Has anybody not skied the west???

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Hey All,

I was wondering if anybody on here has yet to ski out west. I skied for 8 years until my first trip out west which was to Whistler with my Dad when I was 19. Then I went to Crested Butte and Jackson Hole with my ex and lived out in Montana for two seasons. If you've yet to ski out west what's the reason??? It's nice to be so close to skiing here in the east but I don't think I ever go a day without thinking about wide open bowls filled with powder...dry rocky mountain air..and long long runs...Since I'm stuck here in PA..I have to keep squirreling away money for future trips to the Rockies..

 

[frozencorn]

Made it out in 2000 for the first time, a side-trip to Heavenly during a San Diego-LA-San Francisco road trip up Rt. 1 with some pals. It was Thanksgiving weekend though, and the snow wasn't that great. Nice views, but not exactly the best first sale for West skiing.

Three years later, friends moved to Colorado, and I made the trip every year from '03 until last year when they moved to London. Damn them. So, I was 29 the first time I really experienced the bowls and whatnot. I got hooked, but unfortunately, cash and children prevent it from happening this year.

While I'll defend East skiing to the death, I'm always a tad depressed coming back from those trips on the first day, particuarly if I took an extra few days to ski here. It's always like....uh, why do I live here again?

 

[2knees]

i have not not skied the west. I have skied the west less then i would not have liked not to though.

 

[JD]

2 days at A basin hoping for spring corn and skiing dust on crust.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

It's always like....uh, why do I live here again?

Same here...when I'm at Jackson Hole and people ask me where I'm from and I say,"Pennsylvania"....the reaction is always like..uhhh that sucks. I think it's way easier for people to go from the East Coast to out west than vice versa. In April of 2004 when I drove back to PA after 18 months living in Bozeman MT..it was so tough to leave the mountains behind. If I ever have kids..I better make alot of $$$$ because I simply wouldn't want to go an entire year without a trip out west.

Alot of the people that live out west get so jaded. 6 inches of new snow to them is dust on crust..6 inches to me seems like a foot. Oh well..Stowe is off to a better start than Jackson Hole..one thing is that I'm going to try and book ski trips out west more last minute based on if there's alot of snow..Going all the way to the Rockies to ski a couple WRODs is a real letdown..

 

[danny p]

i haven't been out west yet...not sure when that is gonna happen.

 

[Greg]

Not yet. Someday once home life settles down a bit and the whole family is skiing. Maybe a guys trip will happen before then too.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Never skied out west

 

[WJenness]

Haven't been out west yet. Only been skiing a year and a half.

Might try to set something up for next year.

-w

 

[andrec10]

First time skiing out west was Summer skiing on Mt Hood in 1993! I was there for work. Skied Mt Hood meadows the following year in Early December with great conditions gratis work again. The again in 2000. Made it to Park City in 2003 and Whistler in 2007. Had been skiing for 20 years before I made it out West.

 

[JerseyJoey]

Never skied anywhere but Snowshed at Killington. That's some gnar for sure.

 

[ERJ-145CA]

I've never skied out west yet either but I hope to get there one day, maybe I'll get a long Salt Lake City or Colorado Springs layover one day this winter.

 

[campgottagopee]

Nope---I have skied in western NY though

 

[gmcunni]

been lucky enough to go a few times:

steamboat + vail 25 years ago (damn i'm old)
alta a couple of times (brother lives out there)
the canyons once (visting brother)
snow basin and powder mountain last year (family vacation)
alpine meadows once (awesome place)

 

[Rambo]

What I do is schedule a weeks vacation for the 1st week in April and ski Whiteface, Gore and Killington. If the weather breaks just right - like 60 to 70 degree days with the sun pounding down and nights down to like 30 degrees so they can groom the mountain. Spring skiing in the East can be unbelievable. Corn snow and tshirt skiing. No crowds or liftlines. Seems most people ski in January and February when it is below 0 degrees and have no idea whatsoever how great spring skiing can be in the east.

After so many days of fantastic spring skiing in the east, I prefer to save my money and stay closer to home. Never been out west.

 

[frozencorn]

Now Utah, that I've never done....on my list. As is JH. And Taos. And Squaw.

Hit Tahoe for a second time two years ago, and was stoked to hit Kirkwood for the first time. I was less stoked when I tore my ACL a week before the trip. Had to sit in the lodge all day in total whiteout conditions. Talk about your teases.

So, of course, Kirkwood is on the list too. Again.

 

[gorgonzola]

nevr...my rents never skiid in their adult lives, no real oppurtunities during college and after college none of my friend really were into skiing that much so i couldn't convince 'em to go - then got married, kids etc. mrs snowbunski started skiing about 10 years ago. a couple a trips were planned but never happened becuase of kids, house projects, money, whatever - and mrs snowbunski's a little intimidated by the big mts. i feel a little redeemed though i did ski in austria on the the glacier in kaprun, spring '80 on a knee deep powder day!

 

[gus]

Alaska Range
Mt. Baker
JH
Grand Targhee
Copper Mt.
Berthoud Pass
Red Lodge, MT

 

[lerops]

Never skied there. Started skiing a few years ago. My first trip would be last year, but then had to cancel after tearing the ACL. Will try to take a trip out west this year.

 

[gorgonzola]

it cracks me up, i have a few friends that go out west every few years or so and love to tell me all about their trips and they really won't ski the east coast, blah, blah, blah - the few times i've skii'd with them they're like mid level intermediates at best - yea i'm a little jealous!!!!!