3 months ago
SQUAW VALLEY, CA -- There was a combination of snow and sun in the Sierra this weekend for the opening of several area ski resorts. Overnight Friday and early Saturday morning, around a foot of snow had collected at many of them, just in time for the season openers. Heavenly Ski Resort opened Friday. Squaw Valley and Northstar opened Saturday.
Laura and Robert Barton, from Dallas, Texas, marked their first anniversary as Squaw Valley marked its 60th.
"We actually booked it in August," said Laura, "We had no clue if there would be any snow."
When the storm began, they were thrilled they had come. "We were running around like crazy. We were jumping around in the snow, acting like fools."
Squaw Valley planned the opening anyway for Saturday with or without snow.
"In the past 5 years, we've had pretty late openings," said Savannah Cowley, spokesperson for Squaw Valley U.S.A., "So for us, Thanksgiving is really a bonus, and to be open before Thanksgiving is just a great way to kick off the season and it says a lot about our early season snowfall, so we're stoked."
Shop owners in Downtown Truckee are stoked, as well. The early snow means the early arrival of customers. Joanne Kraemer, owner of downtown gift and art shop, Riverside Studios, says it's great news for the local economy and the local atmosphere.
"We're encouraged by the snow because people come here for the snow, whether your skiing, or you're just sitting at home and enjoying a hot toddy," said Kraemer.
by Anne Makovec, amakovec@news10.net
KXTV/News10
