Rochelle Swanson, Author at SnowBrains

April Trip Report: SVAM and Northern California

My group traveled April 2nd-5th throughout Northern California including Olympic Valley, Truckee, Sierraville, Loyalton, Chilcoot, Vinton, Graeagle, Iron Horse, Portola, Quincy, and the outskirts of Lake Davis. During the day we skied inbounds at SquawAlpine then ventured into the woods at night. Related: 70 Days at SquawAlpine Northern California Snowpack 2018 vs 2019 The adventure started by packing up early […]

Trip Report

Rochelle Swanson | May 17, 2019

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70 Days At Squaw-Alpine, CA with Ikon Pass

The IkonPass was my first multi-resort pass and I used it primarily at Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows in Northern California. While the resorts are now owned by the same parent company and are working on plans to connect the two by gondola, my experience was different at the two resorts which complemented rather than copied each other to create […]

Trip Report

Rochelle Swanson | May 3, 2019

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Last Friday I Saw a Kid Ski Into a Lift Tower at Squaw Valley, CA

Until Friday I had never enjoyed hearing the sound of a child screaming. But after a terrible accident, the shrill shrieking of a child’s voice let me know that he was alive. He was breathing. He was conscious. But he still needed ski patrol. The onlookers from the chair felt helpless. What do you do when someone is hurt below you? […]

Crash

Rochelle Swanson | April 17, 2019

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VIDEO: Speed Skiing on Shirley Lake at Squaw

[arve url="https://youtu.be/PAzAbehLpSc"]

Rochelle Swanson | March 5, 2019

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May Powder Summary: Miracle May at Squaw Valley, CA Was A-MAY-zing!

Miracle May at Squaw Valley, CA was a-MAY-zing! Thursday, May 16, 2019, we arrived just after 8 am but lifts were being held for avalanche mitigation and rime ice. There were reports of at least seven inches of fresh powder on the upper mountain and we could see operation teams scurrying. Before long they got us up the hill and […]

Conditions Report