Squaw Valley Travel Guide

You must eat here if you visit Squaw. Lunches are between $8-13, portions are big enough and tasty. But most of all you get to see the High Camp hot tub and pool with mountains of snow in the background. If the weather is warm enough, ask to sit outside.

Favorite Dish: The food is generally American -- wraps, burgers, salad bar.

There are a growing number of people who claim to see an Unidentified Swimming Object (USO) nicknamed Tahoe Tessie in Lake Tahoe. One evening in January 2004 the Squaw Valley Institute invivted Dr. Charles Goldman, a limnologist from UC Davis, to the Plumbjack Conference Center in Squaw Valley USA to talk about the possibility.

With regards to Tahoe Tessie, Goldman suggested that it is more likely people are seeing Tahoe’s unique wave action or perhaps even a sturgeon or otters. He was an interesting speaker who likened the sightings of Nessie in Loch Ness Scotland to the imbibing of too much Scotch Whiskey. Ironically we'd been laughing about this prior to going to the lecture because the Squaw Valley Institute started the evening with a reception and no-host bar. Perhaps that means if you want to see Tahoe Tessie, you’re more likely to if you visit one of Nevada’s lakeside casinos and flag down a cocktail waitress before wandering down to the lake (just joking, but if you do be careful).

The lecture Dr. Goldman gave was informative and interesting. He travels to Lake Tahoe frequently because he has been the leader in the movement to "Keep Tahoe Blue". Currently Lake Tahoe has been losing clarity at about one foot a year. The image is not Tahoe Tessie, but came from the pages of a 400-year-old book Dr. Goldman shared that was written by Ulysses Aldrovandi (1522-1605), a Bolognese botanist and naturalist who investigated sea monsters and mermaids. I never saw a book that old.

Luggage and bags: Try to pack your ski boots in your carry on so if you'r luggage is lost you'd only have to rent the skis!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Skiing apparel and sunglasses!

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Suntan lotion- the rays are strong

Photo Equipment: lots of film for the beautiful lake view

Favorite thing: I went in late April/early May and the snow was spectacular. Mid-winter snow depths! 2005 was a very unusual winter so expect much thinner conditions on the average year. The views from Squaw was stunning. I am an expert snowboarder and took the Headwall Express and Siberia Express a lot. Be sure to go to Granite Chief as well. The crowds were so light we almost had the place to ourselves. There are a few downsides. They got some fresh snow on a few days we were there but the sun turns the snow into sticky paste and it was quite hard to ride through it. I had even waxed my board thoroughly. Also, starting in May, they close all the lower-mountain lifts and some of the challenging upper-mountains too, so don't assume that just because they have tons of snow they will let you ski on it. Also in May they reduced their operating hours so I felt ripped off. It's not worth paying $40 to ski on a few hundred feet vertical. Check all the details before you go.

Fondest memory: For the best combination of small crowds, good conditions, and open terrain, I recommend going in April.