Alpine Meadows (ski resort)

Alpine Meadows
Alpine Meadows
Location in the United States
Location Ward Peak
Tahoe National Forest, Placer County, California
Nearest city Tahoe City, Truckee
Coordinates 39°09′50″N 120°14′20″W / 39.164°N 120.239°W / 39.164; -120.239Coordinates: 39°09′50″N 120°14′20″W / 39.164°N 120.239°W / 39.164; -120.239
Vertical 1,802 ft (549 m)
Top elevation 8,637 ft (2,633 m)
Base elevation 6,835 ft (2,083 m)
Skiable area 2,400 acres (9.7 km2)
Runs 100 total
- 25% beginner
- 40% intermediate
- 35% advanced
Longest run 3.4 miles (5.5 km)
Lift system 13 lifts
Terrain parks 6
Snowfall 495 in (1,260 cm)
Snowmaking 11 of 13 lifts
Website squawalpine.com

Alpine Meadows is a ski resort in the western United States, located in Alpine Meadows, California. Near the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe, it offers 2,400 acres (9.7 km2) of skiable terrain, 13 different lifts, and a vertical drop of 1,802 feet (549 m).[1][2]

Alpine Meadows is well known for the quality and variety of its terrain, ranging from beginner to advanced trails with convenient access to seven open bowls, chutes, steeps, groomed runs and six terrain parks.[3] With 402 inches of annual snowfall, Alpine Meadows often has the longest snow season among the Lake Tahoe ski resorts.[4]

JMA Ventures, owner of the Homewood Mountain Resort on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, purchased Alpine Meadows from Powdr Corporation in July 2007.[5] In 2011, Alpine Meadows merged with the well-known neighboring ski resort and 1960 Olympic site, Squaw Valley. Ownership transferred largely to the umbrella company Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, LLC. Today, the two resorts operate as one with a single-season pass and a connecting shuttle for visitors, the Squaw/Alpine Express, though each retains its distinct identity.[6]

History

Alpine Meadows opened 56 years ago in 1961. John Riley developed it initially as the Ward Peak Ski Resort, and had a vision to develop the terrain into a ski resort as an alternative to Squaw Valley.[4][7] With the help of Peter Klaussen and a number of families who pooled resources to develop the area, Alpine Meadows was founded in 1958 and opened in 1961. The idea for the resort was to focus more on the pleasure of skiing than business profit. It was thought that the idea for the resort came about after the resort’s founders visited Squaw Valley during the 1960 Olympics and noticed the potential of the adjacent terrain. Alpine Meadows opened for the 1961–62 season with three lifts.[7]

The resort made headlines 35 years ago in 1982 after an early spring avalanche hit its base area in the late afternoon of March 31 and killed six.[8][9][10]

Philanthropy and environmental activities

Alpine Meadows is heavily involved with the North Lake Tahoe/Truckee community. It supports a variety of non-profit organizations with the goal of contributing positively to the local community, particularly through education and environmental protection programs.[11]

The resort partners with the Disabled Sports USA Far West’s Program Center — DSUSA helps make skiing or snowboarding possible for anyone with physical, cognitive, or development disabilities.

Alpine Meadows is an advocate of environmental protection. It engages in projects supporting biodiesel fuel use, has implemented summer native-plant vegetation projects, and has incorporated many recycling programs into its operations. Alpine Meadows, along with Squaw Valley, supports the Truckee River Watershed Council, the Tahoe Fund and Friends of Squaw Creek as part of the company’s community giving through charitable donations or active participation.

Lifts

  • Summit Express
  • Roundhouse Express
  • Hot Wheels Chair
  • Yellow Chair
  • Meadow Chair
  • Subway Chair
  • Kangaroo Chair
  • Alpine Bowl Chair (known as ABC)
  • Scott Chair
  • Lakeview Chair
  • Sherwood Express[12]
  • Kids Carpet (surface lift)
  • Adult Carpet (surface lift)

Movie location

Alpine Meadows was featured as the location of the fictional "Alpine College" in the movie Wild Wild Winter. Portions of the movie, including all exterior sequences, were filmed at the resort.[12] The 1966 Universal Pictures comedy was directed by Lennie Weinrib and starred Gary Clarke and Chris Noel.[13]

Jamaican ski team

Alpine Meadows is a partnership inspired by Errol Kerr, a resident of Truckee who has U.S. and Jamaican citizenship. Kerr represented Jamaica in the 2010 Winter Olympics.[14]

Squaw Valley merger

In September 2011, Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley Ski Resort merged. The two resorts will retain their distinct identities and unite under common management led by Squaw Valley’s parent company, KSL Capital Partners, LLC. Alpine Meadows’ parent, JMA Ventures, will own a smaller part. The new umbrella entity over both resorts will be known as Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, LLC.[6] It has been discussed in the media that the new company will seek to eventually combine the two resorts into one mega-resort through an agreement with a local property owner, Troy Caldwell, who owns the land connecting Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley - White Wolf Mountain.[15] If connected via White Wolf, the combined ski area would be the second-largest resort in North America, behind Whistler Blackcomb.[16] Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley offers visitors 6,000 skiable acres, eight peaks, 44 lifts, and over 270 trails.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Alpine Meadows Ski Resort". Alpine Meadows. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Alpine Meadows is just minutes away!". Tonopalo Resort. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Alpine Meadows Ski Resort Profile". Tahoe Lift Tickets. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Alpine Meadows". Go Tahoe North. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Homewood buys Alpine Meadows". Ski Area Management. April 4, 2007. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 Reynolds, Christopher (September 28, 2011). "At Lake Tahoe's North Shore, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows come together". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  7. 1 2 "Lake Tahoe History". Ski Lake Tahoe. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Killer avalanche buries ski resort". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. April 1, 1982. p. A1.
  9. ↑ "Alpine Meadows avalanche death toll climbs to six". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. April 2, 1982. p. 8.
  10. ↑ "Avalanche deaths now number six". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. UPI. April 2, 1982. p. A1.
  11. ↑ "Nonprofit partners". Alpine Meadows. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  12. 1 2 "Alpine Meadows". Facebook. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Wild Wild Winter (1966)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  14. ↑ "The Jamaica Ski Team is at Lake Tahoe!". Alpine Meadows. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  15. ↑ Shueh, Jason; Renda, Matthew (November 3, 2011). "State of the Lake Tahoe ski industry: ‘This is our time'". North Lake Tahoe Bonanza. Archived from the original on April 28, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  16. ↑ "Whistler Blackcomb - Trail Maps". Whistler Blackcomb. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
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