Olympic Valley & Alpine Meadows

Formerly released as Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, this updated edition includes revised material while preserving the original stories and insights listeners have enjoyed. Nestled amid California's High Sierra Peaks, two valleys have captured the imaginations of mountaineers and winter-sports enthusiasts since the 1930s. Squaw Valley, discovered by Wayne Poulsen and developed by Poulsen and Alex Cushing, gained worldwide recognition as the site of the legendary 1960 Winter Olympics.

Meanwhile, just over a high ridge, Alpine Meadows was developed by John Reily, Bay Area families and local skiers. Discover the stories of Poulsen, Reily, Cushing and their supporters, as they battle avalanches, fires, floods, economic swings, public opinion in pursuit of their audacious goals to develop the two ski areas. Learn how these two valleys, each with its own independent vibe, became incorporated and linked as one in 2022, when a gondola carried passengers over the ridge to the base of both ski areas.

This revised edition celebrates these two North Lake Tahoe locales, Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows, and their decision in 2021 to rename the combined ski areas Palisades Tahoe – a decision made after extensive research and discussions with local Washoe people who affirmed that the word Squaw is a racist and sexist slur against Indigenous women.

Local award-winning author and ski historian Eddy Ancinas brings a unique history to life, as she describes the events and introduces the reader to the colorful characters whose exploits, imagination, determination and passion for their projects contribute to the lively tales of these two valleys.

You'll discover: Snow Jobs: Headwall, Avalanches and Why Not Squaw? Big Dreams: Nightmare to Olympic Dream, Post-Olympic Blues. Slippery Slopes and Different Folks: The Next Great Idea—A U.S. Olympic Training Center? Three Tragedies, Two Fantasies and a Work in Progress: A Ski Circus, Mighty Mites to Champions. An End and a Beginning.