How many heading west this winter?

[SkiDog]

OK!!! I'm Convinced!!! I'm flying into Denver - Is Breck a good choice? or are there others that might be better deals/better terrain?

Thats right in the heart of Summit County CO...you have Brek, Keystone, and Copper all within a few minutes of each other and then A-Basin is about a half hour up the road...and Vail is no more than 45 min from there....

ENJOY...ill be there mid February myself.

M

 

[RIDEr]

Thats right in the heart of Summit County CO...you have Brek, Keystone, and Copper all within a few minutes of each other and then A-Basin is about a half hour up the road...and Vail is no more than 45 min from there....

ENJOY...ill be there mid February myself.

M

Another great place to go is Monarch. It is a little bit farther of a drive than A-Basin, but has some amazing tree skiing and great hike-able terrain... on your drive back you can hit one of the many hot springs...

 

[tekweezle]

I believe Copper has free Cat Skiing.

 

[SkiDog]

I believe Copper has free Cat Skiing.

$5 last time I was there almost 2 years ago......

I think it may be Keystone that just opened a bunch of new acreage for a guided cat ski op and new "hike to" terrain.

From Keystones web site:

Keystone will open guided snowcat tours/hiking access 278 acres of steep, expert terrain in Independence Bowl December 16. Keystone Adventure Tours cat skiing will provide guided tours to Independence, along with Erickson and Bergman bowls. Independence will also be accessible by hiking for a "backcountry light" experience.


M

 

[Ski Diva]

Heading to Steamboat in early March. My third trip there. Yippeeee!

 

[gores95]

OK!!! I'm Convinced!!! I'm flying into Denver - Is Breck a good choice? or are there others that might be better deals/better terrain?

Yes definitely go for it. Breck is great as are ALL the CO resorts. Just be aware that the base of Breck (and in particular all the Summit County resorts) is like 9000 feet so it might take a day or so to get acclimated to the atlitude.

Check this message board as well...lots of western skiers with local knowledge.

http://forums.epicski.com/forumdisplay.php?f=21

 

[kingslug]

I've been skiing out west for about 7 years and it spoils you for sure. It pays to return to you're favorite areas year after year as it takes that long to know you're way around and learn powder skiing. Some of the areas are so huge that you will never ski the whole place. With between 2 to 4 thousand acres you never get bored. March is a great time as the settled snow depth is huge and covers pretty much everything. I just got back from SLC and they did not have a great base at LCC and BCC. 60 inches doesn't cover the rocks and trees all that well but it was still a blast. You have to see and ski Snowbird to really see what western skiing is all about. Hope Tahoe in Feb is good.

 

[gores95]

I am headed to SLC on 2/2 this year and I just heard that this pattern change next week is great for the East not so great for the West. Long range forecasts these days for the west is sunny and warm for at least the next three weeks. Not panicking for sure but certainly not good news.

I guess I am the kiss of death everywhere I go!!!

 

[tirolerpeter]

Skiing West

OK!!! I'm Convinced!!! I'm flying into Denver - Is Breck a good choice? or are there others that might be better deals/better terrain?

There is great skiing accessible from Denver. But, you can't beat the prices, access, and snow that you will find in the Salt Lake City region. I sold my house in November, and as soon as I recover from some surgery (should be 100% by the end of Feb) I am moving to the SLC area. They are having good snow this year and you have incredible lodging choices. Get a car, stay down in the valley, and ski 5 different mountains on your first trip. PM me and I can give you some lodging tips.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Skiing West

I am headed to SLC on 2/2 this year and I just heard that this pattern change next week is great for the East not so great for the West. Long range forecasts these days for the west is sunny and warm for at least the next three weeks. Not panicking for sure but certainly not good news.

I guess I am the kiss of death everywhere I go!!!

Sunny and warm doesn't mean anything when there is a 60"+ base. In fact, it means you will ski some incredible terrain in beautiful "blue sky" fashion. You will be wise to carry a backpack so that you can strip off the excessive layers that "first timers" inevitably wear. Don't hesitate to hit UT. Altitude trumps temps.

 

[TreeLine]

Hey Everyone, THANKS for all your help and input!

 

[tekweezle]

another tip if you go out west-Hydrate often and invest in a camelback.

 

[Jay Levitt]

Where and how?

I'm a fairly novice skier ("light blue", we call it), and particularly out of shape this year, so I don't want to go skiing in deep powder - just nicer conditions than what we've had here this winter. I've got March 12-19 off, and I'm thinking of heading out West. This is my only vacation this year, so I can splurge a little. I'm a new-school, recreational, pamper-me skier and I'm okay with that.

In my dreams, I'm taking a nonstop from Boston and a pleasant, not-too-long drive to a five-star ski-in/ski-out slopeside resort with a hot tub. The base lodges are recently renovated and not too crowded, the lifts are all superquads, there are plenty of interesting greens and blues with various levels of grooming, and the vistas from the trails are breathtaking.

Where am I going and how do I book it? I've never skied off the east coast before, aside from a great BSSC trip to the French Alps two years ago (time of my life).

 

[SkiDog]

I'm a fairly novice skier ("light blue", we call it), and particularly out of shape this year, so I don't want to go skiing in deep powder - just nicer conditions than what we've had here this winter. I've got March 12-19 off, and I'm thinking of heading out West. This is my only vacation this year, so I can splurge a little. I'm a new-school, recreational, pamper-me skier and I'm okay with that.

In my dreams, I'm taking a nonstop from Boston and a pleasant, not-too-long drive to a five-star ski-in/ski-out slopeside resort with a hot tub. The base lodges are recently renovated and not too crowded, the lifts are all superquads, there are plenty of interesting greens and blues with various levels of grooming, and the vistas from the trails are breathtaking.

Where am I going and how do I book it? I've never skied off the east coast before, aside from a great BSSC trip to the French Alps two years ago (time of my life).

UTAH...

M

 

[tekweezle]

>>Where am I going and how do I book it?

Go to Deer Valley in Utah. it was definitely made for pampering you. they're like "Stratton/Okemo West". They even have a porter carry your skis for you off the bus. the Terrain is not bad at all and not so crowded. the food is pretty good too.

In Colorado, Vail/Beaver Creek can give you what you are looking for. Beaver Creek is the more upscale mountain. They have escalators to take you to the base area! Vail is the bigger and more challenging mountain if you want to venture off the groomed trails. Beaver Creek the less crowded and your lift ticket is good for both.

Both areas do excellent grooming and would be perfect for high speed, intermediate cruising with the option to play in the powder if you like.

btw, my avatar is me at Vail last year.

 

[molecan]

I' This is my only vacation this year, so I can splurge a little. I'm a new-school, recreational, pamper-me skier and I'm okay with that.

In my dreams, I'm taking a nonstop from Boston and a pleasant, not-too-long drive to a five-star ski-in/ski-out slopeside resort with a hot tub. The base lodges are recently renovated and not too crowded, the lifts are all superquads, there are plenty of interesting greens and blues with various levels of grooming, and the vistas from the trails are breathtaking.

Where am I going and how do I book it? I've never skied off the east coast before, aside from a great BSSC trip to the French Alps two years ago (time of my life).

Deer Valet is pretty damn close to what you are asking for.
Although, you could fly from New York to Eagle county airport in Colorado, and be about 15 minutes drive from Beaver Creek, and Vail. Beaver is probably right at your speed, large, fairly moderate terrain (although they do have the birds of prey race course, and a few of the largest bump runs I've ever seen) groomed with a fine tooth comb.
They also have some very moderate pitch, widely spaced aspen glades that generally are untouched, and are a great place for a beginner to get a feel for skiing in natural snow and trees.

They also have pamper-me amenities such as escalators, ski valets, expensive restaurants galore. And then there is Vail 10 minutes away.

 

[RIDEr]

My club has been using a vendor by the name of Rocky Mountain Tours for the past few years... they provide VERY, VERY reasonable packages. My girlfriend and I have even booked our Breck trip using them last year and for President's Day weekend this year... below is the site:

www.skithewest.com

 

[AdironRider]

Ill be hitting up JHole from March 18th to the 23rd. Little late in the season, but I had to work around my spring break.

 

[kingslug]

If you are looking for a nice cruiser place in Utah, Solitude has some of the best grooming around. It's a lot cheaper than Deer Valley and is never crowded. Brighton is also good for this too, considered "where Utah learns to ski".

 

[haines]

Breckenridge has the best nightlife apreski in the states

OK!!! I'm Convinced!!! I'm flying into Denver - Is Breck a good choice? or are there others that might be better deals/better terrain?

Breck is a great choice. Stay there and don't leave unless you go to nearby A-Basin

Brecks layout is by peaks labeld 8,9 and 10 peak number seven is out of bounds and furthest North near the legendary I- 70 interstate highway. Believe me the adventure starts as soon as you get off the plane. Driving West from Denver on I- 70 will be a rush. One beer equals two in elevation. You'll start drooling as you go under the Summit County tunnel. And bang your their take a left at Frisco head North for ten mile look to the right as you go and you will see the Ten Mile Range starting with Peak 1 in Frisco.

I recommend you somehow take this drive in the daytime