 Poster: A snowHead
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Aer Lingus is starting a direct flight from Dublin to San Fransisco this October.
I can get a return for £340.00 each in early December to co-incide with my 30th Birthday. I have a mate living in SF, so could spend a few days there. But what would the skiing be like in the Tahoe area in mid december?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There'll be snow on the mountain.
Not neccessary enjoyable to ski on. But resorts open late Nov., "usually".
Or, you may get lucky. 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I've just checked out prices in January and early February £330 each from Dublin. Can anyone recommend accommodation options? I quite fancy going to Heavenly.
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Mrs johnboy, Heavenly is a bit tacky. It's like the main street in Portrush. (maybe worse)
I prefer the north shore.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Wear The Fox Hat, Ok - where would you suggest - Squaw? Want to go to somewhere with a bit of life in the evenings and excellent skiing through the day.
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Mrs johnboy, Squaw would be a good base, I think. South Lake Tahoe has more nightlife, but casinos aren't really my scene!
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Mrs johnboy, unless they have radically redeveloped Squaw in the last two years since I was there it's pretty quiet on the nightlife front. Excellent skiing though. Heavenly isn't that tacky, it has some good high end restaurants, and also a lot of the big casino hotels have decent restaurants as well. There are a fair share of crappy motels on the lakeside of town but on the mountainside and around the centre it's not too bad at all. We stayed at Forest Suites - sensible price, big rooms, close to lift
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Wear The Fox Hat, nor mine - we're not interested in casinos - just nice bars/restaurants where there are friendly people to talk to.
I will do some on research on Squaw.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Is Squaw pisted? I need perfectly groomed pistes
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johnboy, Squaw has a lot of pisted runs. And some that aren't. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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johnboy, sort of, when I was there the piste map is based around the lifts, so the pistes didn't have names as such, but there was a map every morning as to where had been groomed. Unless things have changed it's sort of a US version of La Grave, based more for freeride skiing than piste skiing. Heavenly is about a 40 min drive round the lake so if you stay in Squaw it's easy to ski Heavenly and vice versa. Heavenly is more piste orientated. If you fancy doing a skiing course in Squaw I skiied with NASTC who run a lot of courses there and they were pretty good
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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BGA, Thanks for your help. What's the weather like at the end of January/early February?
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You know it makes sense.
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SHello, The views look amazing. We're hoping to combine the trip with a visit to some friends in San Francisco.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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johnboy, Mrs johnboy, as others have said Heavenly is mainly good for piste sking and the town is tacky but you can get some great deals on accomodation and a trip to the casino can be good fun if you enjoy that sort of thing.
The views of the lake from Heavenly are great and that's probably true of the other resorts as well. If you have time I'd recommend a drive to Mammoth for a few days as well.
There are a few pics in my gallery on snowmediazone
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Mrs johnboy, subject to the somewhat variable nature of the weather the last few years I would imagine it will still be fairly cold. Heavenly is about 2000m amsl and late Jan early Feb is generally the coldest time, generally however you get more snow in March/April. The year we went they had had record snowfall and conditions were amazing but this year I think they have had quite a poor season. Luck of the draw I suppose. As you can see on the photos that have been posted despite the odd high rise hotel the views are spectacular. One of the weirdest things is standing on top of the mountain looking west towards the lake with all the snow capped mountains and then looking east towards the massive flat plains of the desert. I think of all the places I've skiied, with the possible exception of Chile, the photos I got in the Tahoe are the most impressive
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Squaw is more for hardcore skiers. There's less to do after the lift closes. Though if you do go to Truckee, you'll get a bit of a feel for the "old west" thing, which South Lake Tahoe doen't.
Heavenly has the advantage of variety so even if the weather is bad, you can pretty much find a part of the mountain that's enjoyable. More friendly for less expert skier too.
Distance between Heavenly and Squaw is snow dependent. If the Emeral Bay stretch is open, it's an easy drive. If not, you have the option of a bus from Heavenly to Squaw in the morning and back after the lift closes, but not vice versa. (cause few people stays at Squaw and even fewer goes from there to ski Heavenly)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Mrs johnboy wrote: |
| I've just checked out prices in January and early February £330 each from Dublin. Can anyone recommend accommodation options? I quite fancy going to Heavenly. |
Accomodation options are plentiful in South Lake to suit cheapskates (basic but spacious & functional motel rooms)up to moneybags (penthouse casino suites). If you're not arriving at the weekend you can even do away with booking in advance and even pick somewhere you like the look of on arrival if you are adventurous. I'd recommend checking out both shores which might mean a stay in Tahoe City/Truckee as well & aiming for 3 or 4 resorts.
Not sure where the Squaw/La Grave analogy comes in - not many Bogner ski suits and Texans in LG, nor mountaintop Starbucks, shops exclusively for cats & dogs etc. More than a few local hotshots though, get 1st tram on a powder day for the definition of "stoke".
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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expedia.com or
travelocity.com or
orbitz.com or
hotel.com
South Lake Tahoe is the name of the village.
Pay attention to the distance (in small print) though. If it's more than 5 miles, you're probably geting shuttled off (discretely) into the next village.
US lodging establishment rarely do HB. So it's just a room (usually quite large) and maybe "continental breakfast" (coffee, juice, muffin/bagel) included. If you stay close to the casinos, breakfast can easilly be had for ~$5/per person so it's really not a big deal.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Quote: |
Not sure where the Squaw/La Grave analogy comes in - not many Bogner ski suits and Texans in LG, nor mountaintop Starbucks, shops exclusively for cats & dogs etc. More than a few local hotshots though, get 1st tram on a powder day for the definition of "stoke".
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The Squaw/LG analogy is based on the fact that both resorts base their skiing around lifts as oppose to pistes. Obviously Squaw has more lifts and does groom some areas but the principle of open freeride terrain is central to both. With regards to the other things Squaw is one of the least American resorts I've been too in America, didn't see anyone helping me on the lift or giving me a tissue to blow my nose when I went into a restaurant. And much the better for it!
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I don't think Squaw is for me
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Squaw is known more for its freeride terrain. While Heavenly also manage to take care of the piste-loving skiers quite well.
Actually, the best pisted resort in Tahoe is probably Northstar. With Sierra-at-Tahoe pretty close second. But you don't get the view.
If it's only for a few days, I'd suggest stay put at Heavenly. It's large enough to keep everyone happy. If you have a week or more, start resort hopping. My personal favorate is Mt. Rose. Cheap, quiet and equally impressive view. Night life is non-existant. It doesn't even have mountain base lodging! 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| BGA wrote: |
| Quote: |
Not sure where the Squaw/La Grave analogy comes in - not many Bogner ski suits and Texans in LG, nor mountaintop Starbucks, shops exclusively for cats & dogs etc. More than a few local hotshots though, get 1st tram on a powder day for the definition of "stoke".
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The Squaw/LG analogy is based on the fact that both resorts base their skiing around lifts as oppose to pistes. Obviously Squaw has more lifts and does groom some areas but the principle of open freeride terrain is central to both. With regards to the other things Squaw is one of the least American resorts I've been too in America, didn't see anyone helping me on the lift or giving me a tissue to blow my nose when I went into a restaurant. And much the better for it! |
I just think it is misleading - there are more than enough groomers to keep any intermediate happy & its as American as any mainstream US resort I've been to - the full name is Squaw Valley USA and continually emphasised. The only lack of service derives IME from the number of South American employees who seem to have a more "latin" attitude to bumping chairs etc i.e. they'd rather chat up a pretty co worker then prevent a chair slamming into your legs.
If you're looking for a real N American analog to LG you have to look at Silverton or possibly Kicking Horse, a single gondola to the top, some high consequences terrain, not really an easy way down for novices.
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| Quote: |
I just think it is misleading - there are more than enough groomers to keep any intermediate happy & its as American as any mainstream US resort I've been to - the full name is Squaw Valley USA and continually emphasised
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We'll agree to disagree. If you want piste orientated skiing I still think Squaw is not for you, asabc says, Heavenly is a better option if you prefer skiing 'the groomers'. I suspect the Squaw Valley USA thing is a tagline to remind people that the Olympics were held there in 1960, much like the 80 foot sign as you drive in to the resort with the Olympic rings prominently displayed.
This is a quote from the NASTC website
You can't rightly call yourself a seasoned, experienced skier until you have skied the steeps and deeps of Squaw and taken in the breathtaking vistas this premier Tahoe resort offers. Since hosting the Olympics in 1960, Squaw has been host to the world's best skiers
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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When I was in Squaw in March there were plenty of groomers. In fact, apart from KT, I think every lift had several groomers off it. (KT only had one)
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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FAQ
