Play: A gorgeous snowshoe romp through Squaw Valley lets even newbies frolic for miles.
Step out for a gorgeous snowshoe romp through Squaw Valley
Squaw Valley’s head-rush inducing steeps, moguls and cliffs have long been famous as a black-diamond dream, but down below the slopes, you’ll find an abundance of flat, wide trails. Strapping on a pair of snowshoes, I suddenly feel transformed from painfully awkward newbie skier into master snowshoer, skipping through the white stuff like a rabbit.
Rent snowshoes from the Nordic Center at the Resort at Squaw Creek, located at the top of the resort’s cross-country ski and snowshoe trailhead, or bring your own gear. Then kick off down one of the groomed routes at your own pace. No matter where you trek, there are no lift lines, no cumbersome gear, only you and the surreal prettiness of a bluebird day.
There are 400 acres of trails to be explored here. Whether you follow the snaking banks of Squaw Creek or wander off into a nearby wood — or take a tip from locals, who rave about the pristine paths that zigzag through Shirley Canyon — this is one of the most blissfully serene ways to experience Tahoe.
Best of all is the learning curve. Or rather, the lack of one. A jaunt on snowshoes is a total reprieve from having to learn anything, powderhound jargon included. If you can walk, as they say, you can snowshoe. Follow a guide like I did, and you too can be regaled with tales of the primal roots of the snowshoe — they say ancient ancestors tied tree bark to their feet — and the history of this picturesque valley. Or go it alone and lose yourself and all those real-world cares amid the solitude and beauty of a solo trek.
Strapping on lightweight, aluminum-framed snowshoes — no tree bark for me — the morning after a grueling session on the slopes, I felt absolutely euphoric about the ease of this sport. Snowshoeing can still be a workout, if you push hard uphill or try to make good time dashing from one end of Squaw Valley to another. Or it can be a leisurely stroll as snowflakes flutter in the air.
Keep in mind that the quality of the snow impacts the experience. Go early in the morning, if the terrain is getting too mushy. On the other hand, if you can catch one of those magical winter days, with the flakes floating softly down upon you and the sky so blue it glows, you may become hooked on this brand of snow trek. I did.