter, bringing three new dining experiences, new terrain parks, a new day lodge and expanded grooming to the resort—as well as expanded employment opportunities.

Benefits at working at Squaw Valley can include a season pass, discounts on food and retail items, complimentary lift tickets for friends and family, complimentary group ski and snowboard lessons, and access to some of the best skiing and riding in the Sierra. With all of the exciting changes taking place at Squaw Valley this year, team members will also get to be a part of the true transformation of this legendary resort.

Squaw Valley’s interview fair is by invitation only, though walk-ins will be permitted. Interested applicants should visit the employment page on squaw.com, and complete an application. Department managers will be in touch regarding interview times. For questions regarding the application or interview process, applicants should contact Squaw Valley’s Human Resources Department at (530) 452-7112.

Online applications and a list of all open positions are available at www.squaw.com.


About Squaw Valley

Host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley is internationally renowned for legendary terrain that spans 3,600 skiable acres, six peaks and 30 chairlifts, and ranges from an expansive mountaintop beginner area to unrivaled expert steeps, trees and bowls. Off the mountain, families relax in The Village at Squaw Valley around the cozy fire pits or enjoy a host of restaurants, bars, boutiques and art galleries. Guests can stay in one of The Village at Squaw Valley’s one, two or three bedroom suites, each with a fireplace, kitchen and balcony, for the ultimate ski-in/ski-out lodging experience.

Squaw Valley recently joined forces with neighboring Alpine Meadows, bringing the two ski resorts under common ownership. Skiers and riders can now access 6,000 skiable acres, 44 lifts and 270+ trails at Squaw and Alpine Meadows on the Tahoe Super Pass or any lift ticket. More details are available at www.squaw.com.

Comming soon a new look for the blog! Pray for snow! Along with format changes
Ben

Season Passholder and Squaw Valley Raise $2,600 for the Humane Society of Truckee Tahoe

[Olympic Valley, CA] October 10, 2011 – When Squaw Valley announced they would be joining forces with neighboring Alpine Meadows on September 27, 2011, the Lake Tahoe resort auctioned off the first combined season pass on eBay, with all proceeds benefitting the Humane Society of Truckee Tahoe. The combined pass, deemed the Tahoe Super Pass, is the first season pass to grant access to both Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows in the history of the two resorts, and is on sale now on www.squaw.com with rates starting as low as $439.

“The opportunity to have bragging rights to that first Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley combined pass, Tahoe Super Pass number 00001, will be coveted and its value should benefit a local cause important to our guests and our staff,” said Andy Wirth in a press release announcing the combining of the two resorts.

Seven days after the announcement, Tahoe Super Pass number 00001 sold for $1,294.69 on eBay.

The auction winner was R. W. Martin of San Francisco, whose generous contributions will benefit the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe – a local organization dedicated to saving and improving the lives of pets through adoption, community span/nature services and humane education programs. The funds will go towards the Humane Society’s capital project that is working towards building a new shelter, as well as helping to cover operating costs that allow the non-profit to take in hundred of homeless animals each year.

“The money raised from the sale of this pass will go a long way in our efforts to help lost and abandoned animals in our community,” said Stephanie Jensen, executive director of the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe. “We are extremely grateful to Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows for their amazing support and unwavering dedication to helping save the lives of homeless pets.”

In response to the contribution by the eBay winner, Squaw Valley has matched the donation, giving a combined total of $2,600 to the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe during the final push of their capital project campaign.

“The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe and the results of their good work are clearly near and dear to the staff at both Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley, as well as to all of our guests,” said Andy Wirth, Squaw Valley’s president and CEO. “This is also a group in need, so it’s our hope that this donation, coupled with our previous support, substantively helps this organization on their capital project funding efforts and brings attention to their very current, real needs.”

About Squaw Valley

Host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley is internationally renowned for legendary terrain that spans 3,600 skiable acres, six peaks and 30 chairlifts, and ranges from an expansive mountaintop beginner area to unrivaled expert steeps, trees and bowls. Off the mountain, families relax in The Village at Squaw Valley around the cozy fire pits or enjoy a host of restaurants, bars, boutiques and art galleries. Guests can stay in one of The Village at Squaw Valley’s one, two or three bedroom suites, each with a fireplace, kitchen and balcony, for the ultimate ski-in/ski-out lodging experience.

Squaw Valley recently joined forces with neighboring Alpine Meadows, bringing the two ski resorts under common ownership. Skiers and riders can now access 6,000 skiable acres, 44 lifts and 270+ trails at Squaw and Alpine Meadows on the Tahoe Super Pass or any lift ticket. More details are available at www.squaw.com.

[Olympic Valley, CA] October 5, 2011 – Last night Squaw Valley received the first snowfall of the 2011-12 winter season. Squaw Valley received 6 to 8 inches of snow overnight at higher elevations, with an additional 5 to 9 inches expected to fall in the next 24 hours. The early season snow is the result of a storm system moving down from the Gulf of Alaska.

The National Weather Service (NOAA) has noted that current weather forecasts have begun to indicate the re-emergence of La Niña for winter 2011-12, the same weather pattern that brought a record breaking 811 inches of snow to Squaw Valley last winter.

The season’s first snow comes on the heels of Squaw Valley’s major announcement that the Lake Tahoe resort will be joining forces with neighboring Alpine Meadows Ski Resort. Together, the two resorts will offer more than 6,000 skiable acres, eight peaks, 44 lifts and more than 270 trails—all of which is now accessible by a single lift ticket or season pass.

Offering season-long access to both mountains, the all new Tahoe Super Pass is available starting at $439 for adults, with the unrestricted adult pass available for $799. The all new Tahoe Super Six is also available for $399 and provides six unrestricted days of skiing and riding at both resorts for the 2011-12 winter season. Both the Tahoe Super Pass and the Tahoe Super Six are available for purchase at www.squaw.com.


About Squaw Valley USA
Host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley is internationally renowned for legendary terrain that spans 3,600 skiable acres, six peaks and 30 chairlifts, and ranges from an expansive mountaintop beginner area to unrivaled expert steeps, trees and bowls. Off the mountain, families relax in The Village at Squaw Valley around the cozy fire pits or enjoy a host of restaurants, bars, boutiques and art galleries. Guests can stay in one of The Village at Squaw Valley’s one, two or three bedroom suites, each with a fireplace, kitchen and balcony, for the ultimate ski-in/ski-out lodging experience.

For great lodging packages, call 1-866-366-7261 or visit www.squaw.com.