Squaw Valley ski resort in California has decided to extend its 2016-17 season ‘indefinitely.’
The Californian ski area had previously announced it would stay open to at least US Independence Day, July 4th, because of the huge snow base that had built up there through the winter, but it now says it will keep on skiing right through summer and autumn up to the start of next season – every Saturday.
If Squaw Valley remains open for skiing throughout 2017 it is believed to be the first non-glacier ski area to do so – in Europe only Hintertux, Tignes and Zermatt operate year round, with Tignes closing for 4-6 week periods in spring and early autumn.
“As the only Tahoe resort planning to operate beyond the month of May, Squaw Valley will offer skiing and riding on July 4 for the fourth time ever and will venture beyond Independence Day for the first time in its history,” said a resort spokesperson.
18.1 metres (714 inches/nearly 60 feet) of snow fell at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows this winter, and it currently has a base depth of over six metres (20 feet) and is primed to offer skiing and riding in its Shirley zone.
“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 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 with discounted daily lift tickets also available.