Things are going to be different this year at Alpine Meadows. It just won’t be the same on those busy days at Summit & Roundhouse without Kate Zaloga taking charge of the situation. Anyone that has spent much time at Alpine Meadows would recognize Kate’s booming voice, with that hint of an accent. They would recognize the dollar store wands and Kate’s love of western wear. Anyone that has spent any time at Alpine Meadows has probably been chastised by Kate for not making a group of six, or stepping forward too soon or too late. You would also know that she was right.
We’ve skied a lot of different resorts, in several different states and Canada. We have stood in lift lines just about everywhere. Nowhere do lines move as efficiently as they do at Alpine Meadows. Zaloga has been involved in lift ops at Alpine Meadows for more than 20 years…or was it 25? As Supervisor of Lift Ops she has trained a lot of people to do things the right way, or the Kate way. On busy days lines move fast and fairly and chairs go up full – which just does not happen at most resorts.
It’s always been great to hear lift ops talk about Kate. She’s been reported as the “toughest boss ever” and as the “best substitute mom ever.” The funny thing is those two statements came from the same employee. Kate takes her work seriously, and expects the same of employees, but she is also known for throwing some awesome after work social hours. Many employees will be sad to see her gone too.
Kate said it was just time to move on and do something else. Kate has always had a love for horses, serving as a manager for Squaw Valley Stables and more recently doing some other equestrian jobs at her home near Truckee. Her need to interact with people required that she get involved with a new job. She recently started employment at the Truckee Post Office. There is no doubt that there will be a whole new level of organization at that office, probably starting with the counter service line.
We’re afraid of the future of lift lines at Alpine Meadows. We expect that things will start looking more like Squaw, where a maze of ropes and diamonds will attempt to presort lines into approximately correct numbers to fill chairs. You know those lines – where you get stuck behind the guy that is not moving at all because he is barking orders into his cell phone. We’ll be standing there watching chairs go up with 2 empty spaces because there is nobody filling chairs, just someone bumping chairs.
We’ll miss having you in control Kate. We hope we get a chance to ski some laps with you this season now that you won’t be busy working the lines.
Update: Thanks for all of the sharing y’all. Kate deserves all of the positive attention. There’s a quite a few more nice comments at the Facebook page too.
I recall the crowd at the Passholder Party weren’t happy with the news.
ya alpine lifts are going to be just like KT… chairs with 1 and 2 people only
KSL should ask themselves ‘wtf’ went wrong. Losing several lassies and Kate does not go unnoticed.
We will indeed miss Kate. What an awesome personality, what an intrinsic part of the ethos of the Alpine that we all treasure…or treasured. Who can forget that sinking feeling when skiing up to a croweded Summit lift line, you realize Kate was not on duty whipping us powder slaves into shape. Others may have wielded the wand, but none commanding such respect.
But who can not respect the need to get on with life? Change is good, and we wish Kate all the best in her no doubt more steady, but also more boring life in the P.O. Time to get some stamps, I guess.
Thanks Mark for giving Kate a most deserving shout out. The Summit lift line will not be the same without this hardworking, fun loving, top notch gal! Glad to hear she’s riding high in the saddle and not riding for the new “brand” any longer. Long live Alpine Meadows!
I’ve watched Andy in the crowd. When I was a VP any employee or guest was more than welcome to come and have a glass and a chat, in perfect confidence. That might violate the mores of the anal directors however a CEO has to know if his HR and Mkting and other people are up to the task. Pretend undercover bosses are pretenders. I’d be looking into why too many loyal and hardworking staff are going. Possibly the HR team should be replaced.
Thanks Kate! It won’t be the same without you.
Congrats for Kate and all the best!! But so sorry to see her go. She was the best – I always had a sigh of relief when I saw that Kate was working on a busy day. And I Always have great memories of her.
I remember one busy, snowy weekend when Kate really was in her groove. “YOU, DOUBLE, TRIPLE” “TWO DOUBLES AND TWO SINGLES” “YOU AND A DOUBLE AND A TRIPLE” Then looked at my snot and snow covered face in the front row – “AND YOU BLOW YOUR NOSE!!” The whole line busted out laughing so hard and all I could do was laugh and try to blow my nose with 50 people looking at me.
Thanks KATE!!!! Cheers to you!
On a related note JD will not be back to lead the grooming team. The hits keep on coming…
Or DT in snow making or JD for terrain parks. Sounds like a soul-less place to me. #FreeAlpine
Kind of ironic that Squawpine’s new slogan is
“Skiing has a Soul. This is where it lives.” Maybe Kate didn’t get the memo?
She loved the place and she gave it her whole heart! I heard that she personally went out of her way to pick up new lifties when they arrived to town and help them find housing. What other supervisor does that? I think it’s this zeal to make Alpine a better place that made her uncomfortable for the new bosses. Being an a-hole like the guy in charge of rentals seems to be the best strategy how to survive ..
Do the execs notice how much the customers love and respect the great staff?
(This comment was heavily edited so we can keep this comment thread non-political. Over 1800 views of this post in 24 hours…yep, people love Kate)
Firstly, its amazing the following you have and the locve people have for their Supervisor.
Secondly, Kate was amazing! She was the eiptome of firm, fun and fair.
Third, the “Squaw has Soul” is a bit rich given the widespread concerns with KSL.
Something is seriously wrong.
Can I have my passes back now Kate:)….do and will miss you!
Came across your site on facebook during the Powdrmag throwdown when ski clubs around the world put Kirkwood in the final 8. Squaw wasn’t even in the top 16.
From the look of things, Squaw Valley is loosing great people. Isn’t it easier to keep good loyal employees and good customers rather than try and find replacements? Just saying.
.
1800 views in 24 hours beats the pants of views in 2 months of the famous letter “What would John Muir do”.
Kate must be very widely loved and respected.
If UA has 1800 views in a day, and another site has 33,000 hits since May, which site has more hits and less trashy drivel.
Cheers, Bud,
A month ago I heard this sad news. My girls BOTH had a visible level of sadness, followed by one simple question, “WHY?” Today, I still have no answer.
Kate was the first person every year to give my girls the “I love Alpine” pins. Kate was the first employee to stop and genuinely greet them on the way in from the parking lot. Kate was the first person to get them to dance in line. Kate was the first person to compliment my daughter’s rainbow jeweled helmet. Kate was the first person my kids identified with having Alpine “soul.” Irreverent, indomitable, and irreplaceable.
On a similar but not quite as sad note, Karen also of Summit lift line control fame, also is not going to be there. I think (let us know if I am wrong) she is to be on the professional Ski Patrol this winter, not helping to herd the cats at Summit. No Kate, no Karen, heaven help us…
Hey Squawlpine HR department and management, are there ANY decisions being made to make the paying snow riders at Alpine happier?
You’re going to like the new stickers…
Watching the interview of Tamara McKinney I thought it sad that Squaw loses the very people that make the hill fun , ie more than a just a another dull hotel resort.
Kate was indeed a the BOSS of bosses. I’ve been at Alpine since they allowed snowboarding. I never worked with her but have many friends who have..Every one of them still come to see her on the visits through Tahoe. The True Queen of Alpine…..KSL would be wise to put her in the front office. General Manager should take note.
After about a 5 minute interview, Kate gave me my first mountain job back in ’98 when I was 19. She and Karen were still hooking me up with tickets last season. She saved me thousands on lift tickets over the years! Gonna miss having beers up in lift ops and listening to the shit show going on around the mountain. 🙂
Mark you have a great way with words and thank you for such a nice tribute to an amazing woman. She is going to miss all of these folks because she does care. AM will never be the same and KLS does not care. Hope you are having a great summer
Thanks Claudia!
Mark, thanks for sharing the news. Yes, Kate will be missed by all – her energy, enthusiasm, and ability to make everyone feel special every lap of the day set a great example for the entire mountain. I hope some of her protégés will pick up that mantel and carry on her tradition. In the mean time, I may have to reconsider snail mail so that I can go wait in line a the Truckee post office!
Breakin’ my heart, lady! Kate is the only gal on the mountain who knows all the words to the complete Donna Summers collection! She’s our dancin’ disco queen. She gets the job done and makes ya feel like a million bucks every day she sees you. Noooooooo! Say it ain’t soooooo!