Squaw Valley

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Joined 10 years ago

This former Winter Olympics site is one of the world's top ski areas, with a reputation based on gonzo runs and a profusion of Olympic-caliber skiers.. The Scene
Squaw Valley is the most insistently European-style layout in Tahoe, with the majority of runs above tree line in vast, naked bowls. There is a plethora of nooks and crannies to challenge skiers with nerves (and legs) of steel--cornices, steep faces, endless mogul fields and couloirs. Steep peaks rise abruptly from the valley floor, and an ascent in the tram over the sheer wall and jagged rocks of Broken Arrow (elevation 8,020 feet) is a thrill unto itself.

Insider Tips
On weekends, the crush to get to the top is daunting, with the heaviest crowds and longest wait at the cable car. It's moderately faster to take the gondola, and a lot faster to take the Squaw One Express, a quad chair. For advanced and expert skiers, some of the resort's hidden treasures are off these chairs: Olympic Lady, Silverado and Granite Chief.