California’s newest power couple isn’t in Hollywood. It’s up North in Tahoe. Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski resorts have completed a merger to operate under one company. This means that with one season pass, or one lift ticket, people can ski both resorts, which gives them access to over 6,000 ski-able acres and 44 lifts. The new partnership may not get the national media coverage of Brangelina or Bennifer, but Squaw Meadows — or Alpine Valley if you prefer — is a pretty big deal.

From an outsider’s perspective, the merger seems like an obvious outcome since Squaw and Alpine are so close to each other; only a small, crag-filled valley separates them. Though the two resorts have different feels and serve different clienteles — and some people like it that way — the opportunity to ski all that area was simply too good to pass up. The resort bases are only ten minutes apart, and any seeming divide between the two resorts appeared arbitrary and manufactured to many observers. With the success the partnership between Alta and Snowbird had in offering a joint pass in Utah, the writing was on the wall that a Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows merger would be well received.

In general, locals seem thrilled about the new plans. Getting to ski two world-class resorts with one pass has a lot of upside. The remarkable pricing of the season pass for the two mountains together — $439 for the Tahoe Super Pass and $399 for the Super Six Pass, which offers unlimited skiing and riding 6 days a week — offers unparalleled value for such a great product. If you are a skier, there isn’t much not to like.

Says Tahoe skier Ben Stone, “It seems like they’re really taking care of the locals. We’re stoked to get access to so much terrain for such a good price. The only bummer is having to take a bus between the two resorts.” The last part of the quote refers to the fact that you cannot ski directly between the two resorts because the space between them is a private ski area called White Wolf. Instead, there is a complimentary shuttle between the two resorts, which is pretty convenient, but not as enticing as dropping into one area from the other.

But bus rides aside, it’s a pretty sweet deal to be able to ski two legendary resorts with one pass. There is also a philanthropic side to the new deal. The new combined company overseeing the project, Squaw Valley Holdings LLC, is pledging $25,000 to the Community House to celebrate the closing of the deal. The Community House is a community center — which is run by the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation — that will provide long-term space for a host of local non-profit organizations.

Though critics of the merger fear that European-style mega resorts may hurt the character of local ski areas, most people view the joint operation of Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows as a good thing. Simply put, when it comes to ski terrain, you can never have access to too much of a good thing.

For more information visit www.Squaw.com. Best prices on season passes are available through November 30, 2011.