Best West Coast conditions (February 2016)?

[BenedictGomez]

I have pretty much always found it cheaper to fly to ski country thru Philly as opposed to NYC and Newark.

That goes for most everywhere I think. And it is a bit cheaper I'm finding, just nowhere near as cheap as Boston for some reason.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Checked into Utah, and Whistler/Blackcomb, then began to look at Alaska and found this

Yet they've reported 651 inches this year, so I guess most of that must have been early season or something, because this base photo looks worse than even the Catskills. :-o

 

[deadheadskier]

Problem with Logan is the price of parking. Cheap airfare is offset by $35 a day parking. Never mind the nightmare traffic trying to get there in the morning

 

[gmcunni]

That goes for most everywhere I think. And it is a bit cheaper I'm finding, just nowhere near as cheap as Boston for some reason.

times might be diff but for fun- cheapest non-stop

Round Trip to Denver 4/1- 4/4
NYC - 303 (jetblue)
Phil - 242 (american)
Bos - 331 (united)

never knew that about philly... but getting from CT to Phil adds to it.

 

[gmcunni]

times might be diff but for fun- cheapest non-stop

Round Trip to Denver 4/1- 4/4
NYC - 303 (jetblue)
Phil - 242 (american)
Bos - 331 (united)

never knew that about philly... but getting from CT to Phil adds to it.

my wife just told me that saving $60 per person but adding 1.5 hours driving each way was NOT worth it.

 

[deadheadskier]

my wife just told me that saving $60 per person but adding 1.5 hours driving each way was NOT worth it.

I would agree. I would not drive to Hartford to save $60 over flying out of Logan.

That $60 savings doesn't account for gas either.

The extra driving distance wouldn't bother me too much on the way to the airport. On the way home it would. The last thing I'd want to do after coming home from a trip is spending 2.5 hours in a car.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Round Trip to Denver 4/1- 4/4

Hadnt considered CO, but I guess I do that next, and Jackson Hole. Just looked into Revelstoke, getting there isnt the easiest thing in the world due to somewhat limited flights into Kelowna.

my wife just told me that saving $60 per person but adding 1.5 hours driving each way was NOT worth it.

LOL. Imagine that.

 

[Cannonball]

Checked into Utah, and Whistler/Blackcomb, then began to look at Alaska and found this

Yet they've reported 651 inches this year, so I guess most of that must have been early season or something, because this base photo looks worse than even the Catskills. :-o

The base of Alyeska is at sea level. As in: directly adjacent to the sea. It rains. Look at summit pics. Snow depth at the top right now is 192".

 

[snoseek]

We passed 300 inches in January I think. Feb has been warm and dry except for a quick couple feet last week. Pattern shift incoming....winter part two maybe? Either way the base is set....want more

 

[moresnow]

Hadnt considered CO, but I guess I do that next, and Jackson Hole. Just looked into Revelstoke, getting there isnt the easiest thing in the world due to somewhat limited flights into Kelowna.



LOL. Imagine that.

I flew into Calgary today. Skiing Lake Louise tomorrow, Revy the next 3 days, and then Kicking Horse.

The strong dollar got us up here. There are also some pretty good ski and stay deals around.

 

[Edd]

Problem with Logan is the price of parking. Cheap airfare is offset by $35 a day parking. Never mind the nightmare traffic trying to get there in the morning

Have you tried Park, Shuttle, and Fly? Not cheap, but certainly not $35/day. A bit more than half the price and we use them regularly.

 

[BenedictGomez]

The base of Alyeska is at sea level. As in: directly adjacent to the sea. It rains. Look at summit pics. Snow depth at the top right now is 192".

I did notice that, but it made me think, at what point does it go from crap, to stinks, to passable, to average, to good, to great, to amazing, in terms of elevation? If even 75% of it is on the good side, then I'd agree with you 100%, but as someone who has never been there and doesnt know what to expect, and is shelling out a few grand, those base photos are pretty frightening.

I flew into Calgary today. Skiing Lake Louise tomorrow, Revy the next 3 days, and then Kicking Horse.

The strong dollar got us up here. There are also some pretty good ski and stay deals around.

Lake Louise / Banff is awesome, have fun. Skate on Lake Louise if you can! I used my hockey bag as my "suitcase" just so I could make sure I did that.

 

[Cannonball]

I did notice that, but it made me think, at what point does it go from crap, to stinks, to passable, to average, to good, to great, to amazing, in terms of elevation? If even 75% of it is on the good side, then I'd agree with you 100%, but as someone who has never been there and doesnt know what to expect, and is shelling out a few grand, those base photos are pretty frightening.

It's a major downside to Alyeska. Basically you only ski the upper mountain lifts. And since the whole place is only ~2k vert, the upper mtn is only half that. Makes for small vert skiing compared to the rest of the places you're considering.

 

[xwhaler]

Have you tried Park, Shuttle, and Fly? Not cheap, but certainly not $35/day. A bit more than half the price and we use them regularly.

+1. Always use park shuttle fly when travelling for pleasure. Last time I went to Logan my work covered central parking and I tried it just to compare and I still prefer Park Shuttle Fly.
Nice operation that is fast and highly reliable. Way easier access in/out vs Central

 

[goldsbar]

I was just looking a base depths at some of my favorite areas - Jackson Hole, Big Sky, Telluride, Alta/Bird. Nothing is looking that epic for this time of year. I haven't been to the Sierra/California areas (correcting that in April), but they got some serious dumps earlier in the year. If you haven't been out west, you can't go wrong with any of these. I'm partial to Jackson in general, but beware that it's mostly east facing if you decide to go in late March. You can almost never go wrong at any time of the year by picking Alta/Bird. Safest choice you can make and easy travel.

 

[deadheadskier]

Have you tried Park, Shuttle, and Fly? Not cheap, but certainly not $35/day. A bit more than half the price and we use them regularly.

I haven't as usually my flights are so damn early I'm in a rush anyways. 90% of the time I'm flying, it's for work so I can just expense it.

If at all possible, I try and fly out of Manchester. The experience getting to and at the airport is so much more pleasant I'm willing to spend $100 more a ticket. Parking is right next to the terminal and is only $10 a day there too, so you recoup some of the fare difference.

 

[machski]

Big Sky skied OK, but they have quieted down quite a bit. Was 45 degrees yesterday, lost a lot of snow on south facing aspects. Even Liberty Bowl was starting to show some scars. And the paths off the tram were definite rock skiing. Guess they are getting back to a snow pattern Saturday night. Could see 18+" this week.

 

[jaybird]

If criteria are 90% area and 10% air/travel, scour snow reports and make a decision.
Should be easy for someone that prefers Lake Louise for skating.
Hit your local rink.

 

[goldsbar]

Big Sky skied OK, but they have quieted down quite a bit. Was 45 degrees yesterday, lost a lot of snow on south facing aspects. Even Liberty Bowl was starting to show some scars. And the paths off the tram were definite rock skiing. Guess they are getting back to a snow pattern Saturday night. Could see 18+" this week.

I went there a couple of years ago when conditions were really good. It was still rock skiing. It's ALWAYS rock skiing! The whole mountain (expert terrain at least, intermediate is fine) is a giant scree pile. Good fun and amazing what they'll let you ski there.

 

[jaybird]

Checked into Utah, and Whistler/Blackcomb, then began to look at Alaska and found this

Yet they've reported 651 inches this year, so I guess most of that must have been early season or something, because this base photo looks worse than even the Catskills. :-o

Total buffoon.