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Super is the word of the week!

Super is the word that pops into my mind this week, super weather and Super Bowl. Last weeks set of storms was amazing with snowfall totals measured in feet. Squaw Valley got 5 feet of fresh powder, the total up top was an even 60", with similar totals around the Tahoe-Truckee area. Alpine Meadows, now part of Squaw Valley, got even more with a grand total of 72"! For a good overview, see Lake Tahoe Area Weather and Snowpack Information titled appropriately "Impressive". Other words that could be used to describe last weeks snowfall would be amazing, extraordinary, marvelous, miraculous, spectacular, stunning, stupendous, wonderful, awe-inspiring, massive, remarkable, thrilling, and splendid (thank you Thesaurus.com).

The photo from the Squaw Valley  website shows the amazing transformation that took place in just a few days, from a landscape reminiscent of early fall to mid winter. Breathtaking! (Sorry, couldn't resist one more). This last weeks skiing was the best we've seen in a long time as the weather mostly cleared, aside from some pesky rain, and the snow covered landscape offered the full spectrum of groomed trails and powder skiing we've grown to expect this time of year. For a great account of what the conditions are like and pictures, see First Powder Day: Check. 

The weather for the upcoming week looks mostly the same so it's a great chance to get out and enjoy the new snow while we wait for the next major pattern change, which looks like it may happen the week of Feb 6, although the weather charts have been inconsistent so confidence is low. That's pretty far out, so we'll have to wait until it gets closer before we can nail down any details. I guess nothing can be taken for granted with the weather this year. A great place to keep up on the latest forecasts and long term predictions for the area is the Squaw Valley weather blog.

The other big news next weekend is, of course, the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb 5th. The New England Patriots will be battling the New York Giants (instead of the 49ers!)

While this isn't the Super Bowl I was hoping for, it's still a great match-up between two great quarterbacks, Tom Brady, who's from my home town San Mateo, and Eli Manning, who's come into his own after being in the shadow of his brother Payton Manning. It's also a great excuse for a party. You can skip the 5+ hours of pregame they have every year and go skiing, snow shoeing or shopping, and still make it back in plenty of time to see the game. Sounds like a plan! While anywhere with a TV, close friends and beer will do, here's a couple of official parties you can go to:

Superbowl Party - Crosby's, Incline Village, NV

Date: Feb 5, 2012 (Sun)
Crosby's will be holding their annual Super Bowl party. They will be giving away great prizes throughout the game such as a Diamond Peal Season Pass, Lift Tickets, 42 inch Flat Screen, and much more!

Super Bowl Sunday Party - Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge

Date: Feb 5, 2012 (Sun)
2:30pm Join us in the Mountain Grill to watch the Super Bowl on 5 HD TV's.

Another couple of interesting event coming up this week are:

The Rahlves' Banzai Tour / Beaver Bowl Banzai at Alpine Meadows

Date: Feb 4, (Sat) - Feb 5, 2012 (Sun)
9am-6pm The Rahlves' Banzai Tour 2012 Alpine Meadows Ski Resort Ski and Snowboard cross head to head action, 4 at a time on an open set course. From the top to the bottom over natural terrain and snow conditions. First to the bottom wins.

Welcome Home Event Featuring the PUSH Team!! - Bar One at Squaw

Date: Jan 31, 2012 (Tue)
6-9pm Featuring The Push team: Grant Krogan (speaker) Keoki Flagg (slideshow presentation) Tom Day (sneak peak footage). Tickets available at squawvalleyinstitute.org. Appetizers and no-host bar provided. Funds raised support the High Fives Foundation-a local non-profit helping injured athletes recover from life altering injuries and bring them back to their sport.

There you have it, we have a super week ahead with super ski conditions, Super Bowl and super events. Get out and enjoy it and have a super week!

I just have one word to describe how I feel about the weather.....

YIPEE!! I guess that says it all. Never-mind that I probably would have used the same word on a dry day last year about May when it was STILL snowing. What a difference a year makes and what a difference a few days make. I'm feeling like a kid again (and that's not easy), running around like a puppy who's never seen snow, burying my nose in it and trying to catch every flake in my mouth. Well, at least that's how I feel. I've never been so happy to see the white stuff falling from the sky! I was beginning to wonder if it would ever happen this year. The stars are aligned and the universe is back to normal. This was an incredibly long, painful delay to the start of winter but there's still several more months to enjoy it so get out and get started. In a normal year, people tend to lose interest in winter sports about April, even when the snow is abundant, but I have a feeling it's going to be different this year. There's no reason why we can't enjoy a full season on the slopes or in the back country on skis and snow shoes until the last patch melts.

This is the perfect storm, or set of storms. Some nice wet snow at first to form a cement like base and then colder air to put a fluffy top on it. The totals look to be measured in feet at the top of Squaw Valley's mountain peaks, maybe 3-4 feet total, with 2-3 feet on the lower slopes by Monday night. Sunday looks to be a great ski day in between storms. What a perfect day, ski on fresh snow in the morning and early afternoon and then watch the 49ers in the NFC title game for a chance to go to the Super Bowl in the late afternoon and evening. It just doesn't get any better than that! Go Niners!

After a weaker but colder storm moves through Sunday night and Monday, the storm track looks like it will move back to the north for most of the week so it should be the best ski week we've seen in a long time. Make your plans now to get up here if you're not here already. It's time to treat yourself. Here are some local weather blogs which are a great way to keep up on the latest weather conditions and forecasts for the area.

Squaw Valley Weather Blog

TahoeLoco.com

Lake Tahoe Area Weather and Snowpack Information

When you're not out on the slopes or snow shoeing through the back country enjoying all the new powder, surrounded by the enchanting winter scenery that seemed so distant a few days ago, there are a couple of events that can only add to the experience that's so unique to Olympic Valley.

Lake Tahoe Adventure Slide Show Series

January 25 Doug Stoup "Skiing The Planet...North to south".

Sounds good eh? Truckee local Doug Stoup is founder and expedition leader of Ice Axe Expeditions, which leads adventurers, skiers and riders to Antarctica and Spitsbergen, Norway. Doug boasts many first descents, including the first ski and snowboard descent of the highest peak in Antarctica (Vinson Massif, 16,044 ft). Having led 20 expeditions to Antarctica and 10 to the Arctic Ocean, Doug is today's most traveled polar explorer. In addition to his exploration accomplishments, Doug is a cinematographer, ski mountaineering guide, humanitarian, educator, father and "seven day adventurist." As founder of the Ice Axe Foundation, Doug also aims to educate youth about this amazing planet on which we live. He has been featured internationally in television and film and pioneered streaming media from remote expeditions.

Chutes and Hikes Squaw Valley

20011-12 Schedule

Mondays: January 23, 30

Mondays: February 6, 13, 27

Mondays: March 5, 12, 19, 26

The Chutes and Hikes clinic helps the advanced and expert skier and rider get the most out of Squaw’s legendary expert terrain.  Access and conquer the steep lines and drops Squaw is famous for. Find the best snow conditions and “secret” lines only the locals know.  Using a high energy tactical approach, skiers and riders are encouraged to learn through self-discovery in a fast-paced environment. As conditions permit, groups will hike the Palisades, Mainline Pocket and Granite Peak, and explore the cliffs and chutes of Silverado, KT-22 and other nooks and crannies of the mountain you won’t find on the trail map!

Let the games begin! I guess I'm talking about football and winter. I'm excited about both. No matter how the Niners do, they will have had a fantastic season but it will be over soon no matter how it turns out. Winter, though, will be here for a long time to come. Life is back to normal and I love it. Have a great week!

Is it true? Can the weather pattern finally be changing?

I'm not a superstitious person by nature. The fact that I'm writing this on Friday the 13th means nothing to me. I regularly cross in front of black cats, kick spilled salt under the table (I didn't say I was neat) and laugh at ladders in my way, walking under them with careless abandon. The weather, though, is a different story. I certainly can't take all the credit for the (cross my fingers and toes) much anticipated change to a wetter weather pattern next week, but I'd like to think I helped. Last week I decided to try a new tactic and not pay attention to the weather charts and forecasts (A watched pot....) based on the long time proven scientific fact that a watched pot never boils. I figured why not, nothing else seems to be working. Hopefully I'm not jinxing it by talking about it but I'm just glancing at the charts and then quickly looking away, I promise! I see by some of the comments on the National Weather Service Facebook page that people are pitching in by washing their cars several times a week, another scientifically proven rain and snow maker. Who needs cloud seeding when a few quarters at the car wash gets the job done?

There's a buzz in the air about a change in our long, almost unprecedented dry spell. Just read the articles in the weather sites below:

Squaw Valley Weather Blog

www.TahoeLoco.com

Weather.Porterstahoe.com

www.Facebook.com/NWS.Sacramento

While it's not a done deal, all the signs are finally there that the persistent high pressure system will be squashed by a low pressure system passing just to our North and East allowing the jet stream to sink south and bring a stream of moisture from across the Pacific into the West Coast. The first wave Sunday night into Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. day, will usher in mostly cold air and little if any precipitation, with temperatures around 10 degrees below normal for a change. This will set the stage for a long line of moisture to take aim at Oregon and Northern California with initially high snow levels which will hopefully lower by next weekend. The details are still to be determined but it's the most hopeful sign we've had in a long time. Oops! Sorry, I'm not supposed to be watching.

In the spirit of not watching the pot, here are some activities this week to help take your mind off the weather so you won't be tempted to look. Glad I could help.

The Village at Squaw Valley Apres Ski Music Series ~ Ben Fuller

Jan 16, 2012 (Mon) www.squaw.com

3-5pm Finish your day off right with free live après ski music in The Village. Music will be centrally located in The Village Events Plaza from 3pm - 5pm.

Ripperoo Parades at Northstar ~ Saturdays, December 17, 2011 - April 14, 2012

Jan 15, 2012(Sun) and Jan 16, 2012 (Mon) www.northstarattahoe.com/events

4:45pm Bring the whole family to Northstar California and be a part of the popular Ripperro Parade taking place this winter in the Village at Northstar! The loveable Ski & Snowboard School mascot will lead guests through the Village filled with music, singing, dancing, and loads of fun. Ripperoo parades start at 4:45 p.m. and leaves from the Adventure, Learning & Guiding Center located next door to the Season Pass Office, on the corner opposite the 001 Oakley store. Please call 1.800.GO.NORTH (1.800.466.6784) for more information.

Lake Tahoe Adventure Slide Show Series ~ Squaw Valley

Jan 18, 2012 (Wed) www.squaw.com/lake-tahoe-adventure-slide-show-series

7pm Back in its 12th year, the Adventure Slide Show Series is where locals and athletes come together and tell stories of their incredible adventures in the mountains of the world. Many of these shows are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet and hear from incredible mountain loving athletes and travelers. This week features John Moynier as he shares the stories behind those short blurbs we read over and over and over in his High Sierra Guidebooks.

Party Like It's SnowFest! Fundraiser at Blue Agave, Tahoe City, CA

Jan 19, 2012 (Thu) www.tahoesnowfestival.com

5pm Join in the fun that happens every year as town gets excited for the 31st Annual SnowFest! celebration to begin! This "prelude" to SnowFest! Fundraiser Party gets everyone in the spirit of SnowFest! fun, while donating proceeds to this non-profit organization! The proceeds at the door get you into the event, taco bar, and complementary Margarita! There is an incredible raffle, and live music.

The Village at Squaw Valley Apres Ski Music Series ~ Chinese New Year Celebration

Jan 21, 2012 (Sat) www.squaw.com

3-5pm Finish your day off right with free live après ski music in The Village. Music will be centrally located in The Village Events Plaza from 3pm - 5pm.

Tahoe Rim Tour & Race ~ Nordic Race

Jan 22, 2012 (Sun) www.farwestnordic.org/tahoerimtour.html

9 a.m. Classic ski, skate ski or snowshoe your way from the Tahoe XC ski trails to Northstar. Enjoy lunch at the finish line. This is a fundraiser for the Far West Nordic Junior Ski Program.

I really hope this long awaited change in the weather takes place because we deserve a break!  In case you didn't know, Squaw & Alpine have 200 acres open because of their incredible snow making system. Between the two resorts they have 15 lifts, 19 terrain park features, and 200 acres open for skiing and riding so there's no reason to wait. You can check the lifts that are open and the snow conditions at Squaw Valley Snow Report. Be sure to "Like" our Olympic Village Inn Facebook page so you'll get all the latest news in your Facebook news feed.

I'm going to wash my car now and I'm not going to think, wait or watch for the "S" word until I see the whites of the eyes of Mother Nature. Have a great week!

A watched pot.....

Now that the holidays are over there are a lot fewer distractions. No Christmas shopping, Black Friday's, holiday parties, or Bowl games (well almost except for the BCS Championship game Monday night!). But you get my point, we're back to the routine, the day to day activities that were disrupted during the holidays. All those activities were great and made the time to me feel special. They also helped take my mind off the weather, or lack of it. I still checked the forecast every day, looked at the long range weather charts, and read all the weather blogs in the area. It didn't help. Now I have even more time to do that but I've decided to take a different approach. Just as my mother said, "a watched pot never boils", I'm thinking that watched weather never snows. Who knows, it can't hurt!

I got an interesting perspective on the situation reading the news. The first article I read, First Tahoe/Truckee snow survey comes up nearly dry, talked about how the surveyors and their entourage of photographers and reporters had to walk through the grass and bushes just to find some snow to measure! Frank Gehrke, chief of the California Cooperative Snow Survey said “I think this pretty much tells the story of how bare and dry things are” as he waded through bushes to begin the measurement in Phillips, Calif., just southwest of Meyers. Gehrke did find a small patch of snow which contained the equivalent of 1/7 of an inch of water, the lowest January measurement for the Phillips site on record. The previous record for the site was .9 inches in 1987. "For this water season, the Northern Sierra stands at about 21 percent of normal and just 8 percent of the April 1 seasonal average when snow pack is expected to be at its peak before melting. Statewide, California has 19 percent of the Jan. 3 average water content and 7 percent of the average April 1 measurement." This comes as no surprise to anyone in the area.

That's the bad news. The good news came when I read another article about Olympic Heritage Week, Snow or no snow, Olympic Heritage Week will go on at Tahoe. It started out "In 1960, with the sports world poised to show up on their doorstep, organizers of the Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley grew increasingly nervous through an unusually dry January." Sound familiar? I didn't remember that even though I do remember the 1960 Olympics. Mark McLaughlin, a noted Tahoe historian said, "There was virtually no snow at Squaw Valley, and they brought in tribal snow-dancers and cloud-seeders,". The article went on to say "But the weather changed in early February, bathing the area in snow, and then brilliant sunshine, to reveal a stunningly beautiful winter landscape." There is hope! 

Olympic Heritage Week is a series of skiing events that commemorate the games 52 years ago with events scheduled to run through Jan 15. With the lack of snow, the events will go on but snow shoes will be replaced by running shoes and skis will be replaced by bikes. That's the spirit! We can all take their lead and enjoy whatever Mother Nature is kind enough to give us. Here in Olympic Valley and Olympic Village Inn you can still hike and bike without the heat of summer. Just do it! (sorry Nike). With all the snow making taking place at Squaw Valley, you can even ski in the morning and bike in the afternoon. Maybe a swim and some sunbathing, too. How great is that?

Yes, I've decided that watching the weather intently looking for the next storm is the equivalent of watching a pot waiting for it to boil. My mother knew what she was talking about. I just know that as soon as I get my bike chain lubed and the tires pumped up looking forward to a long winter of biking it will start dumping snow. That's my plan and I'm sticking to it. Check our Olympic Village Inn Facebook page for all the latest Winter/Summer whatever season it is activities and have a great week!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! It's a New Year and I hope it brings a new start to the ski season. This has been a very unusual year so far, with December 2011 being one of the driest since weather records have been kept from back in the 1800s. As you can see from the snow depth chart, we are lagging way behind recent years for average snow depth in the Sierra Nevada, with only 1.4 inches on the ground, more than 95 percent below the average snow depth at this time last year. While this has been a challenge for the ski areas, snow making has saved the day for many. In a recent article in the Sac Bee, Amelia Richmond, a spokeswoman for Squaw Valley USA said "As of late last week, four of Squaw's 170 runs were open.  Six of partner resort Alpine Meadow's 100 runs were open. (One lift ticket now pays for access to both.) Both resorts have taken advantage of good snow-making conditions, but it's not enough to replace a few feet of natural snow. We can't blow snow over the entire mountain," Richmond said. Richmond said the resort has chosen to focus its efforts on a handful of strategic runs to ensure opportunities for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders." I have to believe that the combination of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows under one lift ticket must be the best deal around considering the amount of snow making capability between the two. You'd have to travel a long way to find better conditions.

The long, long range charts more than 2 weeks out, what we call the "fantasy forecast" because they tend to change drastically as the time frame gets closer, is pointing to a major change in the pattern but we've seen this before. It's time to bid our time, have the "gratitude attitude" for what we do have, and hope this does turn out to be an "average" year as many predict. An "average" year in the northern Sierra Nevada's is a lot of snow and if we mange to play catch up it will come in major dumps.

In the mean time there's plenty to do, especially since it's Olympic Heritage Celebration Week. Here's a list of upcoming events:

Olympic Heritage Celebration Week ~ Opening Ceremonies, Ed Z Berg Sugar PIne Point State Park, West Shore, Lake TahoeDate: Jan 8, 2012 (Sun)

2:30-3:30 Join past Olympians and local dignitaries as we commemorate the official start of the Olympic Heritage Celebration events with the lighting of an Olympic caldron. The ceremony will take place in front of a ¼ scale replica of the Tower of Nations that stood at the entrance of Squaw Valley to welcome visitors to the 1960 Winter Olympic Games. This free event will be held near the campground entrance of Sugar Pine Point State Park. Hot cider and cookies will be provided.

Olympic Heritage Celebration Week ~ Historic Cross Country Ski Tour, Ed Z Berg Sugar PIne Point State Park, West Shore, Lake TahoeDate: Jan 8, 2012 (Sun)

12pm-2pm Dave Antonucci, author of “A Snowballs Chance: The Story of the 1960 Winter Olympics”, will lead Nordic skiers on a interpretive tour of the Olympic Ski Trails located at Sugar Pine Point State Park. This intermediate level 10 kilometer tour will take you to Olympic Meadows, the site of the Biathlon range with stops along the way where you will learn of about our fascinating snow heritage. This event is free but there is a charge for parking. Please wear layered clothing, bring water, energy snack and be prepared for changing weather conditions.

Olympic Heritage Celebration Week ~ Keeping the Flame Alive, Ed Z Berg Sugar PIne Point State Park, West Shore, Lake TahoeDate: Jan 7, (Sat) - Jan 15, 2012 (Sun)

During the winter of 1960 athletes from around the world came to Lake Tahoe to participate in the Winter Olympic Games. The biathlon and cross-country (XC) events of the V111 Winter Olympics were held in what is now Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park. A portion of the marked XC trails takes you on a loop through the heart of the men’s events where you travel with the spirit of the games on the trails of the biathlon and men’s events. Join park staff and our local business partners, as we continue to celebrate our snow heritage with a series of events designed to highlight what makes our region so special. This historic venue will come alive with the Olympic spirit as the public is invited to join us for a week of special events celebrating our Olympic Heritage.

Also a great film series not to miss:

Lake Tahoe Adventure Slide Show Series

Back in its 12th year, the Adventure Slide Show Series is where locals and athletes come together and tell stories of their incredible adventures in the mountains of the world. Many of these shows are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to meet and hear from incredible mountain loving athletes and travellers.All shows are free. Shows start at 7pm and all ages are welcome. The Plaza Bar is located in the Olympic House.

January 11 Eric Perlman Eric Perlman is a director, producer, Emmy-winning cameraman, editor, and composer producing international adventure films and commercials for more than 35 years. Eric is also a high energy Tahoe go-getter you've seen around on skis, rock, and trail. This slideshow will have you planning a trip late that evening so you can go touch some warm rock! The show is called "20 YEARS OF STONE---Evolution of modern climbing and the modern climbing movie." We will see if we can get him to show us some Tahoe climbing history, where he sat right in the middle since the 60's, climbing pretty much every day possible right through this very week!

I like that phrase," the gratitude attitude". Let's all be thankful for what we do have as we start a New Year. That doesn't mean we can't occasionally glance towards the sky and say a little prayer to the snow gods. Be sure to "Like" our Olympic Village Inn Facebook page for the latest insider news and events. Have a great week and a great year!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Merry Christmas! Last week,"Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow" was going through my head. This week "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"! In case you were wondering, no I didn't get up early on Christmas morning to write the blog. I did it ahead of time so if anything earth shaking happened overnight I'm sorry not to mention it. I guess if it was that important you probably wouldn't be reading my blog anyway. But I digress. It's Christmas but not the White Christmas we were hoping for in the mountains. Thank you snow making! In a recent article in the Sierra Sun, Weather Window | Snowmaking saves the day, it talked about how rare this dry period we're experiencing is, even though surprisingly the "precipitation (rain and the liquid content of snow) so far this water year is actually close to average. The Central Sierra Snow Lab at Soda Springs received 8.32 inches of precipitation in October and November, compared to 9.15 inches normal for that time period." Seems hard to believe but it's true. The article went on to say " What is missing is the nearly 10 feet of snowfall normally received at the lab by New Year's Day. At this time last year, the upper elevations at Squaw Valley had already been blasted with more than 20 feet of snow." Last year we were in the negative phase of the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and this year so far we've been in the positive phase, which shunts storms to our north and then down into the plains east of us. It seems that most precipitation in La Nina years comes in the January-March period and NOAA is still predicting average precipitation for us this winter. It's also looking like we could be in for a pattern change after the first of the year.

Now that Christmas is almost done the next big holiday follows closely on it's heels, New Year's! There's plenty to do and a whole week to get ready so here's a list of events close to Olympic Village Inn.

New Year's Eve Fireworks

Ring in the New Year at Squaw Valley with a New Year's Eve Fireworks Extravaganza. The show starts at 9:30pm and is viewable from the Base Area. Grab a hot cocoa and find a seat as you take in the New Year with an amazing firework display at the bottom of the mountain. The show is scheduled at 9:30pm to accommodate the families that will be ringing in the New Year at High Camp to give them time to get down and celebrate in the base area.
Time: 9:30pm 

New Year's Eve in Olympic House

December 31, 2011
Those looking to bring in the New Year with style can head to the huge party in the Olympic House. Check out the biggest party on the North Shore and party like it's 2012. Rock out to the 8 piece funk band Mojo Green in the Plaza Bar before heading over to check out DJ Zeb Early in Bar One.
Entry is $10 at the door (cash only) and guests must be 21 & older with a valid ID.  Doors open at 9pm. Drink service until 1:30am.

Family New Year's Eve Party

The NYE Dinner is now SOLD OUT - We are offering another High Camp dinner on December 28, complete with live music. Call or email to make reservations.
Email us at abarker@squaw.com or call 530-452-7278 to reserve your spot for 12.28 today.

Torchlight Parade Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Area

Dec 31 4:30 pm. DJ and snacks at the bar. 530-587-9444

There you have it, lots a great ways to ring in the New Year in Olympic Valley and the Tahoe-Truckee area. This is just a small taste of all there is to do for New Year's but why not stay close to home at Olympic Village Inn? Maybe the New Year will bring a New Year's gift with a return of Winter! I think it will. Check our Olympic Village Inn Facebook for new events and things to do. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

Oh the weather outside if frightful.....

Let's see, how does that song go?

Oh the weather outside is frightful

But the fire is so delightful

And since we've no place to go

Let it snow Let it snow Let it snow

That's one of my favorite holiday tunes but it has a little different meaning now. The weather outside is frightful, frightfully dry, but with the frigid temperatures we've had lately, the fire inside is so delightful! I know what I want for Christmas. Some snow! I'm constantly looking for any hope in the forecast, but as of now there is nothing big on the horizon in the short term. A recent article in the Sacramento Bee, Pressure system muddles La Niña rain outlook, gave me a little hope for the long term, though. According to Ken Clark, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, it hasn't been a normal La Niña winter so far with a suborn high pressure system parked off the California coast keeping Northern California dry and giving Southern California record rainfall. " In Central California latitudes, including Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, the outcome (of La Niña) is often a tossup." He went on to say " ...the Weather Service predicted wetter-than-normal conditions for California roughly north of Sacramento. That ought to please ski towns in the Sierra Nevada, where the winter economy depends on plentiful snow but too much can be crippling, as was the case in some areas last winter." It's true, snow is great unless there's so much you can't get here, as was the case last winter when Hwy 80 was shut down several times. "We're thinking it will be later in December and more into January and February when things really pick up," Clark said. "Once the pattern does change, officials will be bracing for the kind of extreme events that have made La Niña famous." There's still plenty of time for a great ski season so don't give up hope. In the mean time, enjoy this last week before Christmas with some great holiday events.

The holidays in the mountains are really special. There's so much to do! Here's a list of holiday events close to Olympic Village Inn to help you enjoy this last week before Christmas.

Resort at Squaw Creek's Magical Memories

Magical Memories days will feature events such as breakfast with Santa, holiday concerts, caroling, children's holiday crafts, an ice carving demonstration, Menorah Lighting, winter wonderland stories, moonlight snowshoe tours, snowman making contests, elf tuck-ins, movies for the kids, and ski film movie nights in Sandy's Pub. Major musical presentations are offered on Dec. 10 and 11 with a holiday performance by the Truckee Tahoe Community Chorus, and on Dec. 16 with Handel's Messiah performed by TOCCATA. See this and more events at Sierra Sun Holiday Events.

Squaw Valley Torchlight Parade

A family favorite and Squaw Valley tradition. The parade begins at dusk and is an eye pleasing treat for holiday revelers. Enjoy this tradition from the KT Base Bar where you can cozy up next to a fire bit and sip on Hot Cocoa with the whole family. Please note that there is no night skiing on this date.
Time: 6pm
Location: Exhibition, best viewing from the KT Base Bar

Carolers in the Village

There are few things that are as festive as the sweet serenade of a group of carolers ushering in the Holidays. Grab a hot cocoa and listen to our carolers sing you into the wintery evening. See the web page for a full schedule.

Santa at Squaw

Have any last minute gift wishes? Want to get your picture with the big man in red? Well you're in luck. Jolly old St. Nick will be making appearances in the Village and you'll even find him taking some runs on the mountain. See the web page for a full schedule.

See our Olympic Village Inn Facebook page for more activities for the holidays.

Snow or no snow, Olympic Village Inn and Olympic Valley is a great place to enjoy the holidays. We're still on track for a great ski season which hopefully will pick up in late December and beyond. Have a great week and Happy Holidays!

New Winter 2011/2012 weather predictions

Still waiting. I guess that's the best way to describe how I'm feeling, looking for any glimmer of hope in the forecast for snow. I'm being patient, knowing that this type of pattern has occurred in the past and it's turned around to be a good snow year even with an extended dry period like we're experiencing now. I remember many years ago when winter started out with a vengeance early in November only to transition to a completely dry December with no snow and then go back to a wet pattern again in January. And who can forget the "March Miracle"? I hope we don't have to wait that long for a decent dump of snow! A recent post, though, from the National Weather Service Facebook page shows just how rare a dry spell like this is between Nov 25 ans Dec14. One example shows it has only occurred at Blue Canyon in 2 years since 1940.

Things are looking up in the relatively short term (next few weeks) and the long term (the whole 2011/2012 winter season). Starting with the long term, NOAA's official Winter Outlook for 2011-2012 points towards well below normal temperatures for us and a fairly good chance of slightly above normal precipitation. Considering what we've had so far, we've got some catching up to do. According to the report, "Underlying the pattern of Northwest/Southeast "opposites" in this winter's outlook is La Niña conditions in the equatorial Pacific. During La Niña episodes, the Pacific jet stream tends to meander north more frequently than normal, guiding winter storms into the northern tier of the country." It goes on to talk about a "wild card" that can affect the overall all pattern in shorter time scales. "Among the most influential of these "wild cards" is the Arctic Oscillation. The Arctic Oscillation is a seesawing of atmospheric pressure between the Arctic and the mid-latitudes. The pattern is always present, and it fluctuates between positive and negative phases. The negative phase of the Arctic Oscillation pushes cold air into the U.S. from Canada, causing outbreaks of cold and snowy conditions in the U.S. such as the "Snowmaggedon" storm of 2009." If it moves more to the west, we can get our own "Snowmaggedon". The Squaw Valley Weather Blog displays an Accuweather chart that shows the Winter forecast that came out this week. The blog says "As you can see they are still showing an above average snowfall season.  My prediction is for 105% of average which would put Squaw at around 475 inches." Sounds good.

In the shorter term, we are looking at some cold and unsettled conditions but no big storms for a couple of weeks. The bubble of high pressure that has been over us has to break down and move more to the west to allow the jet stream to move over us. This transition should start as early as the beginning of this week with a low pressure system diving down mostly north to south. Later this week there is a better chance of more widespread precipitation. According to the Weather Geek at TahoeLoco.com, "While this storm won’t bring much moisture, it does signal the beginning of a pattern change. Over the next 10 days or so we are looking for that ridge over the Pacific to shift, opening the door to more storms to come out way. There is nothing big in the forecast yet, but this is the first glimmer of hope in some time. Once we see that ridge move out of the way, we can expect the jet stream to sag south again, providing a more west to east track for those low pressure systems to sweep across the Pacific and into the Sierra." And Weather Guy Joe says "Forecast models hold off on any larger scale, maintained troughiness over the West Coast until the week of the 19th." These are all great links, by the way, for local area weather.

A recent article in the Grass Valley Union titled "Resorts weathering lack of storms", spokeswoman for Squaw Valley Amelia Richmond said “Snow is always a blessing this early in the season, but we have still had good turnouts. Obviously, we need some help for the holiday season, but looking at some long-range forecasts it seems like it's in the cards.” She went on to say" the runs that are open have been groomed meticulously to afford skiers some early season practice runs." The snow making and cold temperatures have helped save the early ski season but we still need to pray to the Snow Gods. This should help:

20th Annual Snow Gods Ball

Saturday, December 17

Get dressed up in your best retro outfit and party with the Ski Patrol! Bar One will be the place and all proceeds support the Avalanche Education Fund.This year the party is revved up with live music from Love Fool. Bring some cash so you can bid on items from Armada, Pacific Crest Snowcats and Back Country Access.

Another event to get you in the holiday mood:

Toccata Presents Annual Messiah Series at the Resort at Squaw Creek

7:00pm TOCCATA – Tahoe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus presents selections from Handel’s Messiah as well as other holiday favorites. This concert is at the Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley. Contact Toccata at 775-313-9697 for other concerts in this series. Tickets are available at the door, online, or by calling Toccata. 

There are many holiday events happening within walking distance of Olympic Village Inn including Holidays at Squaw. There's no better place to be this time of year, snow or not. Be sure to visit our Olympic Village Inn Facebook page for a complete list. Have a great week!

The Dog Days of Winter

I don't think there's an official term the "dog days of winter" but I feel it's appropriate right now. You've probably heard about the “dog days of summer”. According to Webster's dictionary, the “dog days of summer” occur during the hottest and muggiest part of the season. Webster defines “dog days” as:

1 : the period between early July and early September when the hot sultry weather of summer usually occurs in the northern hemisphere

2 : a period of stagnation or inactivity

Right now we have the winter equivalent, a cold, dry, snow-less period of stagnation or inactivity. The one exception is the incredible winds we had, which made the weather feel anything but stagnant. They were truly epic, although we escaped with much less damage and power outages than other parts of California and Nevada. The winds combined with the cold temperatures brought finger and toe numbing wind chills, so be sure to dress appropriately when you go out to ski, snow shoe or even mountain bike. Yes, I've heard that the lack of snow has actually extended the mountain biking and hiking season way past it's usual seasonal closing. There's no reason not to get out and take advantage of whatever conditions Mother Nature throws our way. There's always a positive side to it!  I've had good reports of ski conditions thanks to man made snow, and this cold invasion of Yukon Territory air is perfect for snow making. You can check on the open runs and lift status at Squaw Valley before you hit the slopes at www.squaw.com/snow-report#. It also feels like the "dog days of winter" because we're in that time between Thanksgiving and Christmas when the gatherings, parties and shopping frenzy has temporarily died down only to slowly ramp up again as we approach Christmas and New Years. Time to take a breath and enjoy the beautiful, pristine Olympic Valley area without all the distractions.

I was reading the Squaw Valley Weather Blog, one of my favorite sources for current Squaw Valley weather and insight into future weather trends, and I can't help but be an eternal optomist. While we may be in a holding pattern now, there are signs that things could change around mid-December. According to the blog, "there are signs that the pattern will flip in December. This Winter is still on track to bring big snows.  Once the Snow starts it should come in earnest and last a while." Sounds good! It goes on to say, " troughing off the West Coast....combined with warmer than average water temps in the Western Pacific strengthening the jetstream should mean the perfect ingredients for lots of snow in the Winter months." "So although we have quiet weather for the next couple of weeks things are definitely lining up for Winter to possibly begin for real later in the month." You can read a more in depth expalnation in the blog.There are no sure things when it comes to the weather. All we can do is make educated guesses and then wait and see. I do believe in the power of positive thinking, and if we all think positively about snow it just may work!

To help you get through the "dog days of winter", here are a few not to miss events to get you in the holiday mood-

Squaw Valley Lunafest Film Festival

Date: Dec 8, 2011 (Thu)

Website: www.girlsontherunsierras.org/lunafest

6:00pm - 9:00pm The Squaw Valley Lunafest benefitting Girls on the Run Sierras is on Thursday, December 8 at the  Olympic Village Inn. LUNAFEST is a film festival featuring award-winning short films by, for and about women. Ticket includes appetizers, wine, live and silent auction and film viewings. All proceeds for the event benefit Girls on the Run Sierras and the Breast Cancer Fund.

Truckee Downtown Festival to light up Christmas tree, First Friday

"Dec. 2 will be a big night in downtown Truckee. The Annual Downtown Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting Ceremony in combination with First Friday will be a night not to be missed. The Truckee Downtown Merchants Association, Truckee Rotary and Truckee Donner PUD have partnered this year to combine the events. The festivities will begin at 4 p.m. when elementary school children will decorate the Christmas trees, a 20-year tradition. At 4:30 p.m., Santa will arrive and the Bud Fish Tree Lighting Ceremony is slated for 5:15 in the new train depot." 

Sing Christmas, Truckee Tahoe Community Chorus Concert

Date: Dec 10, 2011 (Sat)

Website: www.singttcc.org

7:00 PM TTCC presents its holiday concert “Sing Christmas” at The Resort at Squaw Creek, December 10 and 11. “Sing Christmas” is an eclectic array of delightful, celebratory seasonal music, spanning the globe as well as the centuries. You will hear a little gospel, Latino, baroque, and contemporary arrangements as well as the popular sing-a-long. The chorus is directed by S. Horst, C. Nelson and T. Acord and accompanied by a Reno/Tahoe string ensemble.

Don't waste the "dog days of winter" waiting for the next weather change or holiday. Get out and enjoy all this tranquil time has to offer. To keep up to date on all the activities in Olympic Valley, "Like" us on our Olympic Village Inn Facebook page for insider news. Have a great week!

A great Thanksgiving and a wimpy storm

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving! Mine turned out great and I didn't spend it in "the Hood" dodging bullits as I had anticipated in last week's blog, just lots of kids, dogs, noise, football and food, a pretty typical Thanksgiving. I'll have to admit I was disappointed by the wimpy storm that came through on Thanksgiving Day. There was so much hope just a week ago for the first big snow dump of the season and as each day progressed it looked less and less like the "snowfall rapture" and more and more like the "snowfall fizzle". That's how it ended up. I remember many past Thanksgiving weekends, however, when we prayed for snow and got more than what we wished for. It would come down so heavily that no one could get here (bad) or no one could get home and back to work on Monday (good!). At least traveling was safe and painless this year.

Squaw Valley did open on schedule with limited lifts running and a base of  8-17" on the lower mountain and 10-12" on top. That would have been considered bare bones in feet last year. You can check on the latest conditions and lift operations at www.squaw.com/snow-report. Squaw Valley is starting the season off with early-season discounted lift tickets. Adults can ski all day for $59, youth and seniors for $49, super seniors and kids 12 and under for $25. For more information, visit www.squaw.com or call 1-800-403-0206. 

You can still get out and get your ski legs back with no worries about whiteouts and winter driving to spoil your plans. As a matter of fact, the early to mid week forecast is for mild temperatures, not good for the snow but great for all the activities that come between Thanksgiving and Christmas including shopping. It's a perfect time to stroll the shops looking for that unique gift for your friends and family. Here are some ideas to take your mind off the snow conditions while we wait for the next weather change:

The perfect combo, wine tasting and shopping!

Wine Tasting and Shopping at Squaw Valley Sport Shop
Join Squaw Valley Sport Shop every Saturday in December for an evening of wine and cheese while you shop, starting at 4pm. 

A real hometown feel good Christmas tree lighting.

Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony in Kings Beach

Dec 2, 2011 (Fri)

www.northtahoebusiness.org

Please join Santa and Mrs. Claus for the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at the North Tahoe Event Center located at 8318 North Lake Blvd., in Kings Beach on December 2, 2011, 5-7pm. The annual community event will include photos with Santa, a cookie swap, craft stations for the kids, hot cocoa, candy canes, homemade soup and more. Sponsored by the North Tahoe PUD and the Event Center, the North Tahoe Business Association, the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe and Liberty Energy has generously donated lights for the tree. For more information, call 530.546.9000. www.gotahoenorth.com.

A  film screening to take your mind off the weather.

'Dam California' Feature Film Test Screening

Wednesday, November 30, 2011 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Location: Resort at Squaw Creek

Test Screening of Feature Film entered in 2012 Sundance Film Festival

Corruption, politics, environmental impacts, corporate greed, and the individual struggle. These are issues that feature-film "Dam California" highlight in the ultimate fight to control one of our most vital natural resources--water. Join us on Wednesday, November 30 as we view the test-screening of "Dam California", an independent feature film created and produced by a team of Tahoe-based filmmakers. 

Read more at www.squawvalleyinstitute.org

Lots of things to do but not much to look forward to in the weather. As a matter of fact, the computer models are even confused for later next week as solutions vary from taking a low pressure system down off the coast, to right over us, to an inside slider into Nevada. I guess well just have to be patient with the weather until the picture comes into better view. You know what they say, "When the people get impatient, the impatient go shopping". Keep up to date with all the local activities by "Liking" us on Olympivc Village Inn Facebook. Have a great week!