Snow Sports Snow Sports Truckee is surrounded by ski resorts. The mountains aren't the highest and the snow isn't the best, but a combination of factors make the skiing some of the finest in North America. This snow is known as Sierra Cement and it sticks to the granite, making challenging terrain useable. It also ensures a good base so the snow stays useable late, often into the spring.
Squaw Valley has the largest lift system in North America.
The Olympics were held there in 1960. They weren't well attended because communications were poor, but they had a lasting effect. Truckee was on the map and many of the athletes stayed on, making the town diverse. The resort has a questionable environmental record. Forbidden to develop the beautiful Shirley Valley, they just went ahead in defiance of a court order.