Best West Coast conditions (February 2016)?

[Vortex]

Going to Colorado in|April. Mrs has a business trip, skiing Friday Sat sun the 15th to 17th. Booked a room in Georgetown. Figured Loveland and Arapahoe basin would be the best options. Any suggestions on skiing either? Any ticket Deal suggestions? Thanks, Sorry for Hijack

 

[BenedictGomez]

Think you will really like Solitude and from your description your SO will too. Lots of good cruisers off the HSQ on the far right of the resort looking up. If Honeymoon Canyon is open you may want to sit her down and make a couple of loops. Being the tree fan you are the near side wall (off the back of Powderhorn) has great trees. New Summit lift changes the Summit area a little but those runs are nice too.

Pow Mow 1.5 hrs north. Worth it, yes, but get a early start on it the day you go. Plenty of intermediate stuff off Hidden Lake which I'm sure the gf will love. Some good tree areas for you and steeper stuff down below Hidden lake. Had one of the best Cheeseburgers ever up in the Hidden Lake shack up top. Don't miss the bar there either as its pretty fun for apres ski.

Like I've said before I (Maybe we as my family agrees with me) am a big fan of Brighton. If it is going to be snowing during the skiing day I really recommend this place. Its got plenty of intermediate stuff for the gf and plenty of harder stuff for you including great tree areas. It is also one of the cheaper mts out there. You really don't want to get caught out in some of the open areas out there in a snow storm.

Thanks for the good info. Doing either 5 or 6 days depending on what the legs will allow so we wont be hitting Brighton this time, but I'd eventually like to ski all the areas someday.

Disregard, just pulled the trigger on two, shipped to hotel in Utah. As the kids say these days, "Good lookin' out."

EDIT, no shipping required, even better, thanks!

Happy to help!

I did the math last night, and this is saving my gf and I roughly $170, and more like $260 if we do use the Snowbird BOGO.

The search continues for Alta, Deer Valley, and PCMR discounts!

 

[thetrailboss]

Thanks for the good info. Doing either 5 or 6 days depending on what the legs will allow so we wont be hitting Brighton this time, but I'd eventually like to ski all the areas someday.



Happy to help!

I did the math last night, and this is saving my gf and I roughly $170, and more like $260 if we do use the Snowbird BOGO.

The search continues for Alta, Deer Valley, and PCMR discounts!

Alta: buy at a local ski shop. PCMR: buy online in advance through the Daily Epic Pass. Deer Valley: other than saying good luck with that one, look to local ski shops.

 

[Abominable]

http://www.wasatchsnowforecast.com/

All eyes right now are affixed to the storm system that moves into the area early next week. Both the GFS and Euro have a decent storm forecasted. GFS is a bit quicker to move it in early Monday morning thru Tuesday, while the Euro waits until later on Monday for the storm to reach the area. It looks to be a type of storm with decent accumulation and also a long period of moisture and instability behind the initial front, so we could get at least two really good powder days out of this storm.

 

[4aprice]

Ok so I can't resist. Getting fired up for the west so here's some stoke

Millicent at Brighton

The boy hiking at Snowbird. And where was he hiking to?

That big bowl right there in the middle.

Powderhorn @ Solitude

Snake Creek @ Brighton. The trees to the left of the lift up top are my favorite place to go hang out during a Utah snow storm.

Solitude

Hidden Lake @ Pow Mow

For BG, Trees @ Pow Mow

And finally one of my favorites, the wife cutting some fresh @ Brighton. Wasn't deep but was a heck of a lot of fun.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[Jcb890]

Awesome photos, thanks for sharing!

(makes me jealous though!!)

 

[snoseek]

I too am liking the utah stoke. I miss dry pow.

Sent from my LG-H345 using Tapatalk

 

[BenedictGomez]

Alta: buy at a local ski shop. PCMR: buy online in advance through the Daily Epic Pass. Deer Valley: other than saying good luck with that one, look to local ski shops.

I have not yet begun to bargain shop! I wont go down without a fight.

BG's 11th Commandment
Thou shalt not pay full price for lift tickets

Ok so I can't resist. Getting fired up for the west so here's some stoke

For BG, Trees @ Pow Mow

Wow, those are some hero trees. I'll need to find stuff like that, as the gf doesnt do trees, and I'm (mostly) a responsible tree skier.

 

[Scruffy]

Pow Mow trees are low angle, unless you're off the Paradise lift, where the the runs are steeper, but shorter. If you're going POWMOW, check out the cheap cat ski pull up the ridge. Also check out Powder Country off Hidden Lake lift, if sanctioned side country, they provide a Bus back to the main lodge from the road you'll eventually hit.

 

[thetrailboss]

I have not yet begun to bargain shop! I wont go down without a fight.

BG's 11th Commandment
Thou shalt not pay full price for lift tickets





Wow, those are some hero trees. I'll need to find stuff like that, as the gf doesnt do trees, and I'm (mostly) a responsible tree skier.

:lol: Love the commitment.

If there is still a good base, you want to know a fun place to go tree skiing? Deer Valley. Seriously. They have some fun expert stuff that NOBODY skis.

Again, feel free to PM me if you want more specific intel or if you dare meet up for a few turns....

 

[Smellytele]

Was lucking enough to "only" pay $100 at Vail and Beaver Creek with a buddy pass. Walk up rate was $175 this past week.
Skied Abasin for 40 and Loveland for 25.

 

[KustyTheKlown]

Vail resorts, and particularly Vail itself are a day ticket joke. It's epic pass or no vail properties for me, and pretty much anyone who is reasonable with their money

 

[Jcb890]

$175/day? :-o

 

[KustyTheKlown]

It's the "why didn't you buy an epic pass, idiot" tax

 

[thetrailboss]

It's the "why didn't you buy an epic pass, idiot" tax

Exactly. You either buy the $599 season pass or pay the $175 day rate. Guess what most people do?

 

[Smellytele]

Exactly. You either buy the $599 season pass or pay the $175 day rate. Guess what most people do?

I would have gotten the epic pass if I didn't get the deals and was skiing for more than 3 days (Vail, Beav and Abasin) Paid a total of 240 but could have paid over 420 if I would have paid walk-up.

 

[snoseek]

All of my half price vail resort vouchers are spoken for but ill ask around if anyone has some they arent gonna use.

Sent from my LG-H345 using Tapatalk

 

[BenedictGomez]

Pow Mow trees are low angle, unless you're off the Paradise lift, where the the runs are steeper, but shorter. If you're going POWMOW, check out the cheap cat ski pull up the ridge. Also check out Powder Country off Hidden Lake lift, if sanctioned side country, they provide a Bus back to the main lodge from the road you'll eventually hit.

Studied the trail map a bit, I think I'll really like the place. If the "grading" of the trails is to be believed, it looks like I can ski tougher stuff in lots of places, yet be able to meet up with the gf after she does blues. As for the Cat skiing, looks like $20 per run. I guess maybe that's "cheap", I dunno, I have no experience with such things, but the bar on "cheap" is set pretty high when you're as "cheap" as I am.

If there is still a good base, you want to know a fun place to go tree skiing? Deer Valley. Seriously. They have some fun expert stuff that NOBODY skis. Again, feel free to PM me if you want more specific intel or if you dare meet up for a few turns....

Definitely planning on it as we're staying in PC. Tentatively 6 days of skiing:Alta, Solitude, Powder Mountain, Deer Valley, former Canyons are definite. Sixth location is up-in-the-air. I'd love to try Snowbird, but am worried about gf. She's really not bad, can do any Blue square in the east, but people's comments regarding that place have me scared as I wouldn't want to get her in over-her-head. Meeting would be great if it works out/you're free. I'll definitely PM you for some advice/questions soon. Especially "off day" suggestions.

Was lucking enough to "only" pay $100 at Vail and Beaver Creek with a buddy pass. Walk up rate was $175

 

[Scruffy]

Definitely planning on it as we're staying in PC. Tentatively 6 days of skiing:Alta, Solitude, Powder Mountain, Deer Valley, former Canyons are definite. Sixth location is up-in-the-air. I'd love to try Snowbird, but am worried about gf. She's really not bad, can do any Blue square in the east, but people's comments regarding that place have me scared as I wouldn't want to get her in over-her-head. Meeting would be great if it works out/you're free. I'll definitely PM you for some advice/questions soon. Especially "off day" suggestions.

Alta: Great that you're going, but there are only a few places that the good stuff will allow you to meet up with GF at lift.

Supreme lift is one: She can ski the blue down while you ski other stuff, like right under the lift is fun. Supreme Challenge, Spiny chutes, watch out for the cliff signs. Catherine's area if you want to do a short hike.

Collins lift: The trees right under the top of Collins Chair are usually nice and you can meet GF midway down to the bottom of the lift on the blue run.

Wildcat: She can ski the blue run while you hit the trees on skiers left of the Wildcat chair.

If you can break away from GF and want some of the good stuff:
-High Rustler is a must, it's an Alta Classic.
-Eagle's Nest
-Go out the High Traverse and boot up over the Gun Sight or Eddie's High Nowhere ( there use to be a rope to assist the boot up)
-Go up the Sugarloaf chair and head down little dipper or Gravy Boat and 100 yards or so, you'll see a gate with a boot up. That's to Glory Hole. Glory Hole is a nice steep bowl, but it dumps you into East Greely, so you could meet her at Alf's.
Greely Bowl.

That's just a sampling, you need to explore Alta to love it. From the groomers it may seem like it doesn't have much to offer.

 

[thetrailboss]

Alta: Great that you're going, but there are only a few places that the good stuff will allow you to meet up with GF at lift.

Supreme lift is one: She can ski the blue down while you ski other stuff, like right under the lift is fun. Supreme Challenge, Spiny chutes, watch out for the cliff signs. Catherine's area if you want to do a short hike.

Collins lift: The trees right under the top of Collins Chair are usually nice and you can meet GF midway down to the bottom of the lift on the blue run.

Wildcat: She can ski the blue run while you hit the trees on skiers left of the Wildcat chair.

If you can break away from GF and want some of the good stuff:
-High Rustler is a must, it's an Alta Classic.
-Eagle's Nest
-Go out the High Traverse and boot up over the Gun Sight or Eddie's High Nowhere ( there use to be a rope to assist the boot up)
-Go up the Sugarloaf chair and head down little dipper or Gravy Boat and 100 yards or so, you'll see a gate with a boot up. That's to Glory Hole. Glory Hole is a nice steep bowl, but it dumps you into East Greely, so you could meet her at Alf's.
Greely Bowl.

That's just a sampling, you need to explore Alta to love it. From the groomers it may seem like it doesn't have much to offer.

Not sure I agree with that assessment. Once she figures out how to ski back to a certain lift she can rendezvous with him at that lift. All lifts there offer good intermediate and expert alternatives.