Well this marks the end of the road for UnofficialAlpine.com…
It’s an odd time to be pulling the plug, as last month we had nearly 100,000 page views, our biggest ever. But the fact is, running this blog has sucked the last little bit of fun out skiing for me. So it must end.
If you’re looking to stay in the loop with Andy Wertheim’s ski reports, you can follow him on Facebook here.
If you want to know more about Tahoe weather, the number one place to learn more is at the Reno NOAA Forecast Discussion page. While it seems daunting at first, there’s convenient links to define key terms. The Sacramento office has a similar page that covers the west slope of the Sierra.
I’m not sure how long it will be before things disappear here so archive anything you like soon. I’m really looking forward to skiing with no need to say a word about it.
Mark
Added later: It didn’t take long for someone to start to fill the gap…here’s the announcement from a new site run by a few friends:
Unofficial SquAlpine
We are truly saddened by the loss of Unofficial Alpine, which has served the Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley community as the best source of accurate ski conditions for our beloved ski area. UA kept the community connected to the mountain and allowed those who couldn’t be there to share in the stoke of those who could.
In response, we have launched a new site, UnofficialSquAlpine.com. We endeavor to share timely skier reports of actual conditions, in addition to links to pertinent mountain information. Our mission is to stay focused specifically on the skier experience and mountain conditions. Since we aren’t able to make it to the mountain everyday, we will rely heavily on the active participation of our loyal skier community to help keep us all informed, so please share your photos and observations whenever you can.
Mark set a high bar with Unofficial Alpine. We will do our best to carry on the “unofficial” tradition of quality ski reporting.
Thanks for the insights all these years. We’ll truly miss you.
Doug maner. AMNSP
I’m so sad, but I definitely understand. Will @unalpine still have an Instagram account? I’ll sure miss your wittiness. See you at Alpine! ❄🙏
I changed the name of the account today but you’ll still see it…
Thank you Mark.
I will forever treasure my unofficialalpine cap from the photo contest.
My goodness! Too bad that it wasn’t fun anymore! I hope that you have a great time on the slopes and in your life! 🙂
Times are a changin’..we will miss your spin on our beloved Alpine Meadows.
Thanks for putting yourself out there for us. Take good care and may the snow fall softly on your boards and may all the lifts open when you show up to the hill. #stoptherain #stopthereign
I really enjoyed all of your posts. You did a fabulous job. It was always entertaining, truthful, sometimes sad (aka. KSL), thought provoking and very well written. You have a real talent with communication.
Thank you so much. I will miss your posts immensely.
Thanks Mark. Your voice here will be missed.
Man, I just found this site a month ago…I’m really saddened. I feel like I found gold…and then it just vanished.
Something inside me wonders if this has to do with heat from whom this site takes to task?
I feel very fortunate to have been able to read the insightful posts and comments from you and many regulars here.
Have fun out there Mark. Ton of respect for you man.
I read you daily and will miss your perspective. Best of life to you all! You will be remembered…..and missed
Thanks Mark!
Always an enjoyable read! Fun for me but I get it that it might have turned into work for you.
Keep your face turned to the sun!
(like a flower!)
Dave
Thanks for all the insightful and informative updates. You kept me connected to the ebb and flow of my favorite place through the daily grind of life in the Bay Area.
We will truly miss your humor and updates. See you on the slopes!!
Thanks for all your insight and for keeping it real. You will be missed. I understand the need to just ski and leave it at that. Enjoy the snow!
Soooo…KSL threatened to pull your pass?
Hmmm. Thought provoking thought.
That’s what I thought after the last couple posts. If so that’s suuuuuper lane. If anything Mark got me more excited about skiing Alpine.
Thank you for all your work and reports, Mark. I will miss reading your valued opinions…
I, for one, can understand how maintaining a site such as this could get old after awhile! When it’s no longer fun, the correct thing to do is figure out a way to make it fun again. It sounds like you’re doing the right thing…
Happy trails, fresh powder, and big smiles! 🙂
Thanks Mark. I grew up skiing Alpine and lived there for a couple of seasons in the 80’s. Your blog was great and I will miss it. Get back to having fun on the slopes.
👍⛷🍺😎, see you on the hill!
Nooooooo! Say it ain’t so! You’re my lifeline, especially when I’m stuck rehabbing an injury, like now.
We’ll miss the great commentary and editorial. And the annual rehash of the Truckee Safeway Christmas post.
I’ll look forward to skiing with you again soon. Hoping for March now.
I do love that Truckee Safeway Christmas post. Should/could be licensed to Hallmark for a greeting card….or to one of the on-line greeting card outfits, complete with animation.
Another disappointed fan here who is wondering if a cease and desist letter is ending a great forum for sharing important news and discussions for concerned community members.
I hope not for your sake, and woild completely understand the desire to be free from the work and a lot of the negativity.
But IMHO you and this site were vital (to me at least) for keeping the issues public. I got a lot of important news from here and saw it nowhere else, that is a huge service I will miss.
Best wishes for unencumbered days of sliding on the snow.
“The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation.” ― Mark Twain
Addendum: Until it’s not fun anymore.
GO HAVE FUN, MAN! You deserve it…
Mark,
On behalf of the community, thank you for your tireless efforts through the years. Without you holding the powers that be accountable for their actions, things would be even more hectic and more crazy. Every skimunnity deserves to have a world class blogger. Can we clone you?
See you on the slopes!!
Word
Enjoy your freedom and stay positive.
Thanks for everything you did with this site and allowimg us a voice too.
In the words of the late and perhaps not so great Alexander C. Cushing, “onwards and upwards”
Been fun riding here w you.
This is really sad – is there anything I can do to help you out to keep it going? Seriously! I can update this everyday since I am there everyday and see you everyday….I’d love to take this over for you.
Please do it
That would be great!
We– I speak for a vast community– will miss your wit, insight and right-on views of the local area and all that affects it. Thank you for your work. Maybe you can return if you get bored!!
Plz. Mark. Do not go!! Do it part
Time. Do it occasionally. Do not leave us!
Thanks for your time, perspective and passion!!!
Theoretically it makes it easier to go to Rose, at least mid-week.
Often windy at Rose…..course Alpine has its share of wind too. Please have fun. You deserve it.
Sorry to see you stop!! I forwarded all your blogs to 10 other skiers. We are all sad!
I do hope that it was your choice and not KSL pressure. Hate to see an honest news source shut down when we need it most.
I guess KSL got to you finally.
Sad that the resistance is being stopped
Never stop fighting
Never let the corporate overlords win
#FreeAlpine
As a valley transplant, I really valued this blog to get the real deal about what was going on around Alpine and the rest of Tahoe. I will definitely miss its absence. Thanks for the authentic updates!. Good luck.. Ski fast and take chances!
Thanks for everything Mark!
thank you for all your thoughts over the years! enjoy!
Thank you for ALL of your efforts! I’ve lived vicariously through you when I couldn’t be skiing with you and others. You made my winters so much better!!
Cheers my friend!!
I just found out about this while skiing with friends in December and am sad to see you move on. Thank you so much for giving us all the daily scoop. A labor of love for sure.
The candle in the wilderness flickers out and dies. UA will be missed. Thank you for your time and energy.
I do hope that whois records in the future do not show the domain owned by KSL.
Thanks for keeping us all connected to the mountain when we couldn’t be there. You have provided an invaluable service to the Alpine community. I will miss your posts!
Enjoy your retirement and we’ll see ya on the mountain…
So long and thanks for all the fish.
Gonna miss it. You’re a dying breed.
Tom paulson
I truly loved reading your blog. I don’t get to ski nearly as often as I want to, but reading your passion for Alpine made me feel like I was there
I read this blog everyday for several years, thank you for the work and great information! Enjoy retirement, we all hope you bring it back in some form!
It’s a weird year. More proof right here.
Thank you for sharing your inestimable knowledge.
Thanks for staying on top of everything for us. I’m a Northstar skier, and honestly never had the chance to go to Alpine, but I have really enjoyed your commentary for several reasons, so again thanks for your yeas of comitment.
So bummed to hear this news but wish you the best. It really has been a great source of information over the years and your writing has made everyone feel more connected, especially for those of us who cannot be there as much as we would like.
Thanks Mark, sorry to see you go. Enjoy your time in the snow.
I will miss reading this blog. I have read it daily for years. Honest commentary is a rarity in the ski blog world, Mark and Andy, thanks for making unofficialalpine happen!
Really enjoyed the Blog. Was a daily read during the Season. Loved to get the different perspective.
Bryan DeFabio
“This isn’t real news until it’s posted on snowbrains.”
Mark, Thank you for all of the great commentary over the years. For those of us not fortunate enough to spend as much midweek time at Alpine, you have been our eyes and ears and in the process helped us stay current on issues that are vital to the community. As a homeowner at Alpine, I thank you for your voice of reason and your unyielding passion for telling it like you see it. I hope you enjoy your time off and will check back often hoping that you can’t resist a chance to tell one more story, or describe one more turn… Have fun!
Mark,
Thank you for all that you have done for this community and all that you will, no doubt, continue to do. Hopefully I’ll see you out on the hill someday soon and we can take some turns.
You will be missed.
Katy
When you didn’t update the last couple days I had a terrible premonition. Big bummer! I really enjoyed reading your posts! Thank you kindly for all you did and may your skiing be more enjoyable. Take care and thanks!!’
Please don’t pull the plug. Let others share the load. Keep it going. This website is too important to let go
I agree. Unless you have a NDA with SVSH there is no reason someone else can’t carry this wonderful site on. Mark, would you be willing to let the community take it on?
I have to be candid–you know we’re all wondering the same thing: was this 100% your decision? Because the timing seems…uncanny.
I’ve been envisioning a FB group at least.
Hey, lurker for the last year or so here. I just wanted to thank you for not only providing daily updates on conditions, but also standing up for Alpine and Lake Tahoe in general. Your posts have been eye-opening to the corporate development that’s threatening to ruin what makes Tahoe so special. Without this blog, I’d just be another Bay Area resident oblivious to the scary things happening to a place I love to visit so much. I’ll be sad to see you go, and best of luck in the future.
Please do not let this die. I’ve never even been skiing at Alpine Meadows but you’ve made me dream of it. Regardless, thanks.
Thank you Mark. You have been an inspiration.
Ski on in peace.
See you on the hill.
So long and thanks for all the fish!
Thanks for everything Mark!
Mark,
I can’t tell you how much your blog has been appreciated by us AM die hards.
I felt like I wasn’t the only one that has watched this resort be treated like the ugly stepchild. You have put a voice to what has been readily apparent to those that cared about this place. You will be missed but I hope I get to run into you some day to shake your hand.
How will we keep up on the pulse of what is going on at Alpine? Maybe you post once a week, not every day if it is too much of a time sink.
I will miss the website as well and hope you start to enjoy your time on the hill again. Keeping the website going is not worth you losing your love of skiing over. We get it.
I am also a reader who is naturally wondering now if KSL has played a factor in your decision? Do tell please
Cheers
I suspect KSL politicking is in play… shutting down a blog (or at least threatening) will not resolve or hide any issues, especially when all you have to do is show up.
Hey Mark: I can’t tell you how much I have learned from you over the time I have been following. Thanks for everything (namely your time). Its been really great. You have added value. I respected your point of view. All really great.
Thank you for all your dedicated work here Mark. I’m sad that it’s ending but I’m happy for you to enjoy skiing as it should be. Hope to see you out there.
Thank you very much for all of your posts, I will really miss getting real, useful information.
Thanks for all the great beta over the years. I left alpine after several years of being a pass holder. I totally understand why it was time for you to stop.
Wish you the best, enjoy whatever mountain you decide to slide on.
Great blog. Essential reading for all of us who love Alpine. Sorry that you need to let it go but understand your reasons. Hope this helps you get the fun back into your skiing. Thanks for the memories.
Really sad to see this go away.
UA is gone from fb. Hope this site stays up so our community has a place to comment. #SquawDoesntCare
After UA was deleted from facebook, I’m worried this site will be deleted and the community scattered. Hoping we can continue this discussion on another site, maybe SquawDoesntCare.com or https://www.facebook.com/squawdoesntcare/
Mark,
You’re amazing.
I’ve thoughly enjoyed reading your blogs and the contributors like Gilligan, the Friends of Sov-iettes’ Valley, and all the Friends of KSL …. – both of them. 🙂
So sad to see you stop. Nothing but respect. You truly stood for something greater than any individual. Please let us know that SVSH isn’t behind this. Just doesn’t make sense…so sudden…so final. Is there no other way? Have you considered sharing the load or passing the baton?
Thank you for all your work over the years Mark. It’s truly appreciated.
Mark, thanks for all the hard work you have put in over the years. UnofficialAlpine has been one of my main sources of news about Apine, Squaw, and our region. I am sorry to hear it’s coming to an end, but, I completely understand. This year was my first in 15 not skiing at Squaw or Alpine. It was a difficult decision, but KSL made it easier by insisting on such a massive over-development and running the resorts so poorly I often left at least disappointed or angry. Skiing at resorts this season that still value and provide a local experience has been refreshing.
Without some of your great updates I my have missed a few chances to stand up and make my voice heard as member of our community. I know you may have considered this just a blog, but to many of us it was the real journalism our mountain community needed. See you where the snow is, Thanks again -Zach
Someone’s gotta do it but you aren’t obligated forever. Someone else will step up and fill the role of on-the-ground, direct reporting about what’s happening at our ski hill. You’ve laid out an excellent example of high quality blogging that benefits the community. Owe you a beer!
My hope is that closing UnAlpine is part of a plan by KSL to improve the selling price so they can gracefully exit the mess they have made.
Wonder how muck KSL is paying for this domain?
Mark, thank you for all of your comments and for your hard work these last years. I have often wondered how you do it – your blog must have taken up a good deal of your time and energy. Life is all about change – so when you see that something needs to change in your life you have to embrace it. I will enjoy seeing you in the locker room and out on the hill. Thank you again for your service and I join Hamishin in owing you a beer or two at The Last Chair.
Dr X, perhaps you could email Andy Wirth and ask if we could use the Alpine deck for an appreciation party in honor of Mark.
That should go over well! We should just plan an “unofficial” party.
Let’s hide a keg in the trees, like the good ole days!
Can someone put into layman’s terms how one would go about archiving this site?
copy and paste or screenshot the pages you want to save
True Retirement for you now! Thanks for all your daily posts over the years. Full of creativity, excellent writing and insight. You will be missed but not forgotten!
Mark,
I have a deep love for Alpine Meadows. My first winter in Tahoe I purchased a $99 spring pass to Alpine and it snowed all April long. I explored Alpine, trying to keep up with a hardcore snowboarder who taught this east coast kid from Jersey about traversing, hiking and getting off piste. I’ve been chasing that high ever since.
Thank you for everything over the years. Thank you speaking out about Squaw’s over-development and KSL. Thank you for always keeping it 100%. You’ve been an inspiration for myself and many other “unofficial” sites.
Keep having fun. That’s really what it is all about. Let’s make some turns together this season!
“John Snow”, unofficialsugarbowl.com
Say it ain’t so!
Moved from Tahoe, but I still count on UA to keep me informed of the real news. Mark, we will miss you! Thank you for being a crusader for Truth!
We all need sites like this one to keep the free flow of ideas and information!
Really sorry to see this end. You’ve been the only good source for information about what’s really going on at AM and KSL. As the number of comments shows you’ll be missed (but not by KSL).
I need to find and save the post about how to shop at Safeway during the holidays.
How do I get the Unofficial Alpine sticker off my ski?
Get hold of Amy, she has a lot of experience removing stickers.
disappointed in your decision for sure. Having jumped into the center of this fight with both feet, getting banned for speaking my mind, I understand that you are not enjoying skiing in the same way as before, but trust me, it will never return to what it was. You will still be aggrieved by all that you see moving in the wrong direction. If you’ve been threatened it should be made public. The Wirthless wonder needs his comeuppance. KSL deserves to lose as much money as possible in this deal, you are a key member in this struggle. Just saying. Please read the Moonshine ink My shot coming out on Friday, I was hoping you would help get it out to the masses. Best regards for all you’ve done.
Dearest Mark,
I applaud your choice to stop something that no longer serves you. I have so appreciated your wit, wisdom and clarity.
While a frequent traveler to the High Country of our fabulous state, I am new to the area as of 2013. My husband and I have saved our entire marriage to purchase a modest home in Alpine Meadows.
Your blog helped me understand the local weather, read snow conditions and understand the finer operations of our beloved Alpine Meadows better.
Thank you for your attention to the effects of the KSL purchase and the resulting cascade of negative consequences to Ecosystems, habitat and culture.
While I will miss your postings, I wish you well and may you enjoy skiing with out the attention on writing about it.
I would sure like to buy you a cup of coffee!
All the best to you and your endeavors. Keep up as a Strong Heart.
Warmly, Jennifer Absey
Mark, thanks for being the standard bearer all these years, we will all miss this forum. See you around the campus.
PeterL
Looks like that the Hit Squad will have to be called off.
Thanks for everything, come up to Sugar Bowl, DANA
Mark,
Great blog for all these years. One of my favorite post was the animated one about moving the terrain park. It’s always been creative over here. I feel your pain, you can only bang your head against a wall for so long before it hurts. KSL has turned skiing, something that was so enjoyable, in to something that is now nothing but frustration. Will miss the insight, enjoy your next endeavors , wherever they are.
I am in shock, so sad to hear. Where can we turn to get the truth about a place we all love? Alpine has one of the most passionate skier communities anywhere. You were part of my daily morning routine, a friend who could be counted on for all the latest news about a place that has been a huge part of my life. But I do understand, it must have been as painful to write these last few years about the new miss management as it was to read. Happy trails, hope to see you out there, you will be missed here.
THANK YOU SO MUCH for all you’ve done for the area and for us!!! You will be missed, but I’m hopeful you find more fun in your life, you deserve it!!!
Thank you Mark . A pass holder at alpine for more than 30 yrs I have very much appreciated Un Off Alpine . It has been a mirror of reality served up by experienced dedicated skiers (riders) who are cognitive of every nuance of the winter mountain experience. Because of that I fully appreciate and support your decision. It has gotten painful.
Ugh this sucks. It’s not the most user friendly but I recommend using https://www.httrack.com/ if you want to download the whole site to archive it.
Thank you so much for the time and effort that you put into unofficialalpine!!! You captured why AM is such a special place. Your insight and wit will be missed.
Mark- I thought you’d be more grateful for the check Squaw cut you in exchange for taking UA offline. We just couldn’t stand the negative but accurate coverage you provided. Now I’m never going to spin roundhouse on storm days. Muahahahah
Mark,
I’m so saddened to hear this, but totally understand how it can become tiresome! UA has been the place where I’ve gone to hear anything about Alpine, apart from the “real-time updates” SquAlpine promises. I really hope KSL didn’t have anything to do with this!
Since so many people seem to have an interest in taking UA over, I’d be happy to take care of the technical sides to maintaining the site (hosting, domain, etc.), and write some posts my self. You know where to contact me 🙂
Thanks again Mark for all of your insightful, amusing journalism Alpine has needed so much. I’m going to miss reading your posts…
Hope to ski with you soon!
I guarantee you got threatened by Andy Wirth… to take down content or you will be black listed from the resort.. sorry there is no freedom of speech.. you had really good insights and will be missed
Mark, thanks for your time and effort over the years.
I hope you hold onto the domain, just in case!!!
Cheers
Thanks for all the entertainment over the years. Also thanks for always having the time to stop and say hi to the lift ops. Although it’s been a few years since I worked Roundhouse your Easter Eggs & xmas gifts made working the holidays a little easier. I still put my snowman up on the tree every xmas to remind me how lucky I am to be able to ski on Christmas morning instead of bumping chairs. The small things… Anyway enjoy the slopes & get up to Sugar Bowl. It’s just like alpine used to be 😉
Thanks for fighting the good fight for so long. Educating, informing, and inspiring the Alpine Meadows community. You will be missed..
Mark – thank you for your work on this site. It’s provided a vital service to our community. I hope you’ll consider handing off administrative responsibilities to someone else (you’d get tons of volunteers if you asked), rather than letting the site die out. After all, isn’t it really KSL that has sucked the fun out of skiing, and not the blog? Whatever you decide, thanks again for the time you have put in for all of our benefit.
Mark,
Thank you for your tireless efforts to bring awareness first Squaw and then Alpine. I hope this was your choice and no one else’s. There is free speech in this country. At least for now.
Thank you for everything Mark. No words except best wishes in your next adventure.
Mark–I’ve lurked on this site for many years and enjoyed so many posts over that capture so much of the joy of skiing in the beautiful Sierras. Thanks also for the many thoughtful and well written commentaries. Please do consider keeping this site up even if just as an archive of interesting content. Definitely don’t let the domain lapse!
Your honest, detailed reports were invaluable for days I was riding Alpine, and heartening on days when I was stuck in the Bay Area, thank you. Luckily for me I moved to another “Meadows” where the management actually seems to think like their customers and the city is not so far away…
Very sad to see your amazingly informative site go! You have helped present the viewpoint held by many longtime skiers of SquAlpine.
Based on the lack of response on this rainy day to the many people who have asked if KSL had anything to do with this, it is obvious they did and they must have also put a gag order on you. That is incredibly disappointing. I’m guessing they did one or more of the following: threaten to ban you from the mountain just as they recently threatened to ban people from their facebook page, and/or threaten to sue you. Your posts have, I’m sure, helped in the fight to improve operations. I can only imagine what it would be like without your work.
In addition to your KSL insights, your ski conditions insights have been invaluable. Nowhere else have I found the kind of information you posted which included which lifts may run and snow conditions. We all know that the frequently advertised “445 OF SNOW THIS SEASON” (as seen on the website today) has little to do with ski conditions as we only ski on the top layer. The amount of snow also has no value when lifts don’t run. You helped us know what the top layer was like and what lift ops were like.
Another thought, how are you going to get your frustration off your chest now? Dr Phil would tell you not to keep it all bottled up. Venting is therapy. 🙂
Since several have offered to take the ball and run with it, I hope we can keep this site alive to continue to enable the ideas of the skier community. Some thoughts:
1) Have the person who takes over do it anonymously so KSL won’t be able to ban them. Maybe use an LLC to protect from liability.
2) Expand advertising. You deserve to be compensated for your valuable site. Some ways to do it: http://moneypantry.com/get-paid-to-advertise-on-your-website/
I do hope we’ll hear from you again with thoughts to keep this site going.
Thanks! I hope to meet you on the mountain someday as it would be a pleasure to do some turns with you!
After reading Rob’s comments, I must concur that it is apparent that something must have happened – and that KSL is silencing Mark (one way or the other). If that is true – we should all be outraged and very angry – and asking ourselves “is there anything we can do as a community to stop this??”
Mark commented in the previous post that he had been physically threatened by employees. Who knows what else he has experienced. Anybody who receives a threat should contact the Sheriff.
Don’t think there is much we can do to fight a corporation with deep pockets that is only looking for an exit strategy. Boycotting Squapine would be like deciding not to vote any more because you dislike the incumbent. Howabout instead of/in addition to buying Mark a beer we each donate the price of a resort beer (do they still sell those boots at Chalet?) towards future season passes for Mark at the resort of his choice?
Live long and prosper!
Good. It’s about time.
Not “good” in the sense that I’m glad you’re ending UA, but this decision really isn’t about me (or any of the above people), is it?
Good, for you. Really good I hope.
Too much drama these past few years, too much invested in so many ways. You’ve earned a ton less drama in your life after championing the #FreeAlpine torch in the public eye for years, and in your ski-tirement years you deserve the freedom to do whatever the hell you want, wherever the hell you want, and without thousands of people combing over every last scrap you’ve put out there emotionally and in writing.
Missed? Certainly. But I have a feeling this is not the end of what UA is all about.
Happy trails, see you on the slopes.
THANK YOU MARK!!! Wishing you happiness and untracked pow below you!
Thanks for the time/effort you spent on this small corner of the interwebs. Going to miss the “real” snow reports, beta on crowds, and unfortunately the latest in the sh*t show spilling over the ridge….much appreciated.
Mt Rose story : First place I ever skied after moving from Idaho. What is now the Chutes was OB back then but I had no idea what was what as a 10 yr old. The prominent view of the Chutes scared the sh*t out of me all the way from Reno. The thought of dealing with that terrain was frightening to a young buck . 30+ yrs later…I think it was love at first sight.
Thanks Mark. Your voice will be missed
I hope you got a lifetime pass.
I feel you influence will continue, somehow.
Thanks for you wit, wisdom and true soul.
Short skis still suck!
Don’t skydive with CEOs.
Ullr Rules!
Edward Abbey put it best: “One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am – a reluctant enthusiast….a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this: You will outlive the bastards.”
Ditto on all the praise for you and Unofficial Alpine. I wish I had found this site years ago. Thanks so much for all the hard work. I am sure it wasn’t easy, but you always kept things calm and professsional.
Found this link for those that want to continue the KSL discussion….
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/308565-Official-KSL-Bitch-AND-Bitch-about-people-bitching-about-KSL-thread
Mark, so sorry to see your blog go bye bye! I have relied on you and Andy for years for real time, unvarnished intel on Alpine. Good luck to you!
See you on the hill.
Tom
Just to add to the sentiments of all the other posters, many thanks for the blog over the years – and I’ll really miss all your daily updates on Alpine. All the best!
You know, I’m sure he can’t confirm or deny this but after that Squaw FB post and the last few blog posts here I think we can assume KSL had something to do with this. It’s not verified but it feels like a pretty good guess. Something to keep in mind.
I loved this blog. There’s not enough local blogs especially now. While I don’t blame KSL for holding lifts until the weekend if they do (I like red dog), they haven’t lost any business by anyone complaining. If anything it makes me itchy to get to the base. Anyway I hope someone from KSL sees this comment and understands that nothing here ever took away from their brand and if anything it helped it.
Thanks again Mark! May your skiing be amazing and lifts open when you approach them.
Cheers,
A different Mark
Pete – I would totally support and contribute to such an effort.
Agree with all the praise and thanks. The ski reports have been awesome, but even more important this site has served the community well as a conduit for information. There are so things happening in the area that will affect the valley. UA has been really helpful for me in keeping track of them all. Thanks Mark and Andy for everything. Would love to buy you both beers next sunny day on the deck!
Mark,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I wish you the best, now get out there and blog less, live more!
Alpine has got the better hill
Get over yourself Squaw
Mark,
Your blog will be sincerely missed! I could, literally, count on one hand the times that I’ve skied at resort that we not Alpine (until the merge), and still heavily prefer this side of the mountain.
As a non-local, I’ve really appreciated knowing what was going on and learning about the many ins and outs of life here.
I saw that combative jerks comments on one of the last FB comment threads and my heart dropped. This cyber world has gotten so surreal in its lack of tact in handling differences in opinion. I’m so sorry you’ve had to weather this.
Mark, thank you so much. I’ve loved your posts and its kept me so in touch with what’s been going on in the valley – not sure where to go to now, there’s a void for sure! I hope someone can carry the torch. Though I also don’t like the feeling of the sequence of events, and it may be time to go spend some more time at Mt. Rose. Enjoy your skiing, you deserve it!
Thank you Mark; I discovered this site a year ago and relied on it as the only source of information I trusted. So sad to see it go but am grateful I found it at all. I’ll add my two cents to those who ask if its possible to transfer it in some way to the community to try to upkeep as best they can…regardless, best wishes!
Thank you, Mark. I’ve enjoyed unofficialalpine for many years. I was going to say I’ll miss your excellent blog, but I won’t—I’ll likely be reading unofficialkirkwood.com next season. I bought my first Alpine ten pack in 1991, and 26 years later it’s four gold passes, two lockers and two kids on ski team. But enough—today was the last straw. Standing in one endless lift line after another gave me PLENTY of time to reflect on how Alpine’s ineptitude has sucked out all of the joy of skiing. So we’ll be spending ski week auditioning other resorts in the hope of finding a well-run mountain that can bring the fun back to Tahoe skiing.
P.S. And if you were really served a cease-and-desist (and I suspect you were), all the more reason to make this our last season at Alpine.
Yah this weekend ALSO got us thinking of splitting too. It was a ton of effort for not much skiing. The mountains were understaffed and unprepared.
Kirkwood is awesome – enjoy!
Seems way to coincidental to them pulling peoples passes for negative facebook comments. We see.
Thanks for Keeping It Real. It’s too bad that KSL is trying their hardest to crush the souls that make this area special. I don’t blame you for making an exit, whether coerced or not.
I will miss this site. Reading it was one of the highlights of my day. Best wishes Mark.
Thanks for all that you have written over the years.
For those of you wanting a new place to share the stoke, we’re starting a new site, UnofficialSquAlpine.com, to fill the gap! We’re getting the website ready, but you can like and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter in the meantime. Just search for Unofficial SquAlpine and you should find us.
We’re looking for people to help submit photos and ski reports to share the stoke with others, so if you’re interested in helping out, shoot me an email at info@unofficialsqualpine.com
Great news! just wondering who will be running the site and what their stance is on recent events…
Don’t worry, Dan! We’re long time Alpine skiers and friends of many in the Tahoe area, including Mark. You may know one of us as Oznorts.
Big footsteps to fill! You’ll get a pic from me….
See you on the mountain, Mark! Thanks for all you have done for our community.
Awesome, thank you!!!!
Pull the plug already. Hope to see you at SB
D-Man
Thanks Mark. Really enjoyed your updates over the last few years.
I miss you Alpine
Be there Saturday
Buy your IKON pass at Costco, get a 200 buck cash card