It’s been another week since we last talked about the weather, and two weeks since we last saw snow. Once again, we keep waiting for some sign of positive change in the models and in the longer range forecasts offered by NOAA and other bloggers. We just can’t seem to win when it comes to sure bet weather forecasts. All we get is waffles. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy waffles, but I like the kind that come out all caramel crispy.
Every time I take a look at the GFS, it flips between snow and no snow. Storms that look great 16 days out become weak at 10 days out and nearly nonexistent at 3 days out. Witness this weekend’s possible storm, which forecasters no longer mention. And the little storm on the charts for January 9-11? It used to look like “the storm that would change it all.” Slowly it’s turned into a weak front with little jet support that will drop maybe a few inches each day, for a total of up to a foot of snow through the week. Sure that’s better than the 50° temperatures we saw today, but it will make skiing off piste extremely hazardous next week.
Not to worry though as the forecast is certain to change. Normally we think there are even chances that the storm may get bigger than expected, but more often than not over the last year, we instead find ourselves with another inside slider that misses Tahoe completely.
In the longer term, there are a few signs of change that may lead to something bigger:
• BA at OpenSnow.com has looked at the MJO finally becoming active, which would lead to a bit more predictability. Remember, we have been in an ENSO neutral pattern, where the MJO is not active at all. The MJO forecast shows that it will finally be leaving the center of its oscillation and moving out to Phase 6. It would take a couple of weeks for it to move back around to Phase 1 and 2, where we get our best storms.
• Paul at TahoeWeatherBlog.com focuses his hope for change on the AO Index going negative in the coming weeks. While the PNA Index has been negative for months, the AO Index has remained stubbornly positive for months. We get better chances for consistent wetness when both indices are negative.
Of course this flies right in the face of the official forecasters at NOAA and various water agencies that are using the “persistent drought” phrase much too consistently for us skiers and boarders lately. Here’s the graphic that explains it all that was shared by the Reno NOAA office today. It pretty much says we’re in trouble, not just as skiers & riders, but as farmers, ranchers, people that live in wooded areas, boaters, water drinkers, etc.
So what is the forecast? In the coming week, we may see a bit of snow, or we may see no snow, but just cold temperatures. It’s all better than the endless April we have seen lately. In the long term, things will hopefully start to change to a significantly wetter pattern somewhere around the 20th of January. More waffles!
Just in: “With our conditions making impossible the execution of our first –and forthcoming- TJFS event at Squaw, we have redesigned the 2014 TJFS schedule to:
Alpine Meadows January 24-26, 2014
Squaw Valley February 7-9, 2014
Sugar Bowl March 7-9, 2014”
Can someone plase burn snowboards or something.
May I suggest..
http://www.snowplownews.com/forum/topics/no-snow-solution-native-american-snow-dance
Some of the teams are moving
NO SNOW – Time to Travel for Competition
With the lack of snow in the area all mogul comps have been cancelled for the month of January. We are planning to travel as a team to Deer Valley, Utah and Sun Valley, ID.
We will be competing in Deer Valley Resort on the world cup and olympic mogul course called Champion, right after the world cup competition. Thats right! we will be skiing the exact same course the week after the best mogul skiers in the world compete on the same course. Deer Valley is a fun resort for the whole family!
The very next weekend there is a Mogul Comp at Sun Valley, ID. This will be much easier course for younger athletes and another great place for the whole family to come out ski.
Here is the planned schedule for one or both events.
Deer Valley,UT – $50.00 registration fee for each comp day – lift tickets are 54.00 -13yrs of age and 64.00 +13 years of age per day.
January 16 – travel
January 17 – training day
January 18 – singles mogul comp
January 19 – Singles Mogul comp & Dual Moguls comp – return home or stay and train with the team.
January 20 – Day off – freeski
January 21 – Mogul Training on Champion
January 22- Mogul Training on Champion
Sun Valley, ID –
January 23 – Travel (I plan to travel from Deer Valley straight to Sun Valley, ID – I will have room for athletes
January 24- training Day
January 25- Single mogul comp
January 26 – Single mogul comp and Dual Mogul comp
January 26 – Travel Home after comp(9 hours to Tahoe – arrival time around midnight sunday night)
I would really like all competitive Mogul athletes to try and make one or both of these events. This is a chance to ski a world cup course the week after the world cup event and a huge opportunity for all our athletes. Sun Valley is a great resort and good place to get some quality competition in.
Travel Plans / Rooms:
I am traveling from Squaw Valley on Thursday January 16th to Deer Valley, UT. I will have a van and will be able to take athletes to both stops. We have a room reserved for 12 in Park City. We are currently looking into space at sun valley, please reserve your spot now. Please contact Jimeel for more info and to reserve a stop on the tour. More info to come
To register for both the Deer Valley and Sun Valley event go to http://www.my.ussa.org. REGISTRATION is open for both events!
All competitive athletes must be a registered USSA athletes – once you have your registration get your membership id by logging on to http://www.myussa.org and you will be guided through from there. If you have any questions contact Jimeel.
Please contact Jimeel for more info at idahojimeel@gmail.com or call me at 530-412-0220 and we can discuss.
I encourage all competitive athletes to come out and compete with the team.
Freeski Comp Schedule
Hello all,
The USASA North Tahoe series just posted a new double slopestyle cometition at Boreal for Saturday January 11th. We will be competing at this event if your athlete is interested. Registration is in the lodge from 8am-10am. They must be a USASA member. You can register them by clicking here.
https://www.usasa.org/members/membership/member-login.html
Registration for the actual event is in the lodge only. It is $30 for one event or $50 for both. They do not accept credit cards. Also if they don’t have a Boreal pass they can buy discounted tickets the day of the event.
Also on Sunday January 12th there is a slopestyle competition at Sierra at Tahoe. Same time same prices. Athletes get a discounted ticket day of the event.
Please inform me if you or your athlete is planning on attending these events ASAP. Hope to see you all there for the first competitions of the season.
Schedule of Freeride Competitions:
2013/2014 Freeride Comps:
Comp Dates Location Series 2013 Squaw TJFS
1/11-1/12 Squaw Valley, CA TJFS
1/18-1/20 Snowbird, UT IFSA
1/25-1/26 Alpine Meadows, CA TJFS
2/8-2/9 Sugarbowl, CA TJFS
2/22-2/23 Taos, NM IFSA
2/27-3/2 Squaw Valley, CA IFSA
3/21-3/23 Grand Targhee, WY IFSA
3/28-3/31 Alpine Meadows, CA IFSA
4/7-4/13 Snowbird, UT IFSA Championships (invite only)
Registration for events will begin December 2 on AthletePath.com. Please refer to IFSA or TJFS Websites for exact times and instructions. Questions? Or, to be added to our email list of Freeskiers, please contact Jason.squawfree@gmail.
Of course it will puke on MLK Weekend. Is there a better date for the snowgods to infuriate tourists, clog the roads and annoy KSL??
– Alex’s ghost.
🙂
Hey Valleygal,
Imagine if the Valley ruled Auburn, not the other way round?
TAHOE/TRUCKEE — Several federal, state and regional offices are on the ballot for the June 3, 2014, statewide direct primary election. Below is information to help Tahoe/Truckee voters and potential candidates navigate Election Day.
OPEN OFFICES
Placer County: supervisor, District 1; supervisor, District 2 (Placer County Supervisor Jennifer Montgomery represents District 5, which includes Lake Tahoe. Her seat is up for election in 2016); assessor; auditor-controller; clerk-recorder-registrar; district attorney; sheriff-coroner-marshal; treasurer-tax collector; superintendent of schools; and Sacramento County Board of Education, trustee Area 2. All these offices have a four-year term that begins Jan. 5, 2015, except for Sacramento County Board of Education, trustee Area 2, which starts on June 30, 2014.
Nevada County: supervisor, District 3; supervisor, District 4 (Nevada County Supervisor Richard Anderson represents District 5, which includes Truckee. His seat is up for election in 2016); assessor, audit-controller, clerk-recorder-registrar, district attorney, sheriff-coroner-public administrator, treasurer-tax collector. These offices have a four-year term that begins Jan. 5, 2015.
State: governor (Edmund “Jerry” G. Brown, Jr., D, incumbent), lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, controller, treasurer, insurance commissioner, state superintendent of public instruction; state board of equalization 1st District; state board of equalization 2nd District.. All these offices have a four-year term that begins Jan. 5, 2015.
State legislature: senate, 4th District; assembly, 1st District (includes all of Nevada County; Brian Dahle, R, incumbent); assembly, 5th District, assembly, 6th District. All these offices have a two-year term that begins Dec. 1, 2014.
Judicial: One Superior Court judge seat in Placer County. Two Superior Court judge seats in Nevada County.
Federal: U.S. Congress, 1st District (Doug LaMalfa, R, incumbent); U.S. Congress, 4th District (Tom McClintock, R, incumbent). These offices have a two-year term that starts at noon Jan. 3, 2015.
KEY DATES
Feb. 10, 2014: Candidate filing begins.
Feb. 20, 2014: Signature in-lieu of filing fee period closes for all candidates.
March 7, 2014: Regular candidate filing closes.
March 8 – March 12, 2014: Declaration of candidacy extension period if incumbent does not file.
May 5 – May 27, 2014: Vote-by-mail ballot period.
May 19, 2014: Last day to register to vote for election.
May 20 – June 3, 2014: New citizen (sworn in after close) voter registration.
June 3, 2014: Election Day (7 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
HOW TO REGISTER
Online: registertovote.ca.gov
Mail/Phone: Complete, sign and mail a voter registration form. Voter registration forms are available at post offices, Department of Motor Vehicles, city clerk offices, public libraries, chambers of commerce, high schools, the Placer County Elections Office at 2956 Richardson Drive, Auburn, and http://www.placerelections.com/register-to-vote.aspx, according to Placer County. The Placer County Elections Office can also mail the form by calling 530-886-5650.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about the upcoming primary election, visit:
http://www.placerelections.com (click on “current election info” on the right-hand side)
http://www.mynevadacounty.com (select “elections” under the departments tab)
http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections
Mary D. wanted a bigger cashed up adversary to the developers, so uuum here’s two: get elected to both Placer & Squaw Town. It can’t be put good people on both, can it.
on fosv’s facebook post about the poll http://apps.tahoedailytribune.com/utils/polling/poll_results.php?poll_ident=4013 , Josh points out that climate change means there are too many people on limited terrain. Would you buy a condo at Squaw if the world is warming up?.
Wow (or is that Woe), Mark.
“Make your first turns for just $49 at Alpine Meadows on select days in January. Soft snow and sunny skies make for the perfect conditions to learn! Check out all of our ski & snowboard school deals: http://bit.ly/1g6D3lt“
IOV circulated this scary scary article on facebook http://www.laketahoenews.net/2014/01/sierra-water-content-20-average/
What’s the story on greywayer recycling plants, using undrground rock like a storage dam, and these 8 mile pipes we’ve been reading about.
Sounds like real green initiatives are long overdue or we’re condemned to $39 room rates and $49 tickets as the New Donner Ski Ranch @ Olympic Valley.
How are the pond levels looking? Low tide I bet the marketers will say.
Mark,
What’s your take on these water ideas that cropped up in Moonshine Ink a while back:
“… The United Nations Association recognized these innovations with an award. Accordingly, I am surprised that both sides in the Squaw Valley debate bleat about the environment and saving the lake, yet where is the water recycling plant? We read about the Rim Fire, and yet there’s no mention of upgrading the fire fighting capabilities to save ski lift infrastructure by using recycled Class A potable water through snowguns. … . There are concepts such as carousel parking on a rotating platform and car stackers, and one can build small employee housing condos that have an inbuilt car park. There are Babylonian garden walls that hide car-parking structures. Elsewhere in the world there are rolling wet carpets used 365 days a year to teach skiing to beginners to advanced students, and facilities for teaching aerials to budding Winter Olympians. There are so many innovations out there that it surprises me that all the stakeholders are still at loggerheads. Hopefully common sense prevails”
Squaw later included the aerial water training center, the employee housing, a carpark structure near Shirley Canyon and towards the 7/11 end, and the 8 mile pipe. But what are they doing about dams or taking water fom rivers for snowmaking. The region, and every executive and hotel and every employee, needs snow. something has to be done.
Otherwise the marketers can rebrand Squaw as the New Squaw Valley Sno-park.
That made me think about the Silence of the Lambs.
The sheeople of Squaw anonymously vote NO but they don’t say ‘KSL, please move that here, cut that there, and do this brilliant plan for everyone”. KSL aren’t mind readers.
Hey just saw on FB that Bear Creek wiill recycle guest waste water for snowmaking!
Should Squaw look into that rather than shunting the hordes onto AM and sending some of the Squaw team to Boreal? Yep Boreal!!!!! Wtf?
check out Bear’s decision at http://articles.mcall.com/2013-11-18/news/mc-bear-creek-effluent-snowmaking-20131118_1_schroetel-ski-trails-snowbowl
What innovative ideas and solutions are they talking at the town meetings?
PS: Where’s the Mausoleum oops Museum going because that’s a really important thing isn’t it? Not.
Rofl, the old farts didn’t sign up maybe 30,000 festival goers to a survey, but they love the free 1700 hate votes. I bet they old farts didn’t even think to ask the Sierra Sun to run a poll.
Doh, Love Homer.
I sorta wonder about how in-tune and proactive some of the local aspiring politicians are.
“Oooh, there’s no snow, what will we do??’
Goldilocks went house hunting for something just right.
The little pigs built their Huttes.
But the Wizard of Oz built a poo plant.
The villagers all laughed at the poo idea until one day there was no fking snow again, no customers, no tips and no work.
http://www.worldsnowboardguide.com/news/story/bigspendaustralia.cfm
Interesting to note
Mt Buller
Snowmaking
Mt Buller has invested $3.4 million on an ultra filtration water recycling plant. The resort will become the world’s first ski resort to use recycled water for snowmaking, by improving the quality of effluent to drinking water standards.
Buller Ski Lifts has also invested $250,000 in the installation of a snowmaking system that runs the length of the Summit Chairlift. Automation and computerization of snowmaking infrastructure, combined with the commissioning of more efficient snow guns is expected to increase efficiency by up to 30% in 2007.
Mt Hotham
Snowmaking
Also using the world first technology of recycled water, Mt Hotham has invested $600,000 on snowmaking infrastructure in 2007.
The kids entry free was $80 but I can get a room for $39 to $99 for a 1 bedroom condo at the Village@SV? $80 is a rip off imo. “At cost” for coaches, course setters etc will be $15-$20 per kid racer so please KSl ask yourself “Can we trust you to run a place without gouging the kids?”
Geez, UA, the Tahoe Tour Boat can’t get into Emerald Bay because the Lake is down, writes the Sierra Sun!
they weren’t kidding.
Was it 1977 when the shoreline was 500 ft further out than normal and the drought lasted for a veeeery long time?
I hope the town meeting finds out how AM gets water for snowmaking if the drought lasts like previous droughts have.
Hello
Let’s see.
KSL lost two years, then IOV applied to be incorporated with backdated effect to early 2013. As a result of KSL’s delays with Plans #1, KSL are affected by IOV’s planning laws. Ouch. There went half a billion I reckons.
And now it looks like they had 5 years to do far more with the snowmaking than the jerry rig job in 2009 and only now they’re looking at pipes and other ideas. doh.
Plus they’re renting rooms at $39 per person a night midweek and selling $49 day tickets because, uuum, they don’t have uber-snowmaking. Hmm, betcha Obamacare won’t cover that sort of heamoraging either.
If they’re hiring goofballs, let us know.
Faithlessly yours
3 Stooges Consulting. 🙂
Wow, in the Sierra Sun Poll, nearly 91% of a huge 1867 voters say the new plan is too large.
Who commissioned that Poll? I ask because KSL raves about seeing 5000 people about the old irrelevant plans they flushed, and now 1800 people say ‘Nope”. KSL won’t be able to say the community love it, bwhhaha. Who ever commissioned the Poll really fkd up didn’t they?
The poll result is a shock! KSL is sinking the Plan faster than any expert team could ever do, right?
Dear Mr. Hosea,
Most of us 2nd home owners aren’t at Squaw to see your sales staff at the Model.
Why then haven’t KSL published photos on the ‘net that show if there’s 2 storeys, 4 storeys or 7 storeys staring into my bedroom window or show they are ‘miles away’ and not blocking my view?
Thank you.
‘Baffled’
Dear Sir,
I know the Affordable Right Plan by Dr Hosea was rushed surgery, but your Artist drew a Ski Jumper flying ….towards a kayaker in the pool. I must ask – did the kayaker live?
I hope the Presentation on January 18th has better details …. with figurines of kayakers floating face down under the jump.
As a 2nd home owner I also want to see close up photos on the internet of the New Plan.
Yours .
‘Dr Killdare’
If they can build suites and rent them for $80 a night wow is all I can say.
The “:haters” probably rent out old houses.
Lok at this. KSL builds a place for construction workers and lift company staff – that is awsomely brilliant for the workers AND for the lift company. Families rent houses and the demand means fairer rents. Not good for greedy landlords. Just saying.
Maybe KSL need 30 years so they can build a few, sell them, and move on slowly. Needless to say, building 750 places in one go and renting them for $80 or $100 a night is fiscal suicide.
Staggering the construction might work.
Besides the winter staff can work winters from the 250 bed housing and then the construction workers move in for summer. There’s a permanent population who’ll adopt their favourite bar and spend $ locally.
What I’d like to know is why I’m hearing more sense from locals about sensible (I think) ideas than from local wannabe politican, overpaid museum experts and from KSL’s “top” executives.
Are resort staff getting unscheduled leave, and if so, is it because things are tough?
Dear UA,
There’s a lot of deals for lodging (eg $80 + taxes for 2 people midweek) Women of Winter clinics, beginner classes and things to get people ‘in’. How’s the place faring in the Ski School, restairants etc etc, or are people staying away/going somewhere else.
Squaw needs to look at regional tourism link ups, ie they need a Cruise Director who can put together ‘things to do’ asap, like a rail jam or buskers, something quick and easy to add life to the holiday.
Hey, why can’t we store water in the 1100 jacuzzis?
Do you think the “8 mile pipe” will go ahead if the neighbors think Squaw will steal their water? No water, no village, ya think?
http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/news/9594421-113/snow-average-gehrke-percent
Could you draw water if you bought land next to the river?
Dear Mark,
Why are all these votes against the “right plan”? The Development VP said they solved 95% of the problems but a amazing 1880 votes says that can’t be true.
What do you think the voters will do to Jenny when she stands for re-election?
Toodaloo
Poll
What’s your reaction to the new scaled-down proposal to develop Squaw Valley?
B. Hate it; it’s still too big and out of character.
90.54%
(1704)
D. Indifferent about it, don’t care.
4.20%
(79)
C. Love it; it’s the right project for Squaw.
3.67%
(69)
A. Hate it; there was nothing wrong with previous version.
1.59%
(30)
1882 v
Mark,
I am stunned by this vote on the Plan for Squaw Valley.
The most votes in Sierra Sun was 6500 on the Presidency,
next is 1883 on Squaw’s plan,
and there’s only 1168 for a poll on the highest court.
Other polls are a few hundred votes
BUT The Plan is nudging 2000 votes.
The Plan is not very popular.
……………………………………………………..
Who gets your vote for president?
Results | 6541 total votes
09/06/2012
Regarding the Supreme Court�s recent health care decision, how do you think it will affect your life?
Results | 1168 total votes
07/06/2012
What is Skiaster!!!
Can anyone believe that 90% of a massive huge gigantically normous 1912 votes all say No Way Hosea,
I canna believe it. .
Please make Squaw look more wanted than politicians by casting more votes in the Poll
🙂
Come on guys, vote “like” in the Sierra Sun Poll.
What’s your reaction to the new scaled-down proposal to develop Squaw Valley?
B. Hate it; it’s still too big and out of character.
91.08%
(1858)
D. Indifferent about it, don’t care.
3.92%
(80)
C. Love it; it’s the right project for Squaw.
3.53%
(72)
A. Hate it; there was nothing wrong with previous version.
1.47%
(30)
2040
Mark,
The votes went up to 2099 as soon as your magazine posted up the last results!
2099 votes, wow – One more vote and like that’s 3000 voters or sumthing.
(oops, I was using our Snow Depth Abacus)
“Mark your calendar. There will be a benefit party for IOV on February 8. More details forthcoming.” says IOV.
Ooooh, what are they planning?
A Parade for you, Mark. or the Keys to the Town perhaps?
Or FreeAlpine Neckties for Executives. .
I can’t wait.
Hi Unofficial
IOV better hire a really big place because almost 2300 voters voted “No”.
If KSL listened to 5000 people about Plans 1 & 2, how come almost everyone vote against Plans 1 & 2.& 3 (
– Skiaster.
What’s your reaction to the new scaled-down proposal to develop Squaw Valley?
B. Hate it; it’s still too big and out of character.
91.62%
(2078)
D. Indifferent about it, don’t care.
3.66%
(83)
C. Love it; it’s the right project for Squaw.
3.35%
(76)
A. Hate it; there was nothing wrong with previous version.
1.37%
(31)
2268
If KSL are still ‘out of touch’, – less than 4% % like the new plan – Mayumi suggested a mediator “Agent of Change.”. Mayumi is very switched on.
http://www.moonshineink.com/sections/spot-news/human-nature-foils-squaw-village-discussion
I agree with this: the County’s Ms Montgomery are too conflicted to broker any deal with the town’s reps and KSL.
Most of these points are still very valid three months after they were published in Mayumi’s very widely regarded paper: Dear Moonshine IWhat troubles me is this: Why would a County want to be the broker for peace when it has a lot riding on the outcome? In the red corner is a deep pocketed corporation that is running deals with third parties for water, power and such like. In the blue corner are locals who aren’t privy to facts and negotiations. And the referee has a stake, surely, in the outcome. Is there not a potential conflict, Ms Montgomery? Earlier this year in Moonshine Ink Ms Montgomery was quoted as saying the Board of Supevisors do not like to be told “No” and this month in Moonshine she proposes that the County brokers a process for resolution. Surely officials who don’t like the “No” word seem entrenched and far from holding the independence required to broker a peace deal. The County is, I suggest, also in a position of perceived conflict as it stands to generate revenues dependent upon the outcome. Also, they stand to lose a lot of revenue if the locals form a town. How can the County be independent enough to broker a thing? The County also makes decisions on the recommendations of committees comprising people who work for whom, dare I ask? Were KSL/Squw people on the NTLRA for example? Is or was Andy With not on the Airport Board that will whisk bus passengers past the desks for Airport tenants like Hertz? Will Hertz like their landlord management board taking business away ..and asking ‘what other people are on committees that are telling Ms Montgomery’s County what’s good?”. The County has, so to speak, inside information from these committees and formed views about things. I can’t see the County as sufficiently impartial to be a broker, can you? The County if i recall supports mass transit in case the Winter Olympics comes to Tahoe. Are they not possibly conflicted if they broker something that deals with planes, trains, buses, roads, water usage, and automobiles? The County officials also face re-election by the people affected far and wide by bus subsidy partnerships and by the dreaded inconvenience and wasted time caused by satellite parking …all so KSL can make a billion or whatever from condo sales …by building over a Well I think. …and then perhaps piping water (at our cost?) to the high end millionaires’ condos ….built over Escalades and BMWX5s. Hmmmm. The local voters must catch the bus so others can drive and park under their McMansions …to save the environment. Surely there will be an electoral backlash that means the County cannot broker anything indpendently. Please, KSL must give answers. The voters want facts. Then and only then can anything be brokered by, I dare say, a panel of independent experts apprised of ALL facts and all Agendas. Finally, KSL needs to understand that we don’t care to read that KSL supports Greenbucks, hugs trees, likes puppies, kisses babies or whatever. Failure to answer basic questions seems evasive to me. Thank you, and keep up the excellent reporting. When we have answer we can rest easy.”
I also recall Montgomery never explained the pipes, bus stop, employee housing, etc to the Museum group ….and $200,000 went to experts for a wasted report. Wasted taxs Ms Montgomery.
No, the County cannot broker anything Ms Montgomery.
Foestglen summed it up in Moonshine when he wrote: .
“Placer County Supervisors have no interest in brokering any kind of solution. First off, all the political power in Placer County is in Roseville, Rocklin, Loomis, Auburn, Not Squaw, Alpine, Tahoe City. 1100 more condos means another 1100 units to generate hotel transient occupancy tax revenue for Placer County’s general fund to be spend however Placer County Supes vote to spend it. Jennifer Montgomery is a marginal improvement over Bruce Kranz at best ’cause district 5 has no political power. And even though the County Supes are supposedly non-partisan, if you ever saw a red/blue republican/democrat plot of Placer, it’s all red except for Squaw, Alpine, Tahoe City, etc. Jennifer Montgomery will sell Squaw Valley out. Count on it. Will all the help the Poulsens, Cushings, in personal & corporate form(s) and all of their offspring. Someone’s got to make a bunch of real estate commission on those 1100 condos, don’t you know. Incorporating Squaw Valley is a no-brainer if you’re already sick of the weekend traffic and etc. It will only get worse over the years in not one more housing unit were added. Stop the destruction of what everyone loves about Squaw. It’s all about the money…and I will gladly forego the expected increase in property values. I’d prefer my peace, quiet, tranquility. Put those 1100 condos at Boomtown!
Submitted by ForestGlen on Mon, 10/14/2013 – 11:24pm”
It is abundantly clear that the County can’t be a broker. Besides, Jenny Montgomery is no Henry Kissinger.
The letter below coincided with the mass transit plan ‘crashing’ off a fiscal cliff and demolishing the bureaucratic dream for a car-less Tahoe served by “free” buses and 64 acres of costly satelitte parking bays.
Given the massive opposition, it is definitely time the parties brokered a deal as recommended by MoonshineInk’s owner-editor.
“Dear Mr. Wirth: We are a collective of North Tahoe youth, start up entrepreneurs, and well known local skiers and riders who are concerned about the future of Squaw Valley. Some of us are second-, third-, and fourth-generation Tahoe locals, while the rest of us chose to move here many years ago to make Squaw Valley our home mountain. We appreciate the fact that you are the CEO of a company that survives because of profits and that the Squaw Valley development is a money making venture for KSL. We are OK with that. But what we struggle with is that the current village proposal does not satisfy several needs of the local community. First, it counters our community’s need to be at the forefront of trends in the ski and snowboard industry. Instead, the current proposal looks and feels just like many of the large ski village developments that have emerged across North America in the past two decades. The tall buildings, the same old architecture, the same old streets, the same old commercial feel, all make it difficult to discern from many other North American ski villages. Second, we feel that the current plan threatens to strip down, or even do away with, the local soul that has kept our ski community alive, vibrant, unique, and recognized around the world. This is a trend we have seen at many overdeveloped ski areas in the past 20 years. Finally, we feel strongly that the village plan needs to do a better job of connecting our community to the mountain, rather than block it with oversized buildings. While we respect the effort that has gone into the planning of the village, we feel Squaw Valley, North Tahoe, and the greater ski industry at large deserves more. We also feel that your legacy deserves more. You have a magical touch in getting things done. We appreciate some of the positive changes you have brought to this mountain and the critical thinking you have put into many aspects of planning, including transportation. But in the end, this development is following in the footsteps of many resort developments before us, by leaning heavily towards a hollow and commercialized product. No one leaves this planet with a positive legacy when their actions were viewed as maximizing income for their company, instead of truly listening to the community. People are starting to speak loud and clear. We hope that you listen to them and put stock in what they have to say. We appreciate your recent op-ed in the Sierra Sun (Voices will be heard on Squaw project) expressing your commitment to do just that. With your innate ability, lead us in creating a ski village that is unique and recognized around the world. Help us to continue to be innovators rather than followers. Listen to your family legacy of remarkable work within the National Parks. We hope that you begin to value and engage groups who have spoken, such as the Friends Of Squaw Valley, Sierra Watch, and Incorporate Olympic Valley. You have stated that you believe in working with all parties. Let’s get this going! We recognize the position you are in. You work with some powerful people and are under significant pressures. But if you do this right, the respect you will have from our community as well as the greater ski community worldwide, will cement you in skiing’s history for generations to come. As a follower, this will not happen. If you are an innovator, it will. At this point, it will all depend on the path you choose. We feel your recent letter is an indication that this may actually start to happen. Let’s see it come to fruition. Josh Anderson, Erica Backhus, Jordan Basile, Tom Burt, Rylan Cordova, Nik David, Danny Day, Tom Day, Lizzy Day, Debbie Dutton, Nancy Elrod, Robb Gaffney, George Hjelte, Greg Lindsey, Gavin Lura, Sherry McConkey, Kami Abi-Nader, David Naughton, Kendal Naughton, Mich Pavel, Tristan Queen, Chase Schweitzer, Larry Segal, Dane Shannon, Mattias Sullivan, Kris Thomas and Gray Thomps
Miami Herald wrote an excellent summary of the town movement!!! Woot.
JT proposed a Tahoe Vice meeting with Andy after Rob wrote his piece and then KSL faltered. Then lots of things and KSL came up with the Right Plan. Next 2300 voters said ‘meh’. What’s next? A Miami Vice meeting??? 🙂
Montgomery can’t pow wow with 91% of hostile voters who vehemently oppose plans she sucked up to.
Did she tell anyone about these deals harking back to 2008? I don’t think she did.
Instead she tried to massage the Museum Crew into ‘moving’ the site in ways that seem “un-candid”. Or she didn’t know and she was asleep at the wheel of those gold plated buses which plunged into the Ravine of Taxpayers Remorse.
I wouldn’t trust anyone who’s that disenfranchised with the community.
What are your thoughts?
PS Here’s the piece I remember from Moonshine Ink.
And yet again something – harking back from 2008 and 2011 – comes along to show that Placer is involved in outcomes. I cannot imagine it could independently broker anything as an agent of change. Incidentally why are these outcomes a surprise for the locals. OLYMPIC VALLEY, Placer County — Water utility service in Martis Valley near Truckee would be transferred to the Northstar Community Services District under a plan discussed Thursday (Oct. 3) by the Placer County Water Agency Board of Directors. The proposed transfer was reviewed as part of the PCWA board’s annual eastern Placer County meeting, which was held at the Squaw Valley Public Service District office. PCWA is a countywide water resource agency that is headquartered and normally meets in Auburn. PCWA operates groundwater wells to serve about 1000 water customers in the Lahontan, Martis Camp and Schaffer’s Mill communities in Martis Valley. The area is known as Zone 4 and is one of five service zones operated by PCWA. The other four are in western Placer County. Brian Martin, PCWA Director of Technical Services, said that Northstar CSD, which already provides daily operation of the Zone 4 system under contract with PCWA, is better positioned to own and operate the system. Northstar CSD General Manager Mike Staudenmayer said his district, located next to the service area, could provide efficient water service and benefit through increased numbers of customers. Martin said the transfer has been under discussion over the past two years and could become effective by mid-2014. He said the transfer must first be approved by the Placer County Local Agency Formation Commission. “PCWA has no debt on the Zone 4 water system, as the facilities were paid for and installed by developers of the properties,” Martin said. “We’ll continue to work with Northstar and support them during the transition.” In other eastern Placer County business, PCWA directors heard an update on the Truckee River Operating Agreement (TROA) and briefings from local Tahoe/Truckee area water purveyors: PCWA legal adviser Elizabeth Leeper said the TROA, signed in 2008, has yet to take effect and is now under federal court review. The agreement documents available water supplies and is intended to govern water use in California and Nevada”.
Just thinking What a backflip. as at middle of October, KSL was still peddling
” See: http://thevillageatsquaw.com/ The wrapped podium parking is interesting. The ski team’s and locals’ facilities are mentioned as is the exclusive members-only areas. There’ll be phased development to limit the impact of construction. The older style run down competition in the area are quaking in their boots after 50 years of less than ideal maintenance of wiring, piping, etc. Those who want to park free on other people’s land won’t want buses. At least they’re getting somewhere.
Submitted by Sam on Mon, 10/21/2013 – 2:33pm”
KSL really back flipped when you look at the new plan.
What more do they need to do to win the 2300 voters over to the KSL vision, and how are they and the town going to get to a consensus?
Pistols at Dawn? Lawyers with cocked checkbooks? How are these people to resolve their dilemma?
Surely paid parking makes more money than lift passes, shortens the lift lines, and atracts people with money.
The vilage remains the same.
Problem solved.
I can’t wait to go to the next IOV meeting.
IOV says voters must approve new taxes but what happens if KSL runs off to the courts with all their experts and all their data (FoSV have ‘surveys, lol). Don’t forget that Mammoth was bankrupted because they lost to a developer. The Sth Shore bus case sued boards and people at great cost too.
No, I think these townpeople should take their crayons and sit down with KSL in the Principal’s Office for a long talk.
Just reminding folks who aren’t on facebook that the next community meeting is
Tuesday,
January 7
at 7 pm
at the Squaw Valley PSD.
Excuse me Marksan, Where does KSL’s plan not fix these things as identified by Edsan???
“We believe: • the existing village needs to grow and become our community center, not just the center of a commercial resort. • the village must maintain an intimate scale and expand with consistent, harmonious architecture, which prioritizes open space, pedestrian gathering places and views that ensure mountain connectivity. • our existing blend of residents, day skiers, and visitors must be maintained. • our Olympic heritage must be respected and preserved. • our community should house its own employees and provide opportunity for residents of all income levels. • the Village economy must be viable, sustainable and regionally integrated but should not compromise environmental qualities. • the village should grow in phases, only expanding once the previous phase has not just been sold but has proven successful in its performance. We don’t want a “church built for Easter” resulting in a ghost village the rest of the year. • Squaw Creek should be rehabilitated with goals of improving instream flows while reducing sediment loads. • the legacy we leave our children and their children should provide much the same experience that we now enjoy in Squaw Valley. We hope that KSL’s next proposal demonstrates a new respect for the community it has joined, with a plan that supports the values we hold important, and with a transparency that allows progress, accepts mutual understanding and ensures viability. I have called this pursuit the “Goldilocks formula” — not too big, not too small, but just right. Working together, I have confidence we can accomplish this goal. Ed Heneveld is chairman of the Friends of Squaw Valley.”
Dearest UnofficialSQUAWpine,
I can’t believe 2400 votes in only a few days almost all say “No”. Wow Wow and Kapow.