Grand old lady of the Sierra: Squaw Valley

It's a 94-mile round-trip to Squaw Valley from Carson City, which maybe explains why I don't get there all that often. Heavenly, Mt. Rose and Diamond Peak are all close. But I hit Squaw this week for the first time this season and it was fine to see how the old resort is doing " several new six-pack high speed lifts among other changes.

The Village offers almost anything a rider or skier could seek and the two major lifts, the Cable Car and Funitel, make getting up the hill to the snow fast and easy. It was like a cattle car. But it got us up the hill. Skiing the Shirley Lake runs was a nice warm up for serious skiing, at least as serious as I can handle. I've found my left turns are sloppy, I don't get over my skis as well as when going right. But I got it worked out before hitting Siberia, Gold Coast Express and Red Dog, where I once skied with the Mahre brothers for a run or two. On the long run down the ridge from High Camp to the base I had a stupid fall on the last 100 yards " and then fell again before going 20 yards. It wasn't the knee, it was just old me.

Lots of action this weekend at Squaw, with the U.S. Freestyle championships on the line. Action starts today on Red Dog with qualifications at 9:30 a.m. and the men's and women's finals at 1:15. Awards are at 4 p.m. followed by the official opening of the event Saturday. Halfpipe competition is at Monster Park with qualifications at 9:30 a.m. and the halfpipe competition at 12:30 p.m. Awards to follow there.

Last day of the freestyles is Sunday with men's and women's dual moguls starting at 9:30 a.m. and racing at 1 p.m. If you're a mogul monster you can try the course with a friend in a "Celebrity Grudge Match." The event will be telecast April 4 and 11.

This being Squaw, there will be parties Friday night and Saturday, the latter at the pool at High Camp. A concert will be held Saturday at Olympic Valley Lodge. Sunday you can test your skills at the top of the Funitel at 11:30 a.m. It'll be on intermediate terrain and all abilities are welcome.

This visit I did something I've never done at Squaw, visit the Olympic Museum at Gold Coast. The museum is tucked away in one side of the building and it's worth your time to seek it out. You can pick up a copy of the original 1960 Olympics as well as browse old newspaper articles and colorful posters. It's free and a fine way to turn back the clock in Olympic history, when the Olympics almost became a fiasco as there was little snow until the day before the opening ceremonies. Alex Cushing had great luck as well as great PR skills hiring the Olympics to his new resort.

To keep the action up at Squaw, they are offering next year season tickets for $329, good for the rest of this season as well as next. Squaw doesn't make a lot of noise about the improvements there, but there are at least three new six-pack high-speed lifts on popular runs. Some of the old two-seaters are still running. For those of us 75 and older, lifts are free at Squaw. I'll buy that.

NORTHSTAR ACTION

Northstar-at-Tahoe, sister resort to Sierra-at-Tahoe, has some interesting offers:

Double Whammy Season Passes for 2009-10 purchased before April 30 and can save you up to $50. New passholders who purchase an '09-10 pass can use it for the rest of the current season. Northstar is scheduled to close April 19, weather and conditions permitting.

TGI Thursday $49 Tickets: In addition to dining specials throughout the Village at Northstar and apres ski entertainment, Northstar is offering a limited number of lift tickets for purchase online only (in advance) for just $49. These tickets are only valid on Thursdays through the end of the '08-09 winter season.

Stay & Ski Fee: Starting at $108 per person, per night, the offer is based on double occupancy in a studio condominium (other room types are also available) and includes two free lift tickets per night. This offer is valid daily through the end of the current season. To reserve this package, visit NorthstarAtTahoe.com or call 800-GO-NORTH.

Current passholders ('08-09) will note that all pass restrictions will be lifted March 28 so any pass can be used any day during the rest of the current season.

Events lined up this spring including:

April 4 - Spring It On (band on the deck of the Day Lodge, pond skim contest)

April 5 - Telemark Camp

April 6 and 7- Moonlight Snowshoe Tour

April 12 - Easter Festivities

-Contact Sam Bauman at 841-7818 or sambauman@att.net.