Changes Are In The Wind

The skiing and riding at Alpine Meadows was far better than expected today. Temperatures exceeded the forecast and the winds did not meet the forecast. That meant that much of the mountain was accessible today as things warmed up. But that does not matter, as the weather is about to make a significant change tomorrow. There’s more big changes down the road for this season and future seasons also in today’s report.

A Quick Take On The Weather

As we mentioned the other day, persistence is the safe bet when it comes to forecasting the weather. So although it looked like we might see a chance for a bigger storm to pad our snowpack next week, our hopes are diminished once again. The same forces that are causing these storms to miss the Tahoe area are still in play, as they have been all season.

For Saturday, the latest run of the GFS is showing the potential for 4-6 inches of snow, falling mostly overnight Friday, with snow continuing into the morning. We get another sunny day for Sunday before the next storm comes in Monday into Tuesday. That one is now looking like up to 4 inches at this point. It could change…the safe bet this year is to bring less snow. The good news is that this pair of storms should bring snow levels below lake level. After that, we again enter a dry slot. It is what it is.

How Long Will This Season Last?

We’ve been starting to hear some rumors and whispers about a closing date for Alpine Meadows this year. With our seasonal accumulation now dipping below 80% of average, it’s easy to guess that this is not going to be one of those long seasons. It’s also not a complete mystery that this season has not been a huge moneymaker for any local resort.

While pass sales were strong, the things that bring in the money this time of year still cannot happen due to Placer County still being in the purple tier. That means no inside dining, and alcohol purchases have to be accompanied by food purchases, eliminating bar revenue. Things like music on the Sun Deck are still disallowed, further limiting the interest in spring skiing. Meanwhile, ski teams end soon and other outdoor sports are being allowed to take place in some counties. If you’ve been on the mountain lately, you know numbers are down.

So when will it end? We’re not sure. But the date that we keep hearing is April 11th or 12th for Alpine Meadows. Most schools will have their spring break during the first two weeks of April, so midweek traffic will certainly be meager after that point. Yes, that is earlier than many of us like, but this is a season like no other. I am grateful for all of the skiing I have been able to do this season, having done more than my fair share. Typically, Squaw Valley would stay open longer and that might happen, or it might not. Keep reading.

Update: SVAM COO Ron Cohen responded regarding the early close date in this post. The hope is to stay open later.

The Gondola, Like It Or Not, Is Coming

There’s no more doubting it, the construction of the Base To Base Gondola between Alpine Meadows and our neighbor to the north is scheduled to begin this spring. The permits have been issued, and the lawsuits have been settled, so it will be built. I know many have asked questions about whether or not Alterra would pursue the project after a not so rosy financial year, but apparently that money is in the bank and ready to be spent.

Sure the money could be spent in better places. A new lift at Scott, Lakeview, Alpine Bowl, Red Dog or Granite Chief would all make far more sense in improving the skiing experience. They could probably do several of those lifts for the amount of money that will be put into a shuttle lift. What Alterra really needs is a third major resort in the Tahoe area so their uphill capacity more closely matches the number of passes sold in Northern California.

There is major work that needs to be done at both ends of the gondola to accommodate the new base stations. The Alpine Meadows base station will be located next to the TLC, requiring significant alterations to the landscape. Reports are it will likely take 2 summer seasons to complete the connection. There’s a lot of motivation to let ski season end and start construction season. It is what it is.

What Are We Calling The Valley With No Name Now?

The last we heard, the new name for our neighbors to our north was going to be announced in the spring. We’re now in meteorological spring, so that announcement could be coming soon. The only recent WAGs that we have heard is “Alterra Mountain resort.” We think that’s rather convenient as they already have an appropriate logo:

At least we could end with that giggle…