It looks like the spring storm came in just about as we forecast. About two feet of snow has been added to the base at Alpine Meadows, making three feet at the crest a pretty good bet. When we left Alpine Meadows on March 14th, the automated snow sensor reported about 45 inches at the base. Today that same sensor is showing 95 inches. In most years, that would certainly be cause for celebration. This year is different.
Alterra Mountain Company, the parent company of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, announced this week that most full time employees would be furloughed. Those employees will remain on the books and continue to receive benefits, but they will not receive paychecks. Ouch.
So while we are all saddened about the loss of skiing at our favorite mountains, the potential loss of some great employees is a really big deal. Seasonal employees were laid off a couple of weeks ago, a month or two ahead of schedule. It’s reasonable to expect that they might return next season. But employees that have come to rely on a year round position may be forced to move on, and that is not a good thing.
Not all employees will be furloughed. As long as the snow keeps falling, work needs to be done to protect the lifts and lodge and other parts of the mountain. In the screenshot above, we captured a snowcat and another employee digging out the Roundhouse lift. But that skeleton crew is not likely enough to begin to reconsider opening the mountain anytime soon. If you have been around Alpine Meadows during the month of May, most of mountain operations are handled by those full time staff as seasonal people move on to summer jobs.
Our hearts go out to those SVAM employees that have been furloughed. We hope that you will find some way to make it through this crisis and return for another season.
Also of note, just 4 days before this shutdown began, AMC announced an ambitious plan of capital improvement projects, including an expansion of the deck at the Chalet and refurbishing the Gold Coast Lodge at Squaw. According to news reports, AMC will be cutting capital improvements by 50%, and it’s easy to see how the two local projects will likely fall to the bottom of priority list. In comparison, Vail Resorts eliminated 100% of their capital improvement projects.
It’s looking pretty clear that the COVID-19 pandemic is going to have far reaching impacts, not just an early end to our ski season.
But Squawpine is still pushing through the resort-to-resort tram, right? And the base village for the 1% at Squaw, too? Grrr…..
I am thinking that with the economy heading to the crapper that both of these will be on the back burner for awhile…
If have lost your job and you need help with basics like food and medicine, you can find help here. If you are able to give help and support to others in your community for basics such as food and medicine, you can sign up to help here. Shelly Sitton Tygielski is a dear friend, and I can vouch for this endeavor. So far more than 10,000 families have been matched with patron-supporters. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me personally. Alpine/Squaw folks, you know how to reach me. But again: This is anonymous, so nobody ever needs to know, including me.
https://www.pandemicoflove.com/?fbclid=IwAR2-g7tRYYzLDoZRrOmukMbgPKg_pT8pQr6EjdwuMTC-IO4IXVvXklmTUww
Good report, Mark, I also hope those still working will get the perk of some untracked!
If any SVAM employees read this, please make sure to apply for unemployment benefits even though they’re calling this a furlough and not a layoff. You are almost certainly still eligible for unemployment, no matter what they’re calling it.
Please apply:
https://www.edd.ca.gov/
Excellent addition Colin!
No problem amigo. As a state employee, although not an official duty for my position, it’s part of my job. 🙂
If you’re applying for unemployment, other benefits, it’s critical to tell them you need benefits due to cv19.
Thank you for the information and update. As skiing is the life of many of us, let’s remember that life is what gives this gift.
Stay safe, stay healthy and Godspeed
Unofficial Alpine and Mark, thank you for your updates. Our family misses Alpine quite a bit, but I really appreciate the reminders and updates of what is going on. Please keep writing and let us know what you’re hearing. And, if you hear about any group effort to send care/financial support to the Alpine community, please post it. We (like I hope many) would like to find ways to help.
The base to base gondola was not a great idea to begin with, D