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Alpine Meadows


Ikon Pass

Alpine Meadows


Ikon Pass
Alpine Meadows Lodging Map M
Alpine Meadows Snow Totals
THE
LOW
DOWN
Alpine Meadows Key Knowledge: Some of the best expert terrain in Tahoe is here. Hack your way to the Keyhole for a steep shot worthy of the effort, or find myriad powder and fun stashes in at the edges of the trees. Great mountain top-to-bottom, with good sustained pitches for those who don't like run-outs and boring terrain.
Alpine Meadows skiing by month:
Alpine Meadows
By Month

Core Strengths

Alpine Meadows
Overall
75.0
Travel Ease
74.6
Snow Volume
64.4
Overall
Overall PAF Score

Overall
Rank

39

Rank in
Region

4

Rank in
State

4

This resort is often compared with:

Palisades Tahoe
Northstar
Sierra-At-Tahoe
Alpine Meadows Snow Quality Across Full Winter
Click ON/OFF:
Alpine Meadows Snowfall Last 10 Days (inches)

Powder
Forecast

Powder Forecast
ZRANKINGS EXCLUSIVE
Thursday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Friday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Saturday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Sunday
Day
0"
Night
0"
Monday
Day
0"
Night
0"
True Snow: 363" per year
Snow Quality Rank

79

Accounts for resorts' snow quantity, moisture content, latitude, elevation, and slope aspects.

Dump Potential Rank

44

Alpine Meadows is ranked No. 44 in North America for its total snowfall during an average season.

Historical Powder Odds
Daily Lottery

% of days with more than 6" of snow

15.9%

Extended Stay

% of months with more than 90" of snow

34.3%

Drought Threat

% of months with less than 30" of snow

25.0%

*Special thanks to Tony Crocker and Bestsnow.net.

Dump Potential Rank

44

Alpine Meadows is ranked No. 44 in North America for its total snowfall during an average season.

Snow
Quality
Rank

79

Accounts for resorts' snow quantity, moisture content, latitude, elevation, and slope aspects.

Total Snow Score

This score accounts for total snow quantity, its moisture content, the resort's latitude, elevation, and its slope aspects, which affect total snow preservation.

Comparables

Alpine Meadows

Trail Breakdown

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Vertical Drop

1802 ft

8637 ft
Base Elevation: 6835 ft

Slope Aspects

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A few words on the Snow at Alpine Meadows

Alpine Meadows has very good snow frequency of 16.8% of winter days with 6 inches or more and 35% of winter months with 90 inches or more, but also endures 24% of winter months with less than 30 inches. Upper elevation snow is similar to next-door Squaw Valley, but overall conditions tend to be more reliable due to a base that is 700 feet higher than Squaw's, closer to the Sierra Crest with less rain. Sierra average snow density of 12% is not the blower of the Rockies but easily managed on modern fat rockered skis.

Accumulation and Preservation

With its less extreme terrain and a higher base vs. Squaw, Alpine Meadows averages about 3/4 open at Christmas. The top third of seasons have a holiday base of 6+ feet with full operation, while Alpine is less than half open in the worst third of holiday seasons. In the worst 15% it is less than 1/4 open. Alpine skis very well on most spring days. Almost half the area faces north, and it's easy to follow the sun around the range of other exposures. Traditionally Alpine was the latest operating Tahoe area, often running to Memorial Day. Under Squaw's ownership May operation is usually limited to Squaw's upper terrain.