Best "Small" Resorts out west

jamessmoak_photo

jamessmoak_photo

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I'm getting ready to graduate high school, and I would rather not go to college if I could keep working in the Ski Industry. I would like to have an enjoyable ski experience as well, just without the massive crowds. I currently work at snowshoe mountain in WV, and something like that, just with a little more terrain to ski would be perfect.
 
It's not exactly small, but Sun Valley never feels crowded and has the most lift capacity per skier of any ski area in the country. I recently skiied on a Saturday pow day and I think I waited 2 minutes max, which is the longest I've ever waited.
 
14002280:PhreeKandi said:
Schweitzer mountain idaho
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Second vote for Schweitzer. Since the influx of people moving to Couer D' Alene it has become a little more crowded but nothing as bad as Colorado. You can get some buddies together and get a cheap camper to sleep in and there is an overnight lot that is literally ski in, ski out with night skiing too (Park is lit at night). There is always a good vibe at the overnight lot with people having camp fires and stuff. The hotel pool and hot tubs are stupid easy to poach if you climb over the snowbank by the walkway bridge. Especially with the new T-bar, there is a ridiculous amount of terrain and Snowghost is a sketchy enough double chair to keep the Jerry's away and on the six pack instead. Lake Pend Oreille is really fun in the summer too. Schweitzer keeps trying to become a world class resort to bring in crowds but the distance from the Spokane airport and the fact its cloudy almost every day in the winter keeps it a local gem.

**This post was edited on Feb 21st 2019 at 2:05:51pm
 
Tahoe area. Sierra at Tahoe and sugar bowl offer some sick terrain and the only time I've ever seen it real crowded is on holidays.
 
Wolf creek, A basin, and Loveland are some great "local" spots in CO. Loveland is probably your best bet if you want to live in the Denver metro area.
 
Bear Valley Resort - really small and uncrowded resort across the mokelume canyon from kirkwood just south of the Lake Tahoe area. Boasts usually as much snow as mammoth (if not more during certain storms) and is definitely some of my favorite terrain for pow days since lift lines are usually never an issue. Pretty short runs but they just put in a high speed sixer in which allows you to lap until you can’t lap anymore. Also when griz bowl opens you have access to some the sickest lift accessed inbounds terrain in the Sierra.

I’d for sure check it out. I also might be a bit biased since I grew up there.
 
14002391:mystery3 said:
You should go to college, or at least community college. Find one near a small resort.

You're welcome,

-Dad
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If it was free sure. Honestly a solid percentage of people in college would be better off learning a trade or skipping school all together.

If my parents had paid for it, I would have gone. I have a ton of friends that are rocking crippling amounts of debt from getting the massively overpriced education in the states.

College isn't a "everybody should do it" at all imo.
 
14002398:theabortionator said:
If it was free sure. Honestly a solid percentage of people in college would be better off learning a trade or skipping school all together.

If my parents had paid for it, I would have gone. I have a ton of friends that are rocking crippling amounts of debt from getting the massively overpriced education in the states.

College isn't a "everybody should do it" at all imo.
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I completely agree with you, if, there was a stated goal bigger than becoming a lifty "out west."

Knocking out an associates degree in three years while working 3/4 time and skiing a lot is totally doable on the cheap and would be a positive experience for the majority of people in my opinion.
 
14002261:Willgum said:
It's not exactly small, but Sun Valley never feels crowded and has the most lift capacity per skier of any ski area in the country. I recently skiied on a Saturday pow day and I think I waited 2 minutes max, which is the longest I've ever waited.
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Maybe thats why so many billionares ski there like buffet
 
Also, if you are considering short lift line resorts

As small, then wolf creek and copper mountain are

Great mountains.

Wolf creek seems to have an exciting new village planned. They get so much snow there every

Winter i bet the jet setters

Will be lapping that real estate up like crazy
 
14002458:DirtYStylE said:
Hood River or Bend Oregon

Schwietzer is a good pick, but I wouldn't want to live in Sandpoint..

Reno?
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Why not? I lived in Sandpoint and it was awesome. Your like 25 min from the resort and like 30 seconds from the lake.
 
14002486:Hansel9001 said:
Also, if you are considering short lift line resorts

As small, then wolf creek and copper mountain are

Great mountains.

Wolf creek seems to have an exciting new village planned. They get so much snow there every

Winter i bet the jet setters

Will be lapping that real estate up like crazy
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Why is your formatting always bonkers?
 
ive never skied there but kirkwood sounds really nice. they get killer snow (18 feet since feb 1) and has some gnarly terrain. They were bought by vail a few seasons ago but it still seems to be flying under the radar. worst case scenario is you get 5-10 years of experience and it because really crowded due to an influx of resources from vail and you can move elsewhere with a lot of credibility and experience..
 
Sorry dude you’re not going to miss any huge lines on the west coast it’s fucking packed out here.
 
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