Recent content by mikestaple

Steamboat Feb 23 - 27 2011

I’ve had the distinct pleasure of spending my summer hobbling around after blowing out my patella. I’m sure others here have had similar knee issues. As far as skiing after a knee injury - what do folks recommend for a knee brace while skiing? Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone

Go to Sun Valley and get completely smoked by locals in their late 60s. Then consider your limits. I’m 50 and find the combination of West steeps with East technical makes for a nice consistent mixing and increase in skill set. Not gonna quit learning yet. That said - I’m not jumping off...

Iron Horse is such a slow lift and a key to getting over to Moonlight. Doesn’t need to be an 8 person - just detachable and faster. I guess they want more people eating at the old Spanish Peaks restaurant at the top of Ramcharger. Not that there is a line to eat at Big Sky ever. (Well. Maybe...

Steamboat is simple for kids and a great choice for the first time out west w them. Copper is much higher. But after chugging a gallon of water during the first night I didn’t have any altitude issues (unless I was running up and down condo stairs). Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone

Great report. Idaho is fantastic and I’ve been thinking about a powder highway trip that starts in Spokane. Appreciate the info. Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone

Three days - three seasons at Sugarloaf. Like everyone even the Loaf is an ice box at this point. They need snow and no more rain freeze cycles. Tuesday was rainy and foggy. But we had the right gear and skied some great soft snow all over the mountain. Loads of snow over at King Pine...

A and B chairs only at Copper on the front. Otherwise as much backside as possible. Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone

Last year Presidents week was AMAZING at the Loaf. They got like 3 feet the week before and then we had 40s mid week of Presidents week. Hiked to the top in tshirts and shells. Skied off the back. When is the temp ever going to be so mild with a fully loaded Sugarloaf?!?! This year - sigh...

Challenger. Black Dog run. Nice pitch bumps. Your brother is a blue skier? Hit Moonlight Basin. Go under the headwaters. Nothing like it. Even if you don’t ski them. Totally cool. Endless untracked over there. High mountain glades. Unreal. 3:30? Grab a nice PBR tall boy. Drink on the...

Dakota is open?! They must have a lot of snow. Outstanding. Sent from my iPhone using AlpineZone

I think the blowing and drifting around 4 corners would be worse than the steady climb up the mountain. (Then again - SLOT MACHINES at 4 corners! Woooo.) Just watch that last climb up the mountain from 191. It is steep in a few places. Big Sky is a fantastic place. Challenger Lift. Go...

I’ve driven from W Yellowstone to Big Sky in a six inch snowstorm. Just like driving the last 10 miles to Jay. Did it in a suburban. My advice is drive during day light. At Big Sky the Challenger lift is open. That is all you need. Sun Valley. Make sure Warm Springs is open. Ketchum is...

This. One base. Good on Mountain dining options. Give the kids bird seed. They will eat out of their hands on the Morningside lift. If you need steep then Big Sky. Take a day off and drive the hour to West Yellowstone and Sno Cat to Old Faithful. All the animals are at the Madison river...

Spring skiing all three days. Friday and Saturday were Bluebird mornings and cloudy flat afternoons. 4 inches on the mountain Friday night made for a mid 40s and sunny epic day on Saturday. Picabo's Street was the run of the day. Soft creamy and bumped up. Baldy from the resort Upper...