Kudos to the mountain manager at Squaw Valley, Mike Livak, for making a move that will enhance the on-mountain experience, while also offering the Village some meaningful fire protection in the event of a large wildfire. The Timber Management Plan announced today will remove as many as 5,000 dead or diseased trees on the lower mountain in the Red Dog area. In addition to thinning the trees to offer a reasonable fire break, the cutting will clear up to 100 acres to provide some glade skiing. The area was previously unaccessible to skiers & riders due to the dense forest and downed timber.
“This effort will result in the creation of new, gladed tree skiing for our guests, and will ultimately feel like a terrain expansion due to the new access,” said Mike Livak, executive vice president of Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows.
The three new glades will offer skiers and riders a path down the mountain besides the dreaded long traverse on Champs Elysees. Specifically, the three new funds will be named Red Dog Glades, Paris Glades and Heidi’s Glades. Traffic on Champs Elysees is one of the reason skiers and riders dread Red Dog in the early season. During low snow periods, access to the new glades would still be limited as snowmaking in the bladed areas would be unlikely.
Work on the project is expected to begin soon, with a goal of completion to make the new glades usable for the upcoming season. All trees will be removed by helicopter to avoid damage caused by skidding and to prevent the need for building access roads. Many of the trees will be sold for the timber value, while other debris will be chipped for use on the mountain.
“The current drought and the King Fire bring into sharp focus the issue of forest health and how it affects our community right here in Squaw. Thinning provides valuable benefit by effectively utilizing the available water for the most viable trees, and the removal of dead or diseased trees dramatically reduces the risk of fire. While this work is expensive for private landowners, our community will benefit from Squaw| Alpine’s investment in fuels reduction and forest health and I commend the company for doing the right thing,” said Peter Bansen, Squaw Valley fire chief.
Again, we offer kudos to mountain manager Mike Livak for taking a big step toward improving the on mountain experience for Squaw Valley skiers and riders, while also achieving a more “fire-safe” community.
I, for one, will wait and see what they actually do in the Red Dog area. The stated goals are fine, but I’m on the alert for a new “Timberline Twister” clearing attempt.
Finally something positive to report and you’re looking for a dark cloud. Time to look on the bright side of life. Let’s try to be more 1/2 full than 1/2 empty.
I climbed Red Dog last week and Squaw is going to really have to kick it in gear to pull off what their press release is promising. Last week they had a total of 3 guys with chain saws out trimming existing trails. So at that rate it will be two years just to recover the ski terrain they have lost to neglect The existing expert trails leading to the Resort and Red Dog (Strainer, Montezuma, Valley View) are totally overrun with saplings and small fur trees. Poulsens is almost unusable at the bottom. And this “new connector trail” they are talking about in the press release – i fear is just an existing trail that they trimmed this year (top left of Far East Express). And if they are really serious about making some glades on Red Dog they should build a connector trail on the bottom (not the top) so you can either ski to the Resort or back to Far East depending on which side of the Resort lift you ski.
I am not a big Alpine Skier (obviously) but the trails left of the Scott Chair (skier’s right) are in as bad of condition.
Once you start getting over towards Montezuma’s and Valley View, that becomes Resort @ Squaw Creek land. Not exactly sure where that property line changes, but I bet they don’t go that far skiers right.
Agree completely that they need a connector trail at the BOTTOM! If you end up on Rabbiit Runs, or Papoose Gully you’ve got a long skate out.
Perhaps they could relocate the Rope Tow to Nowhere down to the bottom of the mountain. It can be used in both directions, like the one at Alta.
Scott Chair does deserves some attention.
Waiting for Ullr to chime in to see if any of this will matter.
I hear he doesn’t ski the trees, just stays on the groomed and smiles. The trees have been know to slap him!
Still one of the best ‘glades’ @ Squaw. the backside of broken arrow bowl clear cut for heli-time trade for silvy tower install time.
Former Squaw Pres. Jim Mott got the heat for that one when all along it was directed by the hand of Mr. Alexander C.
Glad to know KSL is far better capitalized than the Cushing family ever were and will typically try and do things on the up and up and could replace every stinking old chair @ squaw if wanted to.
KSL has spent almost nothing on either Squaw or Alpine. $50 or $70 million, there is no proof of this.
They are not as well capitalized as they pretend.
And PRETEND is the operative word.
Big Blue, horrible location, more accidents. Gold Coast – yes revamped food sales, i.e. $13 noodle bowl. Old Bar 1 remodel. Locker room TV’s. Rocker.
Lost lifts, no lifts of importance installed. Some great snow making, isn’t Red Dog great!
Seriously the best thing KSL did was put in a shuttle to Alpine, while neglecting and ultimately __________ Alpine. I leave it to you to fill in the blank.
Oh yeah, I forgot the great makeover of the Chalet.
KSL should be proud. Cushing had his faults but creating a condo/real estate nightmare was not one of them.
Maybe he can send a letter to passholders, I wonder what it would say!
SVSH may thin(sic) more trees in the area between the Red Dog and the Resort at Squaw Creek lifts to ostensibly create more open space skiing, but please don’t say that its primary or even a major reason for doing so is to lessen fire danger. What’s the old saw, “When you have a lemon make lemonade”? During the historic big winter of the ’82/’83 season, before the Resort and its connecting lift existed, I, as an independent contractor, along with one other person, did the avalanche work in the Poulsen Gully area. We did it for the Nordic area in the meadow, as there was avalanche potential for one of the trails that traversed beneath it. For years before and after then I’d skied this terrain, more or less having it as my own private little ski area. I was saddened when Cushing embarked upon a large scale tree cutting once the Resort and its lift went in. I never found the trees too tight for good, albeit not high speed, skiing. This current plan just continues that cutting, essentially the strip mining of the terrain that drains into the south fork of Squaw Creek. I find it lamentable, and regret that anyone should praise this further cutting.
So you’re saying that I chose the wrong time to try to be positive about Squaw Valley?
We have the best lower mountain for expert terrain in the nation.and when we do get a new high speed red dog,sooner hopefully than later,we will continue to lead in storm skiing conditions.who wants that bogus long line on kt when we can further expand our lower mountain powder skiing experience.get those trees out ta there ASAP!!!
I’m ready for a tree run already! Who is going first?
“The safety of the people shall be the highest law.”
Marcus Tullius Cicero
Roman Statesman
,, tree cutting @ squaw? Is this some kind of off beat anniversary or tribute to Alex Cushing in some way?
Perhaps it’ll make it snow
Cool
It’s gonna snow, no fear! Dropping!!!
What about the 1000 or so healthy, large old growth timber that pays for the heli time with sale to the lumber mill?
Hmmmm, suspicious how marketing pr spins it as usual, oh yeah, its an election year,,,, wouldn’t hold my breath for an upgrade on red dog lift either, that ship has already sailed, permit expired….