Fantasy Trip suggestions

[Razor]

My wife and I, avid skiers and retired, set out in our new AWD Toyota Sienna with our dog after New Year's for a 3 month trip out west. What should our itinerary be, and why? We've been to Park City and Alta, many Colorado areas, Tahoe, Jackson Hole, Whistler and Lake Louise, but would not be averse to revisiting any of them.

 

[Jonni]

I would hit up Summit County in Colorado while you are on your trip. Whether you go to Breck, Copper, A-Basin or Keystone they would definitely be a great place to stop by on your trip.

 

[AHM]

This is easy...........

First: I'd hit SW CO and Tride, CButte, and Silverton if you are advanced skiers (Silverton). Then I would head north to Whitefish MT and ski The Big Mt, and possibly Big Sky and Bridger. After that, I would continue North and hit Fernie (Fernie BC), Whitewater (Nelson BC), Valhalla Powder cats (outside of Nelson, great day cat op with super terrain), Red Mt (Rossland). Then continue North and hit Panorama (Invermere BC), Kicking Horse (Golden BC). Then back to some cat skiing at Selkirk Wilderness, Mustang Powder, or White Grizzley. Then head to Kelowna BC and Big White, Kamloops BC and Sun Peaks, and maybe stop in at Silverstar in Vernon. Canada is easy, no reservations needed and the interior is just a great place to ski with all kinds of options. I have hit all of these and they are excellent.AHM

 

[NYDrew]

I'm a bit of an adventurer, and I don't know much about out west so I am going to suggest what I would do with an AWD car and 3 monthes.


I would try to ski in every state that has skiing. I guess I would start out west in the early season. Hit up the southern ski areas during peak season (florida if you lucky on weather), then cruise up north to home and cruise accross the central regions at the end of peak season (michigan and such). Finish up the season in colorado.

Of course to finish this off, you would have to at some point fly to alaska and hawaii (if they get snow that year) and by the end of the season you should be able to say that you have skiied every ski state in one season.

Thats just what I would do.

 

[Geoff]

3 months.... hmmmm.

Presuming natural snow lined up with my travel plans, I'd start south where it's warmer in January and work my way north. I'd stick with smaller ski areas where the costs are lower and the skiing surface is better.

Ski Santa Fe. A nice little mountain with lots of good advanced terrain that is pretty much ignored by the Texans. I really like the 'city' of Santa Fe and the time off the slopes is as enjoyable as the time making turns. You have endless lodging choices and summer is their high season so everything is steeply discounted.

Taos is a little busier than a true smaller ski area but it has excellent skiing. Casa de las Chimeneas is a really nice in-town place to stay. I'd stay at the Bavarian if I were staying on-mountain.

Wolf Creek. The most natural snow in Colorado. Pagosa Springs blows as a town but the ski area is a real gem. I have no lodging recommendations. I stayed at the Springs Resort. Don't believe the web site. It's a cheap motel room.

Durango. Pretty good ski area with fun terrain. I'd stay in town rather than at the ski area. We stayed at the Strater Hotel which is a restored classic old school hotel.

Crested Butte. Some of the better advanced terrain in Colorado. There's no parking at the ski area so I'd stay slopeside. The town 5 minutes down the road is a nice funky restored mining town. This is somewhat more expensive than the others on my list.

Monarch. My personal favorite ski area in Colorado. It's only 1000' of vertical but has 3 distinct lift pods and tons of good terrain. You'll have to stay 20 minutes down the hill in Salida. I'm going to be there in 10 days looking at land.

That'll chew up the bulk of the January cold weather. Personally, I'd then get a 2+ month condo rental and use a season pass bought at a discount over the summer. I'd probably get something at the bottom of the Cottonwood Canyons and get an AltaBird pass or something in Park City and get a 3-area pass. Aspen would also be tempting but the housing prices are out of sight.

 

[Razor]

AHM, Geoff

Some great suggestions. It's interesting that you both recommended non-glitzy areas. We are skiers first and the areas you mentioned are right up our alley. AHM: how did you arrive at your choices? We love Canada. In fact, I was researching Nelson a while back as a possible retirement place. Geoff: We've never skied at the CO areas you mentioned, but people we know who have echo your sentiments. If you're looking for a place out there to invest, check out Leadville. Phelps-Dodge is spending $250 million to reopen a mine there that's been closed for 20 odd years, and the town is making a major committment to tourism. Plus people priced out of Summit County and the area around Vail are looking at Leadville as a cheaper alternative. There's also some giant development planned for the Wolf Creek area. Thanks for your input.

 

[Geoff]

Some great suggestions. It's interesting that you both recommended non-glitzy areas. We are skiers first and the areas you mentioned are right up our alley. AHM: how did you arrive at your choices? We love Canada. In fact, I was researching Nelson a while back as a possible retirement place. Geoff: We've never skied at the CO areas you mentioned, but people we know who have echo your sentiments. If you're looking for a place out there to invest, check out Leadville. Phelps-Dodge is spending $250 million to reopen a mine there that's been closed for 20 odd years, and the town is making a major committment to tourism. Plus people priced out of Summit County and the area around Vail are looking at Leadville as a cheaper alternative. There's also some giant development planned for the Wolf Creek area. Thanks for your input.

Leadville is still too close to Denver for my liking. Personally, I won't ever again plan a trip to anywhere in the I-70 belt. The cheap season passes and all the uphill capacity they've added has wrecked the skiing surface. I now have a 2-hour rule. If you can get from downtown Denver to a ski resort, I won't go there other than midweek day trips when I happen to be in Denver on business. For some reason, Salt Lake City locals don't ski as much as the 2 million metro-Denver transplants from California.

I've been following the Wolf Creek debacle closely. I doubt it'll get out of the courts for years. The likely outcome is a development that is more in line with the original proposal... a hotel and a hundred condo units.
http://www.friendsofwolfcreek.org/

 

[SkiDork]

Geoff: What is good over at Wolf Creek? I've been perusing the trail map...

 

[dmc]

My dream is to rent a motorhome in Jackson Hole - hit Montana then into Canada to hit all the eastern BC places..

 

[meat]

Leadville is still too close to Denver for my liking. Personally, I won't ever again plan a trip to anywhere in the I-70 belt. The cheap season passes and all the uphill capacity they've added has wrecked the skiing surface. I now have a 2-hour rule. If you can get from downtown Denver to a ski resort, I won't go there other than midweek day trips when I happen to be in Denver on business. For some reason, Salt Lake City locals don't ski as much as the 2 million metro-Denver transplants from California.

I've been following the Wolf Creek debacle closely. I doubt it'll get out of the courts for years. The likely outcome is a development that is more in line with the original proposal... a hotel and a hundred condo units.
http://www.friendsofwolfcreek.org/

Thats how I felt when I lived in Denver, big pain to get to the ski areas, had to wait in traffic forever. Summit County doesn't get much snow either and everybody thinks they are a big hot shot skier even when they are not, don't like the vibe. I think summit county is way overrated, so resorty and probably one of the worst areas to ski in the west. I would much rather ski in Northern Vt.

for a fantasy trip:
I would really like to Heli/Cat ski the big mountains in Alaska, they look like none other, Alaska is sick in general. There are a lot of places in BC I would like to hit too, Whistler is the only place i've skied before which is awesome. I would probably also hit Mt. Baker cuz they get so much snow and It looks like a cool hill. an insane trip would be to drive up the coast starting in Tahoe and working your way north hitting areas in oregon, washington, BC, and ending in Alaska.

 

[SkiDog]

I think summit county is way overrated, so resorty and probably one of the worst areas to ski in the west. I would much rather ski in Northern Vt.

I know I really cant stand all the "snooty" people at A-Basin...oh and yeah the terrain and conditions at A-Basin are horrible......they hardly get ANY snow...they only made it til June 6th this season.. horrible I tell ya... ;-)

I'm messing with ya...really though that area does have some pretty good terrain and all of its CLOSE....thats more than I can say for Northern VT....sure you get some annoying people, but they're everywhere....want less annoyances...hit copper or the basin...

My "fantasy" trip would be Chile....pretty much anywhere that I was allowed to ski...

M

 

[meat]

I know I really cant stand all the "snooty" people at A-Basin...oh and yeah the terrain and conditions at A-Basin are horrible......they hardly get ANY snow...they only made it til June 6th this season.. horrible I tell ya... ;-)

I'm messing with ya...really though that area does have some pretty good terrain and all of its CLOSE....thats more than I can say for Northern VT....sure you get some annoying people, but they're everywhere....want less annoyances...hit copper or the basin...

My "fantasy" trip would be Chile....pretty much anywhere that I was allowed to ski...

M

SkiDog, I never said it was horrible, just not as good of a region as other places i've been out west. My point about the people is that everyone flocks to Colorado to ski and thats pretty much it. it just annoyed me more and more the longer I was there that a lot of skiers thought they were hot sh*t (never said they were "snooty"). living in the NEK there is a lot more in the culture other than skiing and the people and the towns have more of a reality and character in them, I missed New England the longer I was in Colorado.

as for A-Basin, cool area, skied there a lot one of the years I was there, had a pow day there on may 20th! it also gets rediculously packed with lack of up hill capacity and yes its close, but does it matter when your in traffic for 3 hours every weekend trying to get back home? If thats what you like, cool, its just not for me. Copper is amatuer hour compared to squaw, jackson, whistler or most other places i've been out west IMO. I live 15 minutes to Jay so yeah it is a lot closer for me, and I've skied much deeper pow there too.

quick fact: A Basin is the only mountain I've ever puked on top of, combination of hangover and being at 13,000 ft really sent the chunks a flyin.

 

[SkiDog]

Copper is amatuer hour compared to squaw, jackson, whistler or most other places i've been out west IMO.

quick fact: A Basin is the only mountain I've ever puked on top of, combination of hangover and being at 13,000 ft really sent the chunks a flyin.

Agreed Copper cant hold a candle to Jackson Hole..thats my fav..I was just trying to prove a point that Summit county, while it may be busy and have lots of people with lofty aspirations about their skill level, its still a pretty sweet spot to ski in...again though...Jackson, Whistler...they ROCK....no doubt....

I also tend to agree that New England ski areas/towns have much more "charm"...thats pretty much the reason im moving towards the White Mtn region...mattter of fact I think I may put an offer in on a house in Lancaster...

My puke at altitude experience was, in fact, courtesy of Jackson Hole WY.. same..hangover and altitude..

I wasn't trying to rile you up with my post....no offense meant..

M

 

[Geoff]

Agreed Copper cant hold a candle to Jackson Hole..thats my fav..I was just trying to prove a point that Summit county, while it may be busy and have lots of people with lofty aspirations about their skill level, its still a pretty sweet spot to ski in...again though...Jackson, Whistler...they ROCK....no doubt....

I also tend to agree that New England ski areas/towns have much more "charm"...thats pretty much the reason im moving towards the White Mtn region...mattter of fact I think I may put an offer in on a house in Lancaster...

My puke at altitude experience was, in fact, courtesy of Jackson Hole WY.. same..hangover and altitude..

I wasn't trying to rile you up with my post....no offense meant..

M

What I was saying is that I'd never pick it as a destination. I'm in Denver maybe 10 times per year so I've had plenty of front range days. Midweek, it's fine. On weekends? Fagetaboutit.

If you go to Aspen, the weekend is their slow time since it's changeover for all the ski weekers. Places like Monarch and Wolf Creek are never particularly busy. Why subject yourself to New England-style weekend crowding on I-70 when you don't have to.

 

[AHM]

Razor: How I came up with my choices

Some great suggestions. It's interesting that you both recommended non-glitzy areas. We are skiers first and the areas you mentioned are right up our alley. AHM: how did you arrive at your choices? We love Canada. In fact, I was researching Nelson a while back as a possible retirement place. Geoff: We've never skied at the CO areas you mentioned, but people we know who have echo your sentiments. If you're looking for a place out there to invest, check out Leadville. Phelps-Dodge is spending $250 million to reopen a mine there that's been closed for 20 odd years, and the town is making a major committment to tourism. Plus people priced out of Summit County and the area around Vail are looking at Leadville as a cheaper alternative. There's also some giant development planned for the Wolf Creek area. Thanks for your input.

Razor: I came up with my choices by skiing and being a skier. Not bragging, but I have pretty much skied everywhere--all of Geoffs CO areas, in fact every area in CO. My view of CO, very little actual snow. Yep, know about the WC totals, but the place still skis pretty short. Backcountry is excellent however. CB--really gets very little snow in the end. Again, some decent expert, but nothing that is as crazy as the CB crowd would like you to think. Can't stand summit county as it is "fly paper" for standard vacationing skiers, pretty genericized, and crowded. SW CO has its merits and Tride, Ouray (great town for hitting red mountain pass backcountry) and Silverton stand out as the gems. Be prep'd for some hiking at Silverton.

I am targetting Nelson or Golden for retirement. Why: best mix of lift served pow and unreal backcountry. I ski BC all the time (and I mean all the time), so my view is that it has the best combo of pow, price, and people. I also ski tour quite a bit and going more and more. I can easily see 250,000 verts of touring a year pretty soon here, and Canada offers unbelievable touring (Rogers Pass and all the ACC huts).

So I reco'd Canada because I think it offers a great selection of hills, most will be absolutely empty, and typically most will have great snow. They will all have great people, funky inexpensive towns and if it dumps on Mon - Fri, it'll be totally empty. Each area mentioned I have skied multiple times, the cat ski places I have been to (or am hitting this season). I believe you should hit some cat ops as this will just be enjoyable skiing.

Getting a bird or Alta or Park pass--no thanks. Not as much deep as BC and not as much variety. Those are my thoughts.AHM

 

[meat]

Agreed Copper cant hold a candle to Jackson Hole..thats my fav..I was just trying to prove a point that Summit county, while it may be busy and have lots of people with lofty aspirations about their skill level, its still a pretty sweet spot to ski in...again though...Jackson, Whistler...they ROCK....no doubt....

I also tend to agree that New England ski areas/towns have much more "charm"...thats pretty much the reason im moving towards the White Mtn region...mattter of fact I think I may put an offer in on a house in Lancaster...

My puke at altitude experience was, in fact, courtesy of Jackson Hole WY.. same..hangover and altitude..

I wasn't trying to rile you up with my post....no offense meant..

M

No sweat SkiDog, sorry if I came off as an ass, just trying to get my point across.

good luck trying to get a place in Lancaster, wow, it will be a lot different than Jersey. you'll be able to hit new hampshire areas and N. VT areas with realtive ease, and with NO traffic!

 

[SkiDog]

No sweat SkiDog, sorry if I came off as an ass, just trying to get my point across.

good luck trying to get a place in Lancaster, wow, it will be a lot different than Jersey. you'll be able to hit new hampshire areas and N. VT areas with realtive ease, and with NO traffic!

You totally didn't come off any way and im a sarcastic eff...so.......anyway...I am totally psyched to be moving up that way Lancaster is such a quaint little town and not terribly far from Littleton which is slightly bigger, but it will be quite the adjustment. Still slightly worried about the job market, but im a network admin so I hope I will find something...I think we have found a place, but am waiting on some questions to be answered...so we'll see...looked at 12 houses on Saturday past...in the POURING RAIN.. wasn't fun..but like I said..I think we may have found the "one" and hope to be there by end of this year..

anyway..thanks for the well wishes..and again..no harm intended..I myself happen to like Summit Cty, however I do have a free place to stay right in Dillon...makes things EASY to say the least...

M

 

[loafer89]

Warren and I really enjoyed Mammoth, and we only got to ski 50% of what the mountain had to offer. All of my west coast skiing has been confined to May-September, so I really would like to get to ski some areas there in the winter. Mammoth is in a stunningly beautiful part of the country, but it is very isolated from the rest of California during the winter as Sonora and Tioga passes are closed from October-June/July.

My favorite ski area on the west coast is Mount Batchelor, followed by Aspen Highlands in the Rockies, with A_Basin a very close second.

Next February I have a business trip in Tucson and if the snow gods finally cooperate for Arizona I would like to ski Mount Lemmon and the Arizona Snow Bowl afterwards.