Suggestions for out West next season

[dmc]

Also are there any kind of deals on Jackson Hole lift tickets?

"green pass"

 

[snoseek]

"green pass"

LOL. accepted at resorts nationwide. :wink:

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

"green pass"

Hahaha..cough cough

 

[kimmie01485]

How late do the resorts stay open out there? How would april be?? What is the prime season for snow...probably march right?

haha. sorry for all the questions!

 

[snoseek]

March=biggest base, but attracts more people meaning more$$

Early February is a good bet as the sun damage is minimal

April is a coin toss but can bring big storms. The next couple days are going to be deep I think. The snow won't be midwinter blower though.

 

[AdironRider]

Im currently living and working here in Jackson Hole, and lift ticket discounts are next to impossible to find. The mtn gives every full time employee two vouchers around christmas time, and they usually change hands for around 50 a pop. Also there are 15 dollar vouchers. Again tough to find but doable.

One thing to note, and Im sure this changes year to year, but the gondi guys are douchebags here and only a few will hook you up via the green pass or other forms. Usually they only will once you hook them up on the lift, or something of the sort. Wouldnt count on it, at least in my experience here this season. The gondi guys dont really like my department though, as we get early gondi privilages, staff line scams, etc.

 

[kimmie01485]

I guess this is going to be a tough decision...I never really gave much thought as to the different months and how crowded/good the snow will be. I'm really happy that I have all of you guys to help though, its def going to make it a little easier

 

[tekweezle]

if you go on the weekdays, no resort is really ever crowded, especially out west.

then again. i have only skied out west on a saturday once in april-at alta during a 3 foot snow dumping. the was alot of snow revelers but hardly what I would could crowded.

I will also recommend Jackson Hole. I went out there in late march-bottom of the resort was spring like, mid way up was winter like. you can stay in the town 12 miles away for pretty cheap. I think you can get combined lodging and lift ticket for 5 days for under 700$ from right on their website.

 

[ski220]

If you are not working full time and have a flexible schedual the thing to do is watch the weather forcasts and try to pick up on a storm cycle. Jan. has the best powder and the coldest temps. As long as you buy an airfare more then 7 days advanced you get the good prices. Become a web junkie and look for specials. You don't say what type of skier you are. Jackson doesn't have the best cruising. Colorado is the most expensive and the least user friendly without renting a car. Best advice - go right now to SLC. It has been one of the most fastest growing cities in America. You should be able to get a job there ( especially w/ an east coast work ethic ). If you do go to Utah - Think Brighton & Solitude along w/ Snowbasin & Powder Mtn.. Snowbird and Alta get mobbed and skied out immediatly after/during a dump. Oh yea - Hotwire for car rental, If you have any specific questions, ask.

 

[kimmie01485]

for reference, I can ski just about anything, still learning in the deep deep powder, but i can do all levels of terrain up to double blacks and trees. I am comfortable on just about anything--icy conditions, crud, hard packed and powder. Though I don't know what I would be up against out west...I have only skied in the east.

I can't wait to experience it out there though, everyone says once you ski out there you never like anything out here.

 

[ski220]

Can't go wrong with either Jackson or Utah. The idea is to keep an eye on what's going on out there and decide based on conditions. Tahoe can be a crap shoot. Plus there are a lot of rude Cal.ians.

 

[Geoff]

The other thing to do is pay attention to what your local ski club is doing for trips. It's often far cheaper to hook up with a group than to try to do it yourself. With a group, they get you from the airport to the resort. That can be a pretty major expense in places like Colorado. The lodging also tends to be set up so you don't ever need a car.

At the moment with the US dollar in the dumpster, it's the only economical way to go to Europe. With group trips, you can find transportation + lodging + lift + meals trips where you really aren't spending much other than lunches and alcohol.

 

[kimmie01485]

does anyone know if Boston Sports Club ever does a trip out West?

 

[kimmie01485]

Does anyone know of any mountains that have good deals on like a 5 day pass? or would buying a multi-mountain season pass be the best way to go?

 

[ta&idaho]

for reference, I can ski just about anything, still learning in the deep deep powder, but i can do all levels of terrain up to double blacks and trees. I am comfortable on just about anything--icy conditions, crud, hard packed and powder. Though I don't know what I would be up against out west...I have only skied in the east.

I can't wait to experience it out there though, everyone says once you ski out there you never like anything out here.

Go to Utah. It offers the most consistent anti-East ski experience you can find (steep terrain, jagged peaks, deep and soft snow, etc.) with unmatched travel convenience and inexpensive options for all aspects of your trip.

If your goal were an anti-East vacation experience (skiing, weather, off-hill activities combined), Tahoe and Mammoth are amazing, but Utah (plus the other inland/rockies areas: CO, WY, ID, MT, etc.) offer much more consistent snow conditions most of the season.

To answer your multi-day discount question, the Cottonwood Canyon resorts offer something called the Superpass that is good at any of the four mountains (Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, and Brighton). This past season you could get a day free if you booked through travelocity. If you do end up at Tahoe, the Six-pack is a great sampler deal that would allow you to ski the high-priced resorts affordably, but you have to buy during the summer before it sells out. Here are the links from this season for your reference:
http://activities.travelocity.com/n...pe=outdoor&supplier_id=30019&low_price=106.00
http://www.skilaketahoe.com/skiresorts/lifttickets.php

One last suggestion: wherever you go, find (here or on epicski) or hire a guide to show you around to some of the jaw-dropping spots on at least one of your days. All of these mountains have some absolutely killer lines, but you sometimes need to know where to hike or traverse, and you often need that little push out of the nest to take you somewhere a little outside your normal comfort zone.

Enjoy!

 

[tekweezle]

read the trip reports. they will give you some idea about what to expect based on other user experiences. alot of us have done the Utah trek w/ no issues.

some rules of thumb-
get a direct flight whenever you can

carry your boots on the plane with you if you can along with a change of ski clothes.

your skis will work out west so don;t feel apprehensive about taking them with you. the airlines know how to handle them.

get a ski bag with wheels to make it easier but don;t overstuff it too much-you got a 50 lbs weight limit on most airlines.

if you are lucky enough to get a powder day, rent powder skis.

if you can hook up with a skiklub that would be ideal. they do all the planning for you and can negotiate good rates due to having alot of leverage.

goodluck and have fun!

 

[kimmie01485]

i was just thinking, since i have had problems on other vacations...has anyone ever not had their skis waiting for them when they have been picking up their luggage at the airport baggage claim?

 

[tekweezle]

Kingslug just had a nightmare on his recent tahoe trip. his story is in the trip reports section.

it;s luck of the draw. i have never had an issue and I don;t know under what circumstances do airlines lose your bags. i had my soft rolling suit case get mangled by Delta though.

one thing i heard that made sense is to tear off any old airline tags off your bags.

i usually watch them put the bag on whatever cart it needs to go on and i make sure it;s the same cart as the rest going in my direction.

arrive with plenty of time to the airport. i heard cases of people arriving late, rushing to check in and ensuing disaster!

so at the very least, carry your skiboots and 1 change of ski clothes with you on the plane if you can. you are usually allowed 1 carry on and 1 "personal items" bag(usually can be a laptop case or a knapsack)

 

[RISkier]

i was just thinking, since i have had problems on other vacations...has anyone ever not had their skis waiting for them when they have been picking up their luggage at the airport baggage claim?

Yep. Our skis didn't arrive on time last year in Utah. And I've had other luggage not arrive on several occassions. I always carry my boots and enough gear to ski as a carry on. That's basically ski pants, a pair of ski socks, a pair of long underwear, gloves, and whatever fleece I think I'll need to stay warm based on weather predictions. I wear my ski jacket on the plane. You can always rent skis and the airlines are supposed to pay for the skis if they don't arrive on time. Renting boots is kind of a different issue. Stuff happens and checked luggage doesn't always arrive when you do.
As noted, getting to the airport early will help insure that your bags get on the plane with you. You're more likely to not get your luggage when you have tight connecting flights, especially if the first flight is late. I also always take all of the old destination and transfer tags off my luggage. Typically, lost luggage will be delivered no later than the next day. Truely lost luggage is pretty rare. But you don't really want to loose a day skiing because you're waiting for your boots to arrive.