West Coast ski resort tour

Jensen · Posted: Oct 20, 2013 8:06 pm Post subject: West Coast ski resort tour

I'm planning on visiting as many ski resorts as I can this winter on a mission for the best powder. I have the Mountain Collective pass and epic pass good at various places across the west coast. Does anyone want to meetup and ride? Is there a resort I should absolutely add to my list? I have never ridden in OR or WA, any recommendations?

California
Squaw / Alpine
Mammoth
Heavenly
Northstar
Kirkwood
Utah
Alta / Snowbird
The Canyons
Colorado
Aspen / snowmass
Breckenridge
Keystone
Arapahoe Basin
Vail
Beaver Creek
Canada
Whistler / Blackcomb
(looking into Fernie)
Wyoming
Jackson hole
(looking into Targhee)

Also looking for a place to crash if anyone has a couch or a hookup on a cheap condo.

JHerb42 · Outlaw Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 180 City: Columbus

I would recommend Fernie. It has been quite a few years since we were there, but it was fantastic. Big Sky in Wyoming was awesome as well.

arof · Posted: Oct 21, 2013 7:30 am Post subject:

i can give food recommendations in PC.

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

Stevens Pass

Baker

Alpental

Don't forget Crystal.....don't have any pics from there handy.

senorbueno · Addict Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 775

I have a mountain collective pass as well.. Right now I have planned trips to Whistler (Dec 27-Jan 2) and Snowbird in Utah (I think the week of Jan 13th, would have to double check that one). We may have space available in the Utah trip (staying in a house in SLC).

I live 4 hours from Mammoth so I plan on going there on a couple of weekend trips this winter, but don't have a place to stay as of yet. If I can get a cheap flight I may look to do a trip to Jackson Hole in February or March. Could also swing a weekend trip to Squaw/Alpine Meadows but haven't looked into it yet

brew · Posted: Oct 21, 2013 6:30 pm Post subject:

I have nothing to add to the list other than if you are skiing Vail and Breckenridge, Copper Mountain is a nice stop off half way in between. I've been to all three plus Keystone and prefer Copper. It is more of a locals mountain and generally isn't as busy or touristy as the other two.

We had a good time at the Canyons in January, but make sure to go their later when there is a solid base. It has a lot of flats and the best parts of the mountain don't open up until there is significant snow on the ground. We had some of the best powder I have been in and were skiing in 2-3 feet of powder our last two days.

Snowbird/Alta is awesome too.

We are planning to ski Jackson Hole this year.

Jensen · Posted: Oct 21, 2013 10:56 pm Post subject:

jryoung, Steven's pass and Baker look sweet, will definitely try and squeeze in a trip there when the powder is going off.

senorbueno, sweet! I can't wait to put the pass to good use. I don't have any dates planned out just yet, mostly going to fly out with 2 weeks notice depending on how the storms are shaping up and what days I have off of work. I'll send you a PM

brew, Thanks for the recommendations, I'll probably save Utah for March or April then.

Maybe we can put together a Tahoe or Mammoth trip with some other wb.com people??

finkle · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Posts: 4067

brew · Posted: Oct 22, 2013 9:19 am Post subject:

No offense, but you're not making either one of those drives in 5 minutes in the summer, much less the winter. They are 10-15 minutes minimum. It doesn't matter though because my point is the same.

I have been to Copper multiple times and it has always had a heavy local contingent because of the lack of tourists. There is also virtually no nightlife because a lot of people drive in but you can eat anywhere easily. If you are going solely to ski, I'll take Copper over any of the others followed by Vail. I'll never go to a Breck again. It's all preference though.

Swass · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 427

Are you a knuckle-dragger? If so, your CO list is good. If you ski, ditch Keystone or A Basin and go to Mary Jane instead.

Swass · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 427

And I'm totally jealous on the Wistler/Blackcomb thing. Heli?

twitch88 · Posted: Oct 22, 2013 4:29 pm Post subject:

If you're on a pow mission I would replace Northstar with Sugarbowl any day of the week. Northstar blows IMO.

Jensen · Posted: Oct 23, 2013 12:58 am Post subject:

Swass, snowboarder here. I've heard great things about A-basin back bowls on pow days. And I might look into a Heli at whistler, depends on how much money I'm going to budget for this trip.

twitch88, no doubt, I grew up by sugarbowl and would go to no other place in tahoe on a POW day. But now that I live 40 min from kirkwood that's my new homebase. Still thinking about getting a midweek pass to sugarbowl though, especially with the new crow-peak lift that was just put in!!! Strawberry fields is going to be so awesome

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

Just as a point, I do not believe that Alta allows snowboarders. You're good at Snowbird.

Canucked · Addict Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 873 City: Edmonton

If you want to come to Canada I suggest:

Revelstoke, Fernie and Golden.

I spend almost every weekend in the Rockies during the winter if you need some additional insight

Canucked · Addict Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 873 City: Edmonton

...Looking through some ski folders.

I love winter!

Jensen · Posted: Oct 23, 2013 7:55 pm Post subject:

Canucked, damn I am excited to board in Canada. I hope they have a good season. A blog I read showed this map. Still pretty far out to forecast but I hope the storms come on strong, last 2 winters have sucked in CA.

E.J., wtf that's crazy. I was going to get a pair of powder skis this winter anyhow.

arof · Posted: Oct 24, 2013 8:00 am Post subject:

EJ's correct. Alta and Deer Valley both don't allow snowboarders. I think they are 2 of like 3 or 4 hills in north america.

JV · Posted: Oct 24, 2013 8:29 am Post subject:

jryoung, how do you think Baker would be in mid to late February? Or are there better western Washington resorts for that late in the season?

Bambamski · Posted: Oct 24, 2013 4:14 pm Post subject:

If you can only go to one resort. Sell that whole list

Go to revelstoke

Best resort best terrain i've ever seen and ridden

E.J. · Ladies Man Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 7597 City: Mogadishu

Have been at Snowbird for the past 2 days/night. No snow yet... Wink

Jensen · Posted: Oct 25, 2013 4:03 pm Post subject:

jryoung · Ladies Man Joined: 19 Mar 2004 Posts: 7664 City: Man Jose

joedirt00 · Posted: Oct 27, 2013 8:17 pm Post subject:

Ill take care of you in baker. Ill give you a special rate at my motel and half price lift tickets. Anthony lakes resort is 45 minutes away. Not the biggest resort. But no lift lines and varied terrain. But on this side of the state the weather is so dry the powder is ridiculously dry.

joedirt00 · Posted: Oct 27, 2013 8:18 pm Post subject:

Ill take care of you in baker. Ill give you a special rate at my motel and half price lift tickets. Anthony lakes resort is 45 minutes away. Not the biggest resort. But no lift lines and varied terrain. But on this side of the state the weather is so dry the powder is ridiculously dry.

Jensen · Posted: Oct 29, 2013 9:51 am Post subject:

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

JV · Posted: Oct 29, 2013 2:03 pm Post subject:

joedirt00 · Posted: Nov 26, 2013 7:27 am Post subject:

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Nov 26, 2013 8:26 am Post subject:

Thinking of planning a snowboard trip next year. What would be a good resort/area to go to?

JV · Posted: Nov 26, 2013 8:37 am Post subject:

eich82 · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 860 City: MTP

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

I agree with eich82. There are so many choices, and they all have different things to offer.

If you gave us a few of the things he mentioned I'm sure you will get lots of good ideas.

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Nov 26, 2013 9:27 am Post subject:

Budget: unsure

Experience: first time going snowboarding

Where you're coming from and if you're driving or flying: flying most likely

How long of a trip: about 5 days

Pure snowboard trip? Yes

Time of the year you're going: open to anything