Magical May at Squaw Valley

As the calendar turns to May and the days become long and sun-filled here in the Golden State, the skiing at Squaw Valley remains great. The most snow ever recorded at Squaw Valley fell in this endless winter of 2010-2011, and the spring skiing is reaping the benefits. Coverage on the mountain is epic, and our legendary Sierra corn snow makes for soft and playful turns down the hill. Follow the inverse rotation of Apollo’s sun-chariot ride across the sky, starting off the day on south facing Tower 16 or KTs East face until they get a bit sticky then ascend up to Siberia Express and Shirley Lake, return to KT for some West Face and 75 Chute, then close out the day on Rock Garden as it soaks up the 3:00pm sun. And after your legs can’t take anymore goodness, take it on down to Le Chamois for some tasty suds with your day’s ski buds and recount how you shredded Squaw as the sun disappears behind Tram Face.

Squaw will once again be the last remaining Tahoe ski resort open, with Friday-Sunday skiing through Memorial Day. Come on up and take a few laps on KT then head up to High Camp and get your hot tub on with other California skiers who aren’t quite ready to put away the boards just yet either.

And if you want to come up midweek for some serious solitude in the spring sunshine rent some snowshoes and hike up Shirley Canyon to see Squaw Creek cascade in torrent down into the valley. Hop in the car and drive to Emerald Bay to see some even more serious water falling. This year’s historic snow fall will drive an even more historic waterfall season – and the melting is really just beginning. And all that snow will cap our peaks through August, leaving the Tahoe mountains looking just like the archetypal snow covered peaks we all instinctively drew in kindergarten.

And don’t forget about the Amgen Tour of California; the biggest bicycle race in the United States and the third biggest in the world speeds into Tahoe May 15 and 16. The overall commencement of the race takes place in South Lake on the 15^th as competitors will ride around the lake one and a half times and then head on to the finish line at Northstar. The next day cyclists will bus over to Squaw and start the leg in The Village and then ride on down the hill to the flat land of Central California.

With the warm weather we have been receiving, lounging on the river or on the lake is a great way to spend the day. And after some fun in the sun, come on back to PJs and dine in the bar or café and try our new spring menu. The pool will open this week, the ping pong table is set up, the chess board is out, the hot tubs are always great, and our bikes-for-borrow are back for the summer so you can ride around on some sweet blue beach cruisers and tour Squaw Valley in style.

Spring time is a great time to get away to Squaw. Let the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn take care of you and yours.