Squaw is one of the Tahoe elite, boasting scale, history, variety, reputation, and spectacular views as mere starting points. Having hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics, Squaw probably considers itself as the daddy of all the Tahoe resorts, but alas it was not our favourite.

There's an established, commercial feel to Squaw which wasn't to our liking. It seems that their success has led to the resort becoming a well oiled money machine ... unfortunate for those looking for a traditional mountain experience. The trail map says it all really ... the mountains are criss-crossed with lifts in all directions ... handy for mobility reasons, but not so good for mountain solitude. Wherever you're boarding or crashing, there's always a line of chairs to be seen and heard.

The two exceptions to the above example (and not surprisingly, these were my favourite Sqauw areas) were Snow King on the furthest left side, and the expert area of Granite Chief on the furthest right side. The Chief was fantastic, with complete silence, untouched powder in nooks and crannies, and some demanding terrain to navigate.