Interesting reading this thread as I sit in my “ cabin” on the backside of KT in Alpine Meadows ( Tahoe/ Squaw). We bought this place 30 some years ago with the intention of eventually living here full time. Great skiing, terrific summer mtn biking, hiking, and of course all the fun stuff associated with The Lake. Only three hrs to The Bay Area, 45 minutes to Reno. Ideal especially after living the past two decades around NYC . We moved in full time 2 years ago. Squaw / Alpine is still terrific skiing but Covid has literally transformed the complexion of our community overnight.
Realtor friends are seeing all cash offers for properties in the north Tahoe area sight unseen from bay area folks who are bailing out. Complete dumps of 1500 ft sq are going for $750 k -1million. Worse: many who are new arrivals act entitled/ arrogant beyond belief with no respect for the mutual support/ respect mountain living requires. Our property abuts a large creek with a 10 ft easement ( no building) yet two neighbors recently built concrete stairs into the creek and when notified of the easement responded to the local association: try and sue us. Local schools are looking at a 40% increase in enrollment this year.
Regardless of the people explosion; We found that despite years of 2-3 day long weekends here nothing quite prepared us for the repetitive serious snows of Feb and March where dumps of a 1,2 or more feet a couple of times per week at our elevation 6800’, can be routine. That makes for some awesome powder days; assuming you can get dug out in time to get to the chair . It’ll be interesting to see how many of the cost no object folks remain after a couple of decent Tahoe winters. So, as much as we like living here ( Come for the skiing; stay or keep coming back for the summers) , I’m not sure the overall quality of life will survive the enormous recent crush of humanity. .
Alternatively, while living in NY we maintained a condo in southern Vt each ski season ( two young racers) and when a partime job for 5 years in Middlebury Vt had me living there full time for 2 months out of the year, I rediscovered the wonders of northern NE skiing / life. No, the skiing is not like out west, but man it’s still great fun. I learned to ski as a kid in Vt and then as an adult re found the thrill of Goat at Stowe, the comradery of Mad River, and the amazing throwback family scene at Suicide six, and of course, the Snow Bowl ( Middlebury).
My friends tell me uber wealthy NY and Boston folks are now buying actively in Vt. But it’s not the feeding frenzy going on around here in Tahoe.
This is a long way of getting around to this: as awesome a snow ( and hiking, biking, sailing etc) scene exists here at Squaw, If I were to do it again, I’d strongly consider Northern Vt as an alternative. Good , accessible skiing ( most years), proximity to a lake that can rival Tahoe, a lively restaurant scene in Burlington( hell, even Waterbury) , reliable first class medical care ( UVM) and more tradition than you can shake a stick at. Sure it’s cold in January - serious cold- and humid in summer , but for someone into skiing and hiking, biking , and do on.... not a bad area to live.
Realtor friends are seeing all cash offers for properties in the north Tahoe area sight unseen from bay area folks who are bailing out. Complete dumps of 1500 ft sq are going for $750 k -1million. Worse: many who are new arrivals act entitled/ arrogant beyond belief with no respect for the mutual support/ respect mountain living requires. Our property abuts a large creek with a 10 ft easement ( no building) yet two neighbors recently built concrete stairs into the creek and when notified of the easement responded to the local association: try and sue us. Local schools are looking at a 40% increase in enrollment this year.
Regardless of the people explosion; We found that despite years of 2-3 day long weekends here nothing quite prepared us for the repetitive serious snows of Feb and March where dumps of a 1,2 or more feet a couple of times per week at our elevation 6800’, can be routine. That makes for some awesome powder days; assuming you can get dug out in time to get to the chair . It’ll be interesting to see how many of the cost no object folks remain after a couple of decent Tahoe winters. So, as much as we like living here ( Come for the skiing; stay or keep coming back for the summers) , I’m not sure the overall quality of life will survive the enormous recent crush of humanity. .
Alternatively, while living in NY we maintained a condo in southern Vt each ski season ( two young racers) and when a partime job for 5 years in Middlebury Vt had me living there full time for 2 months out of the year, I rediscovered the wonders of northern NE skiing / life. No, the skiing is not like out west, but man it’s still great fun. I learned to ski as a kid in Vt and then as an adult re found the thrill of Goat at Stowe, the comradery of Mad River, and the amazing throwback family scene at Suicide six, and of course, the Snow Bowl ( Middlebury).
My friends tell me uber wealthy NY and Boston folks are now buying actively in Vt. But it’s not the feeding frenzy going on around here in Tahoe.
This is a long way of getting around to this: as awesome a snow ( and hiking, biking, sailing etc) scene exists here at Squaw, If I were to do it again, I’d strongly consider Northern Vt as an alternative. Good , accessible skiing ( most years), proximity to a lake that can rival Tahoe, a lively restaurant scene in Burlington( hell, even Waterbury) , reliable first class medical care ( UVM) and more tradition than you can shake a stick at. Sure it’s cold in January - serious cold- and humid in summer , but for someone into skiing and hiking, biking , and do on.... not a bad area to live.
