Eddy’s Latest Book: “Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows: Tales from Two Valleys”

 

"Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows: Tales from Two Valleys" book by Eddy Starr Ancinas

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How these two valleys—so close geographically yet so distant philosophically—survived avalanches, fires, floods, lift accidents, economic ups and downs, ski trends, public opinion, good and bad management; and how the corporatization of both sides of the mountain inevitably joined them as one, is a story about the people who lived, worked and survived all of the above in both valleys.”

–From Introduction by Eddy Ancinas

 

 

SQUAW VALLEY AND ALPINE MEADOWS:
Tales From Two Valleys

 

INTRODUCTION

In the rugged High Sierra at the north end of Lake Tahoe, California; two adjacent valleys lie protected by high peaks to the west and separated by a massive ridge. The story of how these two remote valleys became two (now one) of the best-known ski areas in North America, begins with their discoveries by two visionaries: Wayne Poulsen, a young ski competitor from Reno, who first saw the potential in Squaw Valley while fishing there as a boy in 1931, and John Reily, a Los Angeles businessman, who came to Squaw Valley in 1955, and looked down from the top of the KT22 ski lift into a pristine valley to the south.

In search of funds to build a ski area; Poulsen formed a company with Alexander Cushing, a Wall Street lawyer, and Reily founded a corporation, whose members were skiers of national prominence. Ultimately, both men lost control of their dreams to build a ski area. Poulsen was ousted by Cushing, and Reily failed to raise sufficient funds.

By 1960, Squaw Valley, having hosted the Winter Olympics, had become a world class ski resort, with extensive facilities and a lively community of permanent and part-time residents. Meanwhile, Alpine Meadows’ investors and homeowners shunned commercial development, and prided themselves on being a “family area—owned and operated by real skiers.”

How these two valleys—so close geographically yet so distant philosophically—survived avalanches, fires, floods, lift accidents, economic ups and downs, ski trends, public opinion, good and bad management; and how the corporatization of both sides of the mountain inevitably joined them as one, is a story about the people who lived, worked and survived all of the above in both valleys. Read More >>

 

Eddy has lived and breathed the history of these two landmarks.
She has known all the players.

–From Forward by Bob Roberts

President & CEO, California Ski Industry Association