Change my Tahoe trip to Colorado, or hold out for snow?

[Bene288]

Earlier in the season I made a thread about skiing out west. We have a trip planned for Tahoe, however they are having one of the driest winters on record.

Should I bail and use my airline points to go to Denver then stay in Summit County? Or should I wait and see if Tahoe will get snow. Our trip was for the first week in Feb, right before the summit. I can change my Tahoe flight to later in Feb, but that could be a gamble the way it's going out there.

Ultimately Colorado will cost more, a lot more, than Tahoe. So is it worth going to Tahoe and spending less money and skiing conditions I can get here? Or spending significantly more money and ski better snow?

 

[mriceyman]

Driest year in 100 years.. Thank god i went there last march and they still had boatloads of snow from december. Its tough to watch what they are going through but we've had much worse winters. I would bail to anywhere but tahoe this year until the pattern changes and they their 6 feet in 2 days.

 

[bobbutts]

FWIW next 15 days look dry on the GFS
December is often hit or miss, but I'd be getting concerned at this point in Jan.

 

[Bene288]

FWIW next 15 days look dry on the GFS
December is often hit or miss, but I'd be getting concerned at this point in Jan.

That's what people have been saying. I haven't flown in years so I'm not sure if I can reschedule my flight or not.

 

[jaytrem]

I say hold out. If you're flying into Reno maybe have a backup plan to go to Mammoth (not that they're doing all that well right now).

I had a similar situation about 8 years ago or so with Oregon. A bunch of the places I was planning on hitting weren't even open when I headed out. So I rearranged some stuff. Bachelor was actually doing okay, so I stayed there for 3 days and shifted some stuff to Idaho. By the time I got back to the Mount Hood area it was dumping. Ended the trip with a couple of my best powder days ever.

So I say don't give up hope yet, but a backup plan certainly couldn't hurt. Of course this could be terrible advise, so take it for what it is. Sure hope the snow comes soon. Lack of snow can make it really tough for some of the smaller places to survive.

 

[jaytrem]

That's what people have been saying. I haven't flown in years so I'm not sure if I can reschedule my flight or not.

What airline? A few of them have been raising the fees a lot lately. United went way up for some things. Southwest would probably be the best for rescheduling.

 

[Bene288]

What airline? A few of them have been raising the fees a lot lately. United went way up for some things. Southwest would probably be the best for rescheduling.

We're booked with Southwest, and unfortunately we're flying into SFO. My uncle lives in San Fran, so we are riding up to Tahoe with him.

 

[thetrailboss]

Utah is not much better right now. I'd say it is only *slightly* better than 2011-2012 at this point.

 

[thetrailboss]

I just looked at Squaw's website and the only thing I can say is ouch. 20" base?! 21 trails?! Just shows that they (still) don't have much snowmaking.

 

[Bene288]

Just my luck!

 

[jaytrem]

We're booked with Southwest, and unfortunately we're flying into SFO. My uncle lives in San Fran, so we are riding up to Tahoe with him.

Oh that's good about Southwest.

Another option from San Fran is Bear Valley and Dodge Ridge. Unfortunatly they're both closed due to lack of snow. Mammoth would be a haul from there.

Might be worth booking some refundable stuff (hotels/rental cars) in CO or possibly elsewhere, just in case. You're out of Boston, correct? Be sure to check out all the options out there. There are lot of great places out there that people never consider. Think maybe WA or OR for possible direct flights. You uncle might even be willing to drive up to OR. It's about 8 hours to Bachelor, but there are few smaller places along the way. Ashland/Shasta/Willamette.

 

[soposkier]

We're booked with Southwest, and unfortunately we're flying into SFO. My uncle lives in San Fran, so we are riding up to Tahoe with him.

You can rebook for free on Southwest, just have to pay the difference (or you get a credit if less).

 

[thetrailboss]

Just my luck!

Meh, it happens.

 

[Bene288]

Oh that's good about Southwest.

Another option from San Fran is Bear Valley and Dodge Ridge. Unfortunatly they're both closed due to lack of snow. Mammoth would be a haul from there.

Might be worth booking some refundable stuff (hotels/rental cars) in CO or possibly elsewhere, just in case. You're out of Boston, correct? Be sure to check out all the options out there. There are lot of great places out there that people never consider. Think maybe WA or OR for possible direct flights. You uncle might even be willing to drive up to OR. It's about 8 hours to Bachelor, but there are few smaller places along the way. Ashland/Shasta/Willamette.

Yeah I've been checking places in CO, not quite sure what the best places are, just going on a whim. I've been checking around Breck and Copper etc. It'll be midweek skiing, so I'm not too concerned over the crowds. My uncle won't drive anywhere but Tahoe, he has a house on the lake I guess. He is what I would call "a tight wad", probably why he has a house on Tahoe!

Used to live in Boston, I'm in Albany now. Our tickets were actually out of Albany. A little more expensive than Logan, but would be easier.

 

[jaytrem]

Yeah I've been checking places in CO, not quite sure what the best places are, just going on a whim. I've been checking around Breck and Copper etc. It'll be midweek skiing, so I'm not too concerned over the crowds. My uncle won't drive anywhere but Tahoe, he has a house on the lake I guess. He is what I would call "a tight wad", probably why he has a house on Tahoe!

Used to live in Boston, I'm in Albany now. Our tickets were actually out of Albany. A little more expensive than Logan, but would be easier.

Yeah, I guess without the free lodging and car any place else will be a lot more expensive. Tahoe is one beautiful place, nice that he has a place right on the lake. San Francisco is great too. Might not end up being a great "ski trip", but could end up just being a great vacation anyway.

Looks like the other Southwest options from Albany are....Seattle, Portland, SLC, Denver and Albuquerque.

 

[LonghornSkier]

You could also fly to GEG and ski Schweitzer.. They're 100% open right now and looking at the forecast, are supposed to get a lot more snow this week.

 

[snoseek]

Just got off the mountain (Heavenly). The skiing is total shit right now and the forecast looks dry. Rebook because even if it starts snowing by then we need a lot of snow. 5 feet will get the low angle stuff there, 10 for the steeper stuff. I bet it starts snowing in Feb, but too little too late. Third winter of below average snow (way below). Never ever book way ahead here unless your shooting for late season corn. Fuck this place.

 

[Bene288]

Just got off the mountain (Heavenly). The skiing is total shit right now and the forecast looks dry. Rebook because even if it starts snowing by then we need a lot of snow. 5 feet will get the low angle stuff there, 10 for the steeper stuff. I bet it starts snowing in Feb, but too little too late. Third winter of below average snow (way below). Never ever book way ahead here unless your shooting for late season corn. Fuck this place.

So even mid Feb wouldn't be worth it?

This was supposed to be a reunion type trip, but a lot of my family has bailed. So it was just going to be the few of us. Less family, more skiing I thought.

 

[snoseek]

So even mid Feb wouldn't be worth it?

This was supposed to be a reunion type trip, but a lot of my family has bailed. So it was just going to be the few of us. Less family, more skiing I thought.

I imagine things will look ok by mid feb but who knows. I would wait two more weeks and follow opensnow. It does tend to come in strong when it happens but you just don't know. Last year we didn't get one flake the whole month of February as I recall, that's not typical though....Give it some time and don't stress.

 

[jaytrem]

You could also fly to GEG and ski Schweitzer.. They're 100% open right now and looking at the forecast, are supposed to get a lot more snow this week.

That one sounds good to me. They don't list that as an option for Albany though. The stuff around Spokane might be my #1 to get back to.