Known as a summer hiking trail, snowshoers can now explore this magical winter wonderland. Traveling past a rushing creek and icy waterfalls, Shirley Canyon is an incredible snowshoe hike not to be missed.
This beautiful canyon forms the head of Squaw Valley and the views it provides are stunning. Four-hour guided tours will leave The Village at Squaw Valley each Saturday and Sunday at 10:30am. The route leads up 2 miles to the Tram Ridge viewpoint, a comfortable plateau that makes for a fantastic lunch venue. Your group will stop for a 20-30 minute break at this highpoint, to enjoy a simple winter picnic and hot drink. Packed sack lunches are available from Wildflour Bakery for $20/person. If you would like Alpenglow to arrange a sack lunch for you or your group, please contact the office with your request (and any dietary concerns) by the Friday before your tour at 10am. After a quick break, you’ll make your way down the canyon and back to the office.
IMPORTANT DETAILS:
– Group snowshoe tours require a minimum enrollment of 3 people.
– Each guide can take 8 snowshoers, for groups larger than 8, you will be assigned an additional guide.
– Your tour includes snowshoes and poles, in addition to guide service
WHAT TO WEAR:
Start with a small backpack so you can carry all the necessities plus extra layers: sunscreen, lip balm, snacks and a 1-Liter water bottle.
We recommend wearing layers so you can easily add or subtract clothing to manage your temperature whether you’re hiking uphill or taking a break. We recommend a non-cotton base layer, a breathable insulating mid-layer, and a waterproof shell jacket. For pants, plan to wear waterproof snow pants and consider adding a non-cotton base layer, depending on the temps. Wear warm waterproof winter boots; the snowshoes are adjustable and will fit with any standard boot. Eye protection is a must, but depending on the weather, you can choose to wear sunglasses or goggles. (Sunglasses are better for not fogging, but goggles can be better if it’s snowing). A good winter hat or ball-cap, and a neck buff complete the look.
THE ALPENGLOW DIFFERENCE
With countless expeditions to high-altitude peaks around the world over the last 15 years, we bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to our beloved “home mountain”. Our teaching and guiding philosophy has been honed from the flanks of the Himalayan giants to the technical peaks of Peru, and we are beyond excited to be able to bring our program to this fantastic mountain. In addition to our international expedition roots, we are accredited by the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), being one of the very few guide services in the region to hold such a high standard. Each of our guides is trained by the AMGA in the terrain in which they operate, and the program is supervised by internationally licensed IFMGA mountain guides. This high standard, along with our many years of experience, translates to a fantastic mountain adventure!
Alpenglow Expeditions operates under special use permit with the Tahoe, Eldorado, Inyo, Humboldt-Toiyable and Shasta-Trinity National Forests. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
