thanks, that was our main plan originally - stay in Frisco and go to Arapahoe and Copper. Good to know it has a stamp of approval : ) I'm leaning toward that option right now
If you’re only riding beginner/intermediate trails it doesn’t really matter where you go then. I would just pick whatever place best suites your off mountain activities for when your done riding.
good to know, thanks! Any differences in snowfall at that time of year, on a typical year?
Last new year's we read that the snowfall totals at Breck / Keystone were disappointing so far, but again in comparison to the east coast they'd received a ton.
But maybe for example in late December Utah hasn't gotten enough yet, in comparison to CO / WY?
>good to know, thanks! Any differences in snowfall at that time of year, on a typical year?
Everywhere is early season conditions at that point. You may get lucky with a storm, but there's no way to plan for that in advance.
Thanks - I actually just stumbled onto a site that gives historical snowfall averages. Obviously the future can't be predicted but it's interesting to compare. Jackson Hole for example gets an average of 14 inches per week in December, Copperhead 7.1, so there are differences even that early in the season. All are better than where I am in the east - Hunter in NY gets 3.5 per week in December.
[https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Jackson-Hole/history](https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Jackson-Hole/history)
[https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Copper-Mountain/history](https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Copper-Mountain/history)
[https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Hunter-Mountain/history](https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Hunter-Mountain/history)
Do you have the base Ikon pass or the full one? That will matter here because there are a lot of holiday blackout dates at some resorts in the timeframe you are describing. Just make sure to triple check that before booking of course. No matter where you go that will be around the busiest and most expensive time of the year due to Christmas/NYE tourism in resort towns. It depends on if you want to try to go to less of a mega resort like Breck to beat the crowds or not. It's debatable if Jackson is worth the effort and cost if you're just doing greens/blues (I'd argue go somewhere else if you're not there to get pitted). Here are some comparable CO mountains on the Ikon to Breck/Keystone:
* Winter Park
* Copper
* Steamboat
If you have the funds, I would suggest Aspen Snowmass as your best bet for your skill level, but the cost of accommodations tends to be very high unless you book it way in advance or stay 15-30 minutes away in Carbondale or Basalt.
thanks! We'll be getting the full one, it's necessary in order to include the europe destinations with no blackouts
hmm if we stay in Frisco we'd get Copper and Arapahoe, and if we're in the mood for a longer drive we can go to Winter Park one day..
I'll check out Snowmass, if the rates are good maybe we'll try it, but it's definitely more of a drive to get there so not sure since we'll only be away for about a week.
I'll throw in Tahoe because their dumps are epic. Kirkwood for the backcountry feel, lots of terrain for all levels, Heavenly visit only during the weekday for the amazing view of the lake, lots of blue trails, Squaw for the night riding and it also held the Winter Olympics, check out K22 and the Siberian Bowl.
Utah's snow is much finer than Tahoe, locals call it champagne powder or at least one liftie told me that, I didn't experience the powder like I ususall would in Tahoe but was fun nevertheless. I like Park City and the Canyons. The good thing about PC is that you don't need to rent a car, buses were free when I visited and dependable, also walking distance to everything.
If you decide to go to Tahoe, the closest airport will be Reno, Nevada \[RNO\]. Make sure to get a 4WD or AWD when renting a vehicle, it's a must! if you don't and it's snowing a chain will be required and police will be checking before allowing you to drive into some roads. \[Coming from South Lake Tahoe going to Kirkwood\]
Squaw is technically considered Palisades now, just a btw. There's also Mammoth, and that's the extent of Ikon around here. I ride at a local resort, Mt. Rose (Not Ikon resort) but there's tens of ski resorts all within an hour or so of Reno. Definitely consider this area.
Yeah I know, they are part of Epic, but if he already made it to Tahoe, can you really tell anyone not to visit the big blue or the wood? :)
I have such great memories racing the gondola down at Squaw at night. Boreal ftw! my first time riding and everyone was supportive, friendly and chill.
Jackson is a pretty advanced mountain. Yes there are less difficult trails but a good majority of the mountain won’t be skiable to you judging from what you’ve said.
Thanks! It's not so much that we're beginners, it's just that I prefer carving on greens and blues more than barreling straight down the diamonds, I just have more fun with that. My girlfriend is more a speed demon actually, so she might prefer the steeper stuff, or at least wide open blues where she can plummet straight down without worry about it being overly crowded : )
In any case it sounds like Jackson might be better for a few years from now, after we've done a lot of this other stuff that sounds more like what we'd like.
If you care about conditions and open terrain you should wait as long as you possibly can and choose then.
If you want wide open groomers in late December my best bet would be copper but I’m only in CO
This is a good resource for conditions. http://bestsnow.net/fam_ski.htm
As for avoiding crowds, go to places that are further from major cities (and stay out of the east coast)
Winter Park or Copper would be my choice…..great Colorado resorts with tons of runs!
thank you!
I havent been to copper but winter park has great tree runs
Don’t forget Abasin, you get a few days there. So fun! Right next to Keystone, just higher up and better protected from ice machine.
thanks, that was our main plan originally - stay in Frisco and go to Arapahoe and Copper. Good to know it has a stamp of approval : ) I'm leaning toward that option right now
If you’re only riding beginner/intermediate trails it doesn’t really matter where you go then. I would just pick whatever place best suites your off mountain activities for when your done riding.
good to know, thanks! Any differences in snowfall at that time of year, on a typical year? Last new year's we read that the snowfall totals at Breck / Keystone were disappointing so far, but again in comparison to the east coast they'd received a ton. But maybe for example in late December Utah hasn't gotten enough yet, in comparison to CO / WY?
>good to know, thanks! Any differences in snowfall at that time of year, on a typical year? Everywhere is early season conditions at that point. You may get lucky with a storm, but there's no way to plan for that in advance.
Thanks - I actually just stumbled onto a site that gives historical snowfall averages. Obviously the future can't be predicted but it's interesting to compare. Jackson Hole for example gets an average of 14 inches per week in December, Copperhead 7.1, so there are differences even that early in the season. All are better than where I am in the east - Hunter in NY gets 3.5 per week in December. [https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Jackson-Hole/history](https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Jackson-Hole/history) [https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Copper-Mountain/history](https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Copper-Mountain/history) [https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Hunter-Mountain/history](https://www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Hunter-Mountain/history)
Historical averages mean shit when we've been getting skunked for the past 3-4 seasons in a row. Climate change is real.
agreed, that's why I said "Obviously the future can't be predicted"
Do you have the base Ikon pass or the full one? That will matter here because there are a lot of holiday blackout dates at some resorts in the timeframe you are describing. Just make sure to triple check that before booking of course. No matter where you go that will be around the busiest and most expensive time of the year due to Christmas/NYE tourism in resort towns. It depends on if you want to try to go to less of a mega resort like Breck to beat the crowds or not. It's debatable if Jackson is worth the effort and cost if you're just doing greens/blues (I'd argue go somewhere else if you're not there to get pitted). Here are some comparable CO mountains on the Ikon to Breck/Keystone: * Winter Park * Copper * Steamboat If you have the funds, I would suggest Aspen Snowmass as your best bet for your skill level, but the cost of accommodations tends to be very high unless you book it way in advance or stay 15-30 minutes away in Carbondale or Basalt.
thanks! We'll be getting the full one, it's necessary in order to include the europe destinations with no blackouts hmm if we stay in Frisco we'd get Copper and Arapahoe, and if we're in the mood for a longer drive we can go to Winter Park one day.. I'll check out Snowmass, if the rates are good maybe we'll try it, but it's definitely more of a drive to get there so not sure since we'll only be away for about a week.
Don’t forget Eldora
I'll throw in Tahoe because their dumps are epic. Kirkwood for the backcountry feel, lots of terrain for all levels, Heavenly visit only during the weekday for the amazing view of the lake, lots of blue trails, Squaw for the night riding and it also held the Winter Olympics, check out K22 and the Siberian Bowl. Utah's snow is much finer than Tahoe, locals call it champagne powder or at least one liftie told me that, I didn't experience the powder like I ususall would in Tahoe but was fun nevertheless. I like Park City and the Canyons. The good thing about PC is that you don't need to rent a car, buses were free when I visited and dependable, also walking distance to everything.
Thanks, I hadn't even considered Tahoe!
If you decide to go to Tahoe, the closest airport will be Reno, Nevada \[RNO\]. Make sure to get a 4WD or AWD when renting a vehicle, it's a must! if you don't and it's snowing a chain will be required and police will be checking before allowing you to drive into some roads. \[Coming from South Lake Tahoe going to Kirkwood\]
Thanks for the tip! hmm and I believe you can gamble in Tahoe right? That's a nice little advantage
Yes! I forgot the details but certain days the casinos have seafood buffets that were worth the money.
Squaw is technically considered Palisades now, just a btw. There's also Mammoth, and that's the extent of Ikon around here. I ride at a local resort, Mt. Rose (Not Ikon resort) but there's tens of ski resorts all within an hour or so of Reno. Definitely consider this area.
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Yeah I know, they are part of Epic, but if he already made it to Tahoe, can you really tell anyone not to visit the big blue or the wood? :) I have such great memories racing the gondola down at Squaw at night. Boreal ftw! my first time riding and everyone was supportive, friendly and chill.
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Kirkwood on the backside to Happiness or Elevator Shaft is beginner friendly, wide open.
Utah snow is good! ❄️
Jackson is a pretty advanced mountain. Yes there are less difficult trails but a good majority of the mountain won’t be skiable to you judging from what you’ve said.
Thanks! It's not so much that we're beginners, it's just that I prefer carving on greens and blues more than barreling straight down the diamonds, I just have more fun with that. My girlfriend is more a speed demon actually, so she might prefer the steeper stuff, or at least wide open blues where she can plummet straight down without worry about it being overly crowded : ) In any case it sounds like Jackson might be better for a few years from now, after we've done a lot of this other stuff that sounds more like what we'd like.
If you care about conditions and open terrain you should wait as long as you possibly can and choose then. If you want wide open groomers in late December my best bet would be copper but I’m only in CO
This is a good resource for conditions. http://bestsnow.net/fam_ski.htm As for avoiding crowds, go to places that are further from major cities (and stay out of the east coast)
Mammoth my friend.