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

[deadheadskier]

See my sig.

you don't have one :lol:

 

[abc]

you don't have one :lol:

Sorry my bad, never entered it. Suburb of NYC.

Yes, it takes nearly a full tank to get up to Stowe/Killington. Add the daily driving around from motel to mountain, the second tank doesn't get me home.

 

[Riverskier]

I would love to ski out West, but right now I have a non-skiing wife, a 19 month old, and a lack of funds. With my season's pass (broken out by avergae cost per day) I can ski for about $20 a day, plus $10 in gas, so $30 total. Usually a couple beers, so my cost per day tops out around a whopping $40. Of course my pass was paiud for back in May, so really only $20 out of pocket. A little over an hour to Sunday River, so day trips are easy. I have a friend with a seasonal rental at Sugarloaf this year, so will probably get in a couple overnights with the same cost per day as my day trips.

I am sure there are some good deals out West, but certainly not even remotely comparable to what it costs me to ski here! When I am older, have more money, and my daughter can ski with me, I will definitely take some destination ski trips, but for now I am happy with what I have here.

 

[abc]

The biggest diving line is where one lives. For Kingslug the thread starter, he lives in Long Island! So it's a very long drive to get to anywhere that has snow. So he's assertion of flying out west vs driving up north would not have any bearing for those who lives 30 minutes from a local hill!

 

[AdironRider]

Jackson has incredible conditions, it was a little thin a month ago, but they got 8 feet in 8 days when i got here, it was a little Eastastic for a little while, but they've been getting snow almost nightly, 6 inches new yesterday, everything is open. Targhee and Snow King also have incredible conditions, you can stay at Super 8 for $170 a week

Now come out when its actually good by our standards and you'll think you found god.

 

[kingslug]

The biggest diving line is where one lives. For Kingslug the thread starter, he lives in Long Island! So it's a very long drive to get to anywhere that has snow. So he's assertion of flying out west vs driving up north would not have any bearing for those who lives 30 minutes from a local hill!

Yup..but this season...I would imagine that even those that live near a decent mountain need a powder fix..

I'm going to start researching European areas that don't use the Euro..but then again, the onslaught that Europe is experiencing might not occur again ...this was and still is the year to go..if you can get there.

 

[steamboat1]

I live in NYC & also have a long drive to get to central /northern VT. I skied 4 days this week at K ( I have a pass). I went up with $300 in my pocket & came home with $150. I still have to pay $72 for 3 nights lodging. Don't think I'd be able to ski out west for anywhere near that price. If I opted to ski anywhere else in VT. the most it would cost me is $41 which is prepaid also (VT. Pass) & could ski Sugarbush for $30 with an employee discount ticket. Just saying.

 

[x10003q]

See my sig.


That's exactly my situation: I don't have friends/family to stay with in the northeast.


That's why I gave that particular example. If I want to SKI, I go where it's got snow and is cheap. I do go to places I have to pay to motel. It cost more naturally. Those are "ski vacations".

Here's what I paid 2 years ago at SLC:

Flight: $350
Motel: $45 x 9 = $405 (out in the morning and back on a redeye)
Lift ticket $50 x 8 (1 FREE Part City Quick Start and 8 more for 9 day skiing)
Rental car: $0 (motel near bus stop)
Gas: 0
Food: similar to skiing northeast (actually a bit less but not as good quality).

The same week in northeast, say K or Stowe (which I never do a full week):

Motel: $800~1000 (at >$100/night)
Lift Ticket: $90 x 9 = $800
Gas: >$100

I just want to be clear - I would rather ski out west. Your lodging and lift prices for the east are too high.

I have been looking for a Sun-Fri at Killington for the 1st week in March. The Red Roof in in Rutland is 209 for 1 bed, the Grey Bonnet is 316, and the Kill/Pico Motor Inn is 345. All include breakfast. You can ski pico 2 for 1(49) midweek or deals from liftopia for Killington (59-70) or even Sugarbush(3day 133). This setup puts me in a similar price range to your SLC prices for lift and lodging. It is still cheaper to ski the east. I am driving out of north NJ so I am in a similar area to you.

Not trying to be a wise guy - are there charges for the bus up to the ski areas from SLC? How about getting to and from the airports? When I have been out west it cost me to park my car at the airport (if I can't get a ride) and depending on the package there have been separate charges to get me to and from the resort.

 

[AdironRider]

To be fair as well, Ive found western resorts to be a bit more expensive on a lift ticket basis.

Not sure where the 50 dollar window rates are cheap as hell for out here.

Keep in mind Vail the Beav, Breck, Squaw, Jackson, Telluride, Aspen and more are all 90+.

Where back east charges that much? Killington and Stowe during holiday periods?

 

[abc]

I have been looking for a Sun-Fri at Killington for the 1st week in March. The Red Roof in in Rutland is 209 for 1 bed, the Grey Bonnet is 316, and the Kill/Pico Motor Inn is 345. All include breakfast. You can ski pico 2 for 1(49) midweek or deals from liftopia for Killington (59-70) or even Sugarbush(3day 133). This setup puts me in a similar price range to your SLC prices for lift and lodging. It is still cheaper to ski the east. I am driving out of north NJ so I am in a similar area to you.

I don't have the "luxury" of skiing mid-week

(I "could", but I'd be looking at losing probably 30% of my income, which works out to be a whole lot more expensive than even the weekend lift rate in NE! )

The cost I quoted were 9 days of skiing, which includes 2 weekends.

Get a number for the northeast on that same time frame, you'd be surprised.

More over, Pico is small for a week. Canyons? Not so small.

(this is pretty timely because my buddy at Park City asked me what the skiable acreage of the largest mountain in the east. Turns out big K is "only" 700 acres! Canyon, which isn't exactly big by western standard, has about 1000 acres)

Not trying to be a wise guy - are there charges for the bus up to the ski areas from SLC? How about getting to and from the airports? When I have been out west it cost me to park my car at the airport (if I can't get a ride) and depending on the package there have been separate charges to get me to and from the resort.

No cost for the bus if you have a package, most motels have. From the airport to the motel, there're regional shuttles. Doesn't cost much. Keep in mind, it's no that far from the airport to the mountain.

There's no wise-guying going on here. Just that for solo skier, particularly the desk jockey like me, the west actually working out to be no more expensive and you get better skiing as a side benefit.

Now, don't even get me started on skiing the Alps. 2-3 years ago, I did a week at $1300 (sharing room) and $1500 my own room in Switzerland! Trying to beat that in the NE? It kills me when people say they can't afford skiing Europe. For singletons like me, it's a actually bargain!

 

[kingslug]

Alta 6 day pass is $348.00
Extended stay hotel is about 50 to 60 per night..not the greatest place but its close.
Bus is $6.00 roundtrip.
Car from Fox rental is about 30.00 per day, double that for an SUV which you might need if it pukes..the road up is dangerous..or you can rent the cheapest car and take the bus from the park and ride at the base.
I go to Alta because its the best deal, usualy the best snow and very easy to get to...and you can ski Snowbird with an upgrade pass..5000 acres..I'll take it...
In April, Snowbird has great deals for the Cliff lodge right on the mountain. $800.00 for 4 nights and lift tix..I split it last year..$400.00 no one can beat that and airfare is lower...
There are many options..as well as many options here...I just like it there.
Oh, this latest deal I got is from Diamond Dogs Ski club..$1640 for airfare, hotel on the mountain and 6 days lift tix to Big Sky Montana..they do not have a house or any rules, its just a trip club with some happy hours in NYC if you want to go..they do about 4 to 5 trips a season...

 

[ScottySkis]

You can get super pass to ski the four slc ski ares with it and include ski bus.

 

[abc]

To be fair as well, Ive found western resorts to be a bit more expensive on a lift ticket basis.

Not sure where the 50 dollar window rates are cheap as hell for out here.

Keep in mind Vail the Beav, Breck, Squaw, Jackson, Telluride, Aspen and more are all 90+.

Where back east charges that much? Killington and Stowe during holiday periods?

All the resort (with exception of JH) are in Colorado. It's almost like saying New York is expensive by using New York City as an example of average prices.

More over, you can get an Epic pass which works for Vail/Beav and practically all of Summit county for what? $499 (I think). Ski all 9 days of a week long trip, it's $55 a day! Or you can also split it into two long weekends for the same.

 

[AdironRider]

You are seriously stretching it if you need to buy a pass to make it cheaper. And since when are their 9 days in a week? With travel days, etc your looking at more of a two week trip. Not exactly cheap or feasible for most people to take a ski trip on a whim. There are also wierd restrictions of getting the cheap Epic passes, cheap loveland tix, etc. Lets not forget opportunity costs either. Thats lost vaca time when you can take weekend trips up north.

Im still not buying that lift tickets are cheaper out west. Ive been all over the place and have paid more on a consistent basis than I ever did back East.

 

[Smellytele]

One of the free tickets comes with the flight. Park City Quick Start offers a free day of skiing on the day of the flight. You just have to get there early enough to get enough skiing in. I did. Leave 5 in the morning, got there at 10, on the slope by 12. A good 4+ hrs skiing in.

I've rarely been able to find lift tickets in the northeast for less than $50. Not at the larger mountains anyway. Out west, I'm able to find plenty of them around $50, HUGE mountains!

I guess it matters where you live in the east on how much it costs. for those who live near NYC costs jumps up to get the good ski areas. I live within 2 hours of just about any ski area in NH and VT. I am of the Billski school of cheap skiing (actually just picked up tix for Stratton for 27.50 a piece today instead of the 76 it usually costs on weekdays).

 

[snoseek]

I'm actually considering taking my third trip this month EAST to Utah. Considering I carry two season passes here it seems so foolish but the gas is always greener right. This next cycle looks GOOD.

Either way It looks cheaper to take the Atrack from Reno to SLC as its 650 miles each way. I've made that drive four times in February and it kinda sucks. From there it would be a three day super pass which takes care of busses/light rail also. It works out to like 60 bucks a day. Utah is expensive season pass but cheap day tickets.

Also low key areas in the West are cheap as hell, through out tons of deals. If you're paying 60 bucks at Kirkwood/Loveland/Abasin/Mt Rose/ you're definately doing it wrong. Premium areas are premium pricing.

 

[AdironRider]

Not sure on Kwood or Mt Rose, but I do know the cheap loveland tix need to be bought in person, usually before November. They deliberately do this to prevent the tourons from getting them.

 

[abc]

And since when are their 9 days in a week?

Since I graduate from college!

Fly out Friday after work. Arrive 12 o'clock typically. By the time I got in, and hit the sack, it's about 1 to 2 depends.

Ski Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

If I counted correctly, that's 9 days!!!

Fly out either 5 o'clock flight and arrive 12 midnight here. Or fly redeye and arrive in the morning.

I just did that 3 days ago and will be doing it in a couple of weeks.

Yes, 9 days of skiing with only a week off work.

Not exactly cheap or feasible for most people to take a ski trip on a whim.

That's the point you're missing. You don't do it "on a whim"!

If you do, you'll be paying through your nose for the $90 tickets at Stowe, or Vail.

 

[abc]

Not sure on Kwood or Mt Rose, but I do know the cheap loveland tix need to be bought in person, usually before November. They deliberately do this to prevent the tourons from getting them.

I do know the Loveland ticket do NOT need to be bought in person. I had it 2 years ago. 4 pack for $129 (or was it $119?).

But if you can be there in person, it was $119 (or $109?) because you don't have to pay for them to ship it.

Let's be clear here. Some of us ski out west as a vacation.So one may not be looking at every penny. I do half of my trips that way. But when I go out there to SKI, I pinch every penny and often succeed in beating the price in VT.

Where back east charges that much? Killington and Stowe during holiday periods?

How much is Whiteface day ticket?

 

[snoseek]

Not sure on Kwood or Mt Rose, but I do know the cheap loveland tix need to be bought in person, usually before November. They deliberately do this to prevent the tourons from getting them.

Yeah the really cheap 4 packs are geared towards locals. The grocery stores sell discounted tickets along with multiple ski shops, it's around or a little less than 50. They also have 2-1 deals to copper/wp/monarch but that is useless if someone is flying in.

Hell they're selling squaw/alpine two packs for 98 bucks this week online. Then again they're pretty desperate...