For those who don't/haven't skied out west.

[abc]

Play hookey from work a few days even this winter and you'll see what I mean.

What does playing hooky buys you?

Sure, shorter lift line and quieter slopes. But it still takes snow to have good skiing...

 

[steamboat1]

Listen I don't know where you ski in the east but up north where I go skiing hasn't been bad at all this year. Just take a look at some of the trip reports others have posted on this site. I have several powder days already this year. Snow is snow no matter where it falls. Amazing what even 3"-4" overnight can do.

 

[abc]

Listen I don't know where you ski in the east but up north where I go skiing hasn't been bad at all this year. Just take a look at some of the trip reports others have posted on this site. I have several powder days already this year. Snow is snow no matter where it falls. Amazing what even 3"-4" overnight can do.

But that's exactly my point! The standard of what's "good".

3-4" on a natural base? Hero snow. But 3-4" on a rain re-frozen base is just dust on crust. (unless, of course, it's really west 3-4", but then it'll simply turns into slick ice the next day)

 

[JimmyPete]

What does playing hookey buy you

What does playing hooky buys you?

Sure, shorter lift line and quieter slopes. But it still takes snow to have good skiing...

Try it , The East will never be the West, but on a weekday I've had some fantastic conditions at Whiteface, Killington and like I said even Hunter. Actually I've even had some great weekend days in the East and a even few bad days in the West. In the words of Tony Soprano "it is what it is"

 

[JimmyPete]

Compare to what? To last week or next week around VT?

Even though this is probably one of the worst in the Rockies, the western hard pack didn't come close to the eastern ice pack!

While last year saw a lot of snow in the east, the Rockies got a lot of POWDER! Not just anything white, but dry, fluffy blower stuff.

The more I go west, the more deals I found. Maybe I didn't know all the best deals in the northeast. But I suspect the same for many of you when it comes to scoring deals out west. The numbers you guys give for going out west, I never pay that kind of money for air, lodging or lift. Add them up altogether, I get to go out west 2-3 times a season without breaking the bank!

Maybe we all forgot about some fantastic conditions last year, I doubt if anybody flies east from Colorado to ski, but hey their bagels suck and I can ski there and here.

 

[abc]

Try it ,

I had.

Not impressed. I've already found my way to avoid crowds so no need to take a work day off (unlike 90% of the population, I ENJOY my work)

The East will never be the West,

I'm not looking for western condition in the east. I just strongly prefer natural snow over the man-made ones.

 

[Cheese]

Just take a look at some of the trip reports others have posted on this site. I have several powder days already this year. Snow is snow no matter where it falls. Amazing what even 3"-4" overnight can do.

I might need to edit some of my trip reports. Although I've found 1-2" of snow over corduroy and 3-5" off-piste and claimed "Powder Day!", I wouldn't confuse this with a good year. Last year I was skiing boot top to knee deep powder at Mittersil after a 4-6" dump. Obviously 6" isn't boot top but the difference is there was lingering old powder from previous storms under the fresh that would offer a few deeper powder turns in spots. This year Mittersil isn't even able to open.

 

[JimmyPete]

I was hanging/conversing with an older dude (late 60's) this week in the Bear parking lot at K for awhile (not a heck of a lot older than me). Asked me where I stay & I told him. He said he comes up & has been staying for years at Turn of River Lodge. They charge him (alone) $150 for a private room with bath for 5 nights (Sun.-Thurs.). Said he gets a nice breakfast too.

Hostel Tevere I've heard good things about over the internet. Never spoke with anyone in person who's actually stayed there. Supposed to have a nice little bar & restaurant also.

C'mon dude 47 is not old. Wish I were that age again.

As for passes for VT. you have to buy well ahead of time. I posted the info back in Oct. about purchasing them in the "skiing on the cheap" thread on this site. 3 coupons for a buck 25 or 5 for 2 hunch. I think my season weekday only pass for K cost $454 with tax (early purchase price). The difference in price for me to go by myself or with someone else to split gas for a week is maybe 50 bucks. What the hell is 50 bucks?

Sorry guys by the time you hit 47 your Hostel and couch day's should be over. American exceptionalism has no sense of humor for Alimony and Prison records.

 

[JimmyPete]

I had.

Not impressed. I've already found my way to avoid crowds so no need to take a work day off (unlike 90% of the population, I ENJOY my work)


I'm not looking for western condition in the east. I just strongly prefer natural snow over the man-made ones.

Most of us aren't that discriminating, I was out in Colo mid December and 1/2 of their coverage was manmade. I know a few guys who swear by MRG but sometimes I think that's reverse snobbery , One MRG guy I know just got back from Park City he liked skiing Deer Valley the most. Counterintuitive? didn't have the nerve to tell him Deer Valley is the king of Western Snow Making. Heard Hunter's Irv Slutsky say he'd much rather have snow in NYC rather than in his parking lots, he could make a better product, and that gives him free advertising. Course you still need cold and low humidity for good manmade, This winter has been deficient in both and even if you get a good night look a half week a head and all your $ and work will be for naught. Sorry Global Warming deniers but you are starting to suck in my book.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Sorry Global Warming deniers but you are starting to suck in my book.

It's foolish to base that belief on the snowfall totals from just a mere few months ( literally), but were we all to do so, I imagine that the "rest of the world" that is currently getting pounded with snow and freezing temps might disagree.

 

[AdironRider]

The Euros have been getting creamed. Same with Japan. Eh it happens sometimes.

 

[snoseek]

this argument=old therefore i offer some stoke from today.

Wjenness is the subject of the shots. He is on a plane right now but now knows what its all about!

 

[abc]

One MRG guy I know just got back from Park City he liked skiing Deer Valley the most. Counterintuitive? didn't have the nerve to tell him Deer Valley is the king of Western Snow Making.

Too funny!

Of the 4 days I skied at Park City last week, the one I enjoyed the least were Deer Valley!

Most of us aren't that discriminating, I was out in Colo mid December and 1/2 of their coverage was manmade.

Well, that's purely personal preference. If I don't have other interest and just want to get out, I might be a bit more tolerant of crappy snow. But I'd rather do other things than trying to fight the holiday crowd on icy surfaces. I can control my destination but I don't have control of the yahoo who's snowplowing down the slick black groomer!

I'll wait till moguls form, which happens a lot when there's natural snow. Then the yahoos all gone to whatever left of the groomers.

 

[kingslug]

Snowbird, UT Jan. 2011.

Nah they never get ice..

That hardpack stayed underneath for months, just as it does here.

It wasn't till later in the season when they got dumped on regularly that conditions improved.

And I found some of that..at 30MPH..two of us went flying after hitting it..but it dumped all week and covered it up..this was the week I took the avi course, digging pits we found this pretty quick...

 

[kingslug]

Sorry guys by the time you hit 47 your Hostel and couch day's should be over. American exceptionalism has no sense of humor for Alimony and Prison records.

Hey for $150.00 for a private room for the week..I'll take it...

 

[drjeff]

If you're thinking about it, get out here to Utah NOW!!!!!!!! The snow machine is going off big right now! Over 2 feet in LCC the last 3+ days and it's supposed to absolutely puke for the next 36-48 hours with well over 3 more feet coming!! With the winds and the condition of the snowpack and what it will take to blast stuff open, there very well could be plenty of newly opened fresh on Saturday and maybe even beyond.

Even here in Park City where I am now, there's been a solid foot+ the last few days and likely a good 18-24+ on the way! Gotta go find me a snorkel!

 

[snoseek]

Were pretty much working on 4 feet since monday and still coming strong in Tahoe. I finally get what this place is all about...

 

[kingslug]

Well we didn't get that much here in Big Sky but the skiing is pretty damn good and I always wanted to check this place out..the vertical is killer,huge long runs..endless mogul runs...and the peak is freaky steep..

 

[drjeff]

A good 10-14" all across the Wasatch front last night (Alta FINALLY has a base of 100" this season now ) clear right now at 7:30AM, weather radar shows another front heading across the Great Salt Lake right now that's supposed to put down another few inches this AM, and then another much more significant front moving in around dinner time tonight that is supposed to bring in another 12-18" tonight!

 

[MadPadraic]

Just booked a trip to Co for march.

But back to the original question, my main reason not to go would be travel time getting funny looks at work for taking too much winter vacation.