Squaw Alpine’s Gondola Looks to Be on Track for Winter 2022. Here Are Our Initial Thoughts on the Project.
UPDATE: The Palisades Tahoe Base-to-Base Gondola will not operate for 2021-22.
Last month, Alterra confirmed that the long anticipated Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows Base-to-Base gondola will be built this summer. The 8-passenger gondola will be constructed with two terminal stations at each base, a mid-station at KT-22, and a turning station with no entry/exit at Alpine Meadows. The new Squaw/Alpine gondola is slated to start operating next season.
This new gondola will provide the first lift connection between Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, truly connecting the two as one resort for the first time, and will have major implications for both areas. While it’s hard to predict how this upgrade will truly affect the experience until the lift starts operating next season, Alterra has released several details that offer clues about what to expect. Based on what we know so far, we’ve compiled a list of potential pros and cons this project may bring.
As of May 8, several gondola components have arrived at the Squaw Valley base.
Pros
Ease of Access Between Squaw and Alpine
The Base-to-Base gondola will finally connect Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows as one resort without having to step out of the ski area. Instead of waiting up to 20 minutes for a shuttle bus to get between the areas, guests will theoretically be able to immediately board the gondola.
Gondola Location
As its name suggests, the new gondola will transport guests between the main base areas at both mountains. This setup provides a much more logistically sound setup than connector lifts at some other resorts. There won’t be a need to take another lift to mid-mountain to get between the two resort sides, reducing the chance of new on-mountain chokepoints at other lifts.
Capacity Relief for KT-22
The Squaw Valley mid-station will be located at the top of KT-22 near the top terminal of the KT-22 express quad. As a result, the gondola will provide an alternative option to access this terrain, potentially relieving traffic on the crowded KT-22 chairlift.
Potential Crowd Relief for all Squaw Valley Terrain
With substantially easier access to Alpine Meadows, the new gondola may drive crowds at the typically more popular Squaw Valley area over to Alpine. This crowd dispersal could relieve lift lines across Squaw’s entire footprint, as well as provide safer, more enjoyable experiences on crowded trails such as Mountain Run. Given Alpine Meadows’ strong low-intermediate terrain offerings, we imagine Squaw’s blue runs could see the largest relief.
Parking Relief at Alpine Meadows
Alpine Meadows’ overflow parking is much more inconvenient than Squaw Valley’s, with those arriving to the overflow lots needing to ride a shuttle bus to reach the mountain. With the new gondola installation, we imagine some guests may choose to forego parking at Alpine Meadows at all during peak times and park instead at Squaw Valley, which offers overflow lots a short walk from the base. However, we can also envision a scenario where the extra traffic causes Squaw Valley lots to fill up completely on the busiest days.
Cons
More Crowds at Alpine Meadows
As a lesser-known quantity with no on-site lodging, Alpine Meadows has historically provided a uniquely low-crowd experience for Tahoe. This gondola is on track to change that, making it much easier and more desirable for vacationers staying on-site at Squaw Valley (or those enticed by Squaw’s busy base village) to reach. While Alpine Meadows’ three high-speed lift options from the base may be equipped to handle the new crowds, the area has historically preserved its snow better than Squaw Valley and may see its coverage get tracked out more quickly. In addition, Alpine’s on-mountain facilities, which only offer moderate capacity, could see substantial stress from the influx of crowds coming over.
No New Terrain — And No Squaw/Alpine Trail Connection
Despite the Base-to-Base gondola spanning a substantial footprint to connect Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, the plans do not call for a terrain expansion to physically connect the two areas. As a result, the gondola will essentially just act as a transportation vessel to get from one side of the resort to the other, making it impractical to move between both side multiple times throughout the day. While Squaw/Alpine has not given an official reason for the lack of access to new terrain, much of the area the gondola will pass over is private land. While the Alpine Meadows side will have a mid-station, it will only exist for the gondola to turn and will not be available for loading and unloading.
Alteration to Iconic KT-22 Landscape
As part of its planned alignment, the new gondola will go through Squaw Valley’s expert KT-22 area and pass directly over the KT-22 chairlift. This advanced-and-expert area has built a reputation for its iconic, rock-riddled landscape, and the gondola may detract from the vibe by adding more build-up.
Slower Base-to-Base Travel Time Than Existing Shuttle
With a 16-minute ride time from terminal to terminal, the new gondola will actually take about four minutes longer than the existing Squaw Alpine shuttle. While substantially longer headways and the hassle of finding bus stops will still make the gondola more practical for most people, the time-saving benefits won’t be as favorable as some may expect.
Final Thoughts
Once combined, we’re reasonably confident that Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows (or whatever it ends up being renamed as) will remain at the top of our California rankings. But with all of its potential impacts, the real question is whether the gondola will contribute to a better overall experience or just a generally equivalent one. After enjoying both areas as home mountains for the 2020-21 season, we’re excited to go back and reassess the transformed Squaw/Alpine next winter.
To see how the resorts stack up as they currently exist, check out our outgoing Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows mountain reviews.
