I needed a mental break today, so I went skiing at Squaw Valley USA this morning. I know this is shocking to many people, but with the exception of the village stomp, I had a good time. So why is it my last day skiing at Squaw Valley USA? Well, they are changing the name silly…and I have other plans for the next two days, which is the final weekend at Squaw Valley USA.
I like saying it as “Squaw Valley USA.”
My usual skiing cohort was otherwise occupied with golf or travel today, so I had to switch teams. Fortunately Mr. X and VCSki found me in line at the Funitel and brightened my day by taking me to Squaw One, which I probably have not ridden since I was 12 years old.
I had taken a four day break from skiing, catching up on a lot of tasks I have ignored over the last 6 months. That include some lawn care, bike care, camper van care and some cascading style sheet tedium. Today was about self-care, and just the act of riding a chairlift got my mind centered again.
The skiing was great too, for being mid-May, and with very warm overnight temperatures. We spun a few laps at Gold Coast and then joined the crowds at Shirley Lake as things got sticky in the warm sun. The crowds at Shirley Lake did not disappoint. While they were not bad at all, by normal Shirley standards, it was more than I care to be a part of. Still ten more runs of sliding on the snow definitely cleared my head, allowing me to head back into the confusing world of CSS and API keys.
I love a little adventure skiing, but Mountain Run is no longer continuous to return back to the Village. It’s not closed, but there are parts that require skiing on one ski, skiing on mud & rocks (free base grind!), or taking your skis or board off and walking. We saw some adventurers still taking Mountain Run today, but the dirt patches are now in the “numerous” category. We opted for the Funi ride down.
If you’re thinking about some ski time for the weekend, the weather will be a challenge. As of now there’s a 70% chance of showers for Saturday and a 30% chance for Sunday. Add a little lightning into that mix and you could be in for some adventure. I’m fine to miss the weekend at Squaw, as I have some Mammoth days on my calendar for next week.