Alpine Meadows, near Lake Tahoe’s northwest shore in California, developed from a late-1950s effort to create a ski area on the slopes around Ward Peak as an alternative to Squaw Valley. Founded in 1958 and opened for the 1961–62 season, it grew into a major skiing destination on Tahoe’s west side. A defining moment came on March 31, 1982, when an avalanche struck the base area after severe storms, killing seven people; employee Anna Conrad was rescued after five days, the first avalanche survivor in the United States found with search dogs. The resort later became part of the combined Palisades Tahoe operation, amid debate over environmental impacts.