Squaw to Open the Upper Mountain and 13 Lifts for Thanksgiving Day

Squaw Valley is slated to open its upper mountain peaks this Thursday thanks to seven feet of early season snowfall and enhanced snowmaking efforts

[Olympic Valley, Calif.] November 20, 2012 – Squaw Valley has announced that the resort will be opening an incredible amount of terrain this Thanksgiving Day and throughout Thanksgiving weekend. Squaw Valley will be opening 13 lifts including seven lifts on the upper mountain – a rare occasion this early in the season. This will be the first time in ten years that Squaw Valley has opened Emigrant chairlift, located on one of Squaw’s highest peaks, for Thanksgiving Day.

The 13 lifts that are scheduled to be open Thanksgiving Day include the Funitel, Gold Coast Express, Shirley Lake Express, Emigrant, Solitude, Mountain Meadow, Belmont, Bailey’s Beach, the Aerial Tram, Squaw Creek, Red Dog, the Tucker carpet at SnoVentures and the Murphy carpet at Squaw Kids. The Belmont terrain park will also be open, offering 10 small to medium features.*

Squaw Valley is able to open the upper mountain thanks to the great early season snowfall and the resorts’ vastly improved snowmaking system. So far, Mother Nature has delivered 84 inches or 7 feet of snow to the resort’s upper mountain since October 22. Cold temperatures at higher elevations have also allowed the resort to make additional snow on the upper mountain, creating a solid base for skiing and riding this Thanksgiving.

In addition to skiing and riding, guests can also enjoy mountaintop ice skating at High Camp this Thanksgiving. Squaw Valley’s ice rink is located at 8,200 feet and offers spectacular views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains. The ice rink will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. Click here for more ice rink details.

For those looking to take full advantage of this winter season, Squaw and Alpine recently announced that the Tahoe Super Pass is now better than ever. Gold and Silver passholders now have access to Sierra-at-Tahoe, an added value dubbed the Tahoe Super Pass Plus. The Tahoe Super Pass Plus is available at www.tahoesuperpass.com starting at $519 for adult silver passes and $749 for adult gold passes.

Regular bronze Tahoe Super Passes are still available for $429, though they do not include access to Sierra-at-Tahoe. No matter which pass is the most suitable, skiers and riders are encouraged to buy now as prices are slated to increase as much as $100 after December 7. The resorts’ first-ever unrestricted college pass, valid at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, starts at just $389, with prices guaranteed through December 17.

*All operations are weather and conditions permitting.


About Squaw Valley
Host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw Valley is a year-round mountain destination offering world-class adventures in every season. Squaw is renowned for its legendary skiing and riding that spans 3,600 skiable acres, six peaks and 30 chairlifts including a unique mountaintop beginner area and unrivaled expert steeps, chutes and bowls. In summer, the resort welcomes a full line-up of live music and festivals and Squaw’s Aerial Tram offers a scenic ride up to a host of mountaintop activities. For the ultimate slopeside lodging experience, 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.

About Alpine Meadows
Alpine Meadows’ seven powder bowls, summit-to-base groomed slopes, and authentic hospitality are among the many attributes that have made the resort a favorite of the local community and visitors alike. Alpine Meadows offers skiers and riders access to more than 100 trails across 2,400 skiable acres serviced by 13 lifts. With its high annual snowfall of 450 inches, the resort boasts one of Tahoe’s longest skiing and boarding seasons.

Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows joined forces in November 2011, bringing the two ski resorts under common ownership. Skiers and riders can access 6,000 skiable acres, 43 lifts and 270+ trails at Squaw and Alpine Meadows on one lift ticket or season pass. For more information about Squaw Valley or Alpine Meadows, visit www.squaw.com or www.skialpine.com or call 1.800.403.0206.