Poll: Best place to ski pow this season

D

Done_and_done

Member
8 years into ski bumming across the West Coast and I'm trying to decide my next move;

Spent snowy seasons in Tahoe, Snowbird, A-Basin, Taos and Steamboat.

Only looking for soft snow, so not too inclined on the PNW, CA or East Coast.

The top choices for a new home base are; Alta, Jackson Hole, Telluride or Bridger.
 
14053276:Biffbarf said:
Why not ak?
Click to expand...

The lack of daylight and ability to road trip to other ski areas are the biggest deterrents.

Alyeska looks awesome, but after spending the whole summer isolated in AK, I'm ready to move on.
 
14053309:ShireRat said:
Honestly bro, stay in Colorado. Everywhere else sucks.
Click to expand...

I love being in Colorado honestly.

Since I never go to Denver or drive on i-70, most of the major issues people complain about aren't as noticeable to me.

After such a great season last year, I'm worried this winter will be lackluster.

My top choices to ski this winter in Colorado are Monarch or Wolf Creek but both of those places aren't too fun with an average or below average snow year.
 
14053287:amccahill93 said:
montana sucks so does idaho. id check out alta
Click to expand...

Montana and Idaho are awesome, but also very remote from other quality ski areas unless you are heading north into Canada.

Big Sky and Whitefish would be fun for a season, but too far from a good airport, and the wages are lower than CA/CO/UT.
 
14053383:Biffbarf said:
If you're bummin it idk why youd go after the big ski areas
Click to expand...

Working for the big guys helps with employee housing, free multi-resort passes and mostly total anonymity from the public/other employees.
 
Meh, Tahoe got some blower the last few years. I lived in CO a couple years and rode there other times but I'd sacrifice a tiny bit in dryness for the deep. And honestly as mentioned fucking blower
 
14053428:theabortionator said:
Meh, Tahoe got some blower the last few years. I lived in CO a couple years and rode there other times but I'd sacrifice a tiny bit in dryness for the deep. And honestly as mentioned fucking blower
Click to expand...

Tahoe was my lone ski destination from 2 years old all the way through college.

The winter of 2010-2011 even convinced me to move up there full-time.

When its good at Kirkwood or Rose, you can't beat it.

My argument against Tahoe is the infrastructure falls apart in big storms.

Last year when they got those epic Feburary storms, many mountains couldn't open and roads were closed.

I do feel much safer riding in the back country around Tahoe than Colorado, but the snow quality is not even close to comparable imho.
 
14053478:ski_stee said:
Tahoe was my lone ski destination from 2 years old all the way through college.

The winter of 2010-2011 even convinced me to move up there full-time.

When its good at Kirkwood or Rose, you can't beat it.

My argument against Tahoe is the infrastructure falls apart in big storms.

Last year when they got those epic Feburary storms, many mountains couldn't open and roads were closed.

I do feel much safer riding in the back country around Tahoe than Colorado, but the snow quality is not even close to comparable imho.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Honestly didn't get ro kirkwood in any of the big ones last season because the struggle of driving from kings beach with 90% of bay area also on the roads. I decided to just ride northstar after work and not die. Bought a DP pass for this year to get some less crowded laps in.

Kirkwood is the shit though. That place is up with Crested butte, aspen highlands, and jhole for my favorite places Ive ridden. Jhole is tentative because sick af but even 5 years ago it was pretty crowded comoared to the others.

I just get a bit jaded when some people write off the tahoe snow. Monarch and wolf creek were always on my lists but never made it. Someday. Tough to work out comps or even days off sometimes.

Also agreed on BC which is another perk for me. Was kind of sketched to go out much when it was big in CO. A good co storm is great snow I just didnt get as many big days.

Idk i need a nap.
 
14053570:FlorescentBone said:
Bridger sucks, the lines are too short, the snow too deep, and the area is too close to Bozeman. You know what it needs? Vail
Click to expand...

Bridger sucks major dongus and the locals all suck
 
14053319:ski_stee said:
I love being in Colorado honestly.

Since I never go to Denver or drive on i-70, most of the major issues people complain about aren't as noticeable to me.

After such a great season last year, I'm worried this winter will be lackluster.

My top choices to ski this winter in Colorado are Monarch or Wolf Creek but both of those places aren't too fun with an average or below average snow year.
Click to expand...

You’ll hate wolf creeks “lack of infrastructure”
 
14053707:ShireRat said:
You’ll hate wolf creeks “lack of infrastructure”
Click to expand...

Wolf Creek pass closures are devastating news, but understandably that road is sketchy from either side.

Always a major factor when making the mission to ski there.
 
14053493:B.Gillis said:
I wouldn’t say the infrastructure falls apart. I would say that no infrastructure on earth can handle storms of that magnitude. Resorts will close for safety concerns long before they close due to failing infrastructure. Some of the storms we got last February were insane. The plows did a great job keeping up with the 3-4 inch an hour snowfall rates but unfortunately all it takes is one asshole with chains on the wrong wheels to ruin a weekend for a million people. CHP was all over social media begging people to stay put but no one wanted to listen and then you get 300 stranded motorists who literally need their lives saved.
Click to expand...

Living in Steamboat this past winter just spoiled my access to skiing.

Unfortunately there aren't too many towns left with that sort of access, good snow and affordable rent in my opinion.

I posted mainly to hear more suggestions of where you guys ski/live and why.

Steamboat for better or worse has lots of mellow terrain, backup lifts and no mountain passes between the resort to town.

So they can keep open in big avalanche cycles, wind etc. that closed the i-70 corridor many times this past season.
 
topic:ski_stee said:
8 years into ski bumming across the West Coast and I'm trying to decide my next move;

Spent snowy seasons in Tahoe, Snowbird, A-Basin, Taos and Steamboat.

Only looking for soft snow, so not too inclined on the PNW, CA or East Coast.

The top choices for a new home base are; Alta, Jackson Hole, Telluride or Bridger.
Click to expand...

you're moms the best place to ski pow
 
October in Colorado delivered now its a waiting game to see where it snows next...

Torn between Jackson and Crested Butte work opportunities.
 
Jay Peak nothing compares to a little rural northern Vermont experience. maybe mrg but jay gets 400in so its just as good if not better then some rockies/west coast
 
14076501:ski_stee said:
October in Colorado delivered now its a waiting game to see where it snows next...

Torn between Jackson and Crested Butte work opportunities.
Click to expand...

Jackson would be dope but I would make my days off the week days to beat the crowd(or try to ).

I hear Grand targhee offers pretty good employee housing and get the same amount of snow of jackson. Just less gnarly terrain.

Crested Butte would be dope, especially if its a season in CO like last year. FYI when I was living in the area housing was horrible. Not sure if Vail built some employee housing but start looking now.

Aspen ski co offers pretty decent housing for employees. Not sure if the aspen area interest you. Skiing is awesome and the nightlife as well.
 
14076594:DummyBears said:
Jay Peak nothing compares to a little rural northern Vermont experience. maybe mrg but jay gets 400in so its just as good if not better then some rockies/west coast
Click to expand...

hahahahahahaahaahaahahahaha good joke man
 
14076636:NightFantasies said:
Whatever you do don't come to Bridger. It fucking sucks here.
Click to expand...

Never skied Bridger, but outta respect for these guys. I agree with this dude
 
14076594:DummyBears said:
Jay Peak nothing compares to a little rural northern Vermont experience. maybe mrg but jay gets 400in so its just as good if not better then some rockies/west coast
Click to expand...

I ski Jay all the time and its sweet don't get me wrong. But, they inflate their snow count, its cold and windy as hell all the time, and the terrain is not as good as most places out west. Great East Coast spot though
 
Best pow ive had was at Brighton in Utah a couple seasons back. Compared to Cali/Nevada, Colorado and New Zealand. yeah im sure theres somewhere better but thats my experience
 
14076594:DummyBears said:
Jay Peak nothing compares to a little rural northern Vermont experience. maybe mrg but jay gets 400in so its just as good if not better then some rockies/west coast
Click to expand...

Only been there once and it was so dope. Dumped like 2-2.5 feet and tram was down so we hiked half the mountain. Best tree run of my life. Waist deep with no one in sight definitely did not feel like Vermont.

**This post was edited on Sep 17th 2020 at 8:54:47am
 
Big sky

they have more space per skier than anyone , and they are requiring reservations even for ikon pass holders so that place is gonna be prime
 
What a bump haha

Its the time of year where I’m weighing options. Leaning towards a more rural home base like lookout pass to avoid reservations and possible closures... any thoughts?

Lat season I did a month in crested butte bootpacking for a free pass than Alta from January to closing.

Traveled a lot on the epic pass and Loveland season pass. By far my best season for pow.

Top 5 laps:

Beaver Mountain, UT 1/14/20

70” Cycle (Sidecountry)

Loveland, CO 2/8/20

39” closed for two days (Cats Meow)

Wolf Creek, CO 11/30/19

38” (Step Bowl) SB

Monarch Mountain, CO 11/27/19

Re-Opening Day 18” (Christmas Trees)

Eagle Point, UT 3/14/20

Overnight 15”. Abrupt closing day Covid.

(Delano Descent)
 
Lookout is cool but silver mountain is way cooler and just as local vibe. Bike park is sick af too. N idaho has pretty much just ignored covid so silver and lookout I'll bet will be 100% normal operations this winter

14175044:Done_and_done said:
What a bump haha

Its the time of year where I’m weighing options. Leaning towards a more rural home base like lookout pass to avoid reservations and possible closures... any thoughts?

Lat season I did a month in crested butte bootpacking for a free pass than Alta from January to closing.

Traveled a lot on the epic pass and Loveland season pass. By far my best season for pow.

Top 5 laps:

Beaver Mountain, UT 1/14/20

70” Cycle (Sidecountry)

Loveland, CO 2/8/20

39” closed for two days (Cats Meow)

Wolf Creek, CO 11/30/19

38” (Step Bowl) SB

Monarch Mountain, CO 11/27/19

Re-Opening Day 18” (Christmas Trees)

Eagle Point, UT 3/14/20

Overnight 15”. Abrupt closing day Covid.

(Delano Descent)
Click to expand...
 
14175047:amccahill93 said:
Lookout is cool but silver mountain is way cooler and just as local vibe. Bike park is sick af too. N idaho has pretty much just ignored covid so silver and lookout I'll bet will be 100% normal operations this winter
Click to expand...

Silver definitely has way more in terms of terrain would try to ski there a couple times but don’t want to live in Kellogg.

I know lookout is flat but the season pass is super cheap and has lots of bonus days in Idaho/pnw.

Praying for snow
 
Idk where you're thinking of living for lookout that silver isn't an option. Also kellogg is making a comeback, I think silver and Kellogg are about to explode especially with the indy pass and the bike park

14175082:Done_and_done said:
Silver definitely has way more in terms of terrain would try to ski there a couple times but don’t want to live in Kellogg.

I know lookout is flat but the season pass is super cheap and has lots of bonus days in Idaho/pnw.

Praying for snow
Click to expand...
 
gotta watch the forecast and be ready to go. find a place with night skiing to expand your options. pow can happen any day or night
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top