Squaw Valley resort in California (Pictured above this January), which had already announced plans to stay open for skiing to the 4th of July weekend for the fourth time in its history, has now confirmed it will continue to open for skiing and boarding, on Saturdays, 'indefinitely.' After huge snowfalls last winter it seems likely this means the centre will operate right through to the planned start of the 2017-18 ski season in November.
Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows first hinted that Squaw Valley was looking at this plan a few weeks ago when interviewed on a local radio station, but the plans have now been confirmed.
Guests planning to ski and ride will access High Camp at 8200' via the Aerial Tram and make their way on foot between High Camp and where the snow remains.
"Through the strategic movement of snow using grooming machines, Squaw Valley mountain operations team members will transport snow from areas with ample snow to areas with lower amounts of snow, effectively maximizing the snowpack long into summer. The Shirley zone also benefits from a northwest aspect, limiting sun exposure and snow loss due to melting," a Squaw Valley spokesperson said.
It is not known if any ski area without a glacier has operated every week of the year before. Ruka in Lapland which operates from October to May and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado which operates October to June tend to have the longest seasons. Zermatt and Hintertux in Austria are open year round and Tignes manages to open for at least a part of every month year round but all three are using glacier skiing only in summer and much of the spring and autumn.
Squaw Valley are declaring last winter "historic" and says they received more than 18m/60 feet of snow. The California Department of Water Resources has also already declared the 2016-17 water year the wettest on record, just over half way through the water year (October 2016-October 2017).
"We are in the business of skiing here at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, and engaging creative solutions to take advantage of this historic snow year is an irresistible proposition," said Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. "To many of our guests, the idea of summer skiing and riding is a novelty, but with the season we've had here we can provide a surface for skiing and riding that guests will want to enjoy not just once, but weekend after weekend."
Squaw Valley will continue operating seven days a week through May, on weekends in June and July 1-4. Beyond the 4th of July, Squaw Valley is planning to operate the Shirley Lake Express chair on Saturdays for 2017-18 Tahoe Super Passholders. Discounted daily lift tickets will also be available.