Big Sky or Red Mtn.?

Rikki_d

Rikki_d

New member
I'm taking a group for our annual guy'z only Boardapalooza trip this Jan.
We have been to S.L.C. the last 3 yrs and enjoyed it greatly...but looking for a new place to ride for the end of Jan. Anybody have any opinions on historic snow conditions and diff's between these 2 resorts?..
Thanks
Rick
 
Late January is good timing for Red Mt. as coverage is adequate by then in most seasons, and it's early enough to avoid spring conditions at the low altitude.

Big Sky has been the subject of extensive reviews/analysis/critiques here on FTO, which you should search. Big Sky often has coverage issues, so February is probably better on average, but late January is reasonable. Big Sky can be cold in January, but since you're Canadian perhaps not by your standards.
 
Thanks..now if i can just find flight prices as low as I've found them to go to S.L.C., I'd be real happy!..Detroit to Spokane or bust!
 
Rikki_d":15vh1c8p said:
Detroit to Spokane or bust!
Click to expand...
I know that your location states Canada, but where specifically?

Flying to Red versus Big Sky. I would pretty sure than flying into Red would be cheaper than Bozeman, but I might be wrong.
 
Flying into Bozeman is awfully steep, but deals into Spokane can be found as it's serviced by Southwest. Find a Stateside departure point near your home in Canada and it's not that bad to Spokane.
 
Detroit is an hour south..that is were we departed from to go to S.L.C....good thing about Red is that they have a shuttle that brings u back into Canada, so no rental car is needed if slopeside accom. are available..prices are good but always better flying to S.L.C...+ most flights have a stop either at Denver or S.L.C., kinda seems silly sitting in an airport looking over the Wasatch range waiting for another flight..
 
I was at Red this past March. We had one day of WARM sunny spring conditions and then rain with expected freeze...so moved onto Banff. This should not be an issue in late January.


Red vs. Big Sky

Size:
Red is relatively small. Compared to most destination resorts, it does not have a lot of novice/intermediate terrain. Not much at all. It does have a lot of expert terrain - mostly tree zones. Big Sky has enough for anyone/everyone.

Grooming:
There is not a lot of grooming at Red. They groom one run off the front of Granite and a novice loop. About 2-3 runs off Paradise. And then 1-2 off Red Mt. As well as beginner areas. If you are looking to cruise - this has got to be one of the worse mountains out there. Big Sky has a lot more grooming.

Trees vs. Open Alpine Terrain:
Red is about tree skiing. They are not suffocatingly tight like the east...pretty nicely spaced with very little underbrush. There is great intermediate tree skiing even especially off the Paradise lift. The entire north side of Granite is one giant very steep glade.
Big Sky is all about its open bowls/faces/chutes.

Lifts
Red lifts are ancient and none are high speed. Big Sky has quite a few fast quads and the tram.

Vibe/Surroundings
Big Sky comes off very planned, typical resort condos and trophy homes. Not really built up but nothing special.
Red/Rossland is perhaps one of the cheapest ski towns in North America with a real functioning town about 2-3 miles from the lift. Very local, community vibe.
 
Rikki_d":3b9oro38 said:
good thing about Red is that they have a shuttle that brings u back into Canada, so no rental car is needed if slopeside accom. are available..
Click to expand...

There did not seem to be that much commerical development at the base of Red. Lodges, condos - both old and presently under construction -- but not a lot of eateries, grocery stores.

I'd check to understand the logistics of slopeside without a car.

Rossland itself has a good grocery store and some interesting eateries - including one in an old fire station.
 
Great responces...I will have to do more research..Mt. Baker or Crystal Mtn. are other options and flying into Seattle..S.L.C. was so easy to plan, stayed in Midvale and bussed it..no hassles..just lots of riding time! :D
 
ChrisC":2l4gw7ul said:
I was at Red this past March. We had one day of WARM sunny spring conditions and then rain with expected freeze...so moved onto Banff. This should not be an issue in late January.


Red vs. Big Sky

Size:
Red is relatively small. Compared to most destination resorts, it does not have a lot of novice/intermediate terrain. Not much at all. It does have a lot of expert terrain - mostly tree zones. Big Sky has enough for anyone/everyone.

Grooming:
There is not a lot of grooming at Red. They groom one run off the front of Granite and a novice loop. About 2-3 runs off Paradise. And then 1-2 off Red Mt. As well as beginner areas. If you are looking to cruise - this has got to be one of the worse mountains out there. Big Sky has a lot more grooming.

Trees vs. Open Alpine Terrain:
Red is about tree skiing. They are not suffocatingly tight like the east...pretty nicely spaced with very little underbrush. There is great intermediate tree skiing even especially off the Paradise lift. The entire north side of Granite is one giant very steep glade.
Big Sky is all about its open bowls/faces/chutes.

Lifts
Red lifts are ancient and none are high speed. Big Sky has quite a few fast quads and the tram.

Vibe/Surroundings
Big Sky comes off very planned, typical resort condos and trophy homes. Not really built up but nothing special.
Red/Rossland is perhaps one of the cheapest ski towns in North America with a real functioning town about 2-3 miles from the lift. Very local, community vibe.
Click to expand...

Red sounds like the kind of place I would like.

Tony put up a trip report from there a few seasons back; I remember a few pics of some steep tight chutes that looked like alot of fun.
 
That report one week after the Tropical Punch would be a big deterrent. But I've been to Red Mt. also in late Feb. 1997 (huge year) and late Jan. 2000 (above average year).

No question about the expert orientation and trees. There was a beginner couple there in 1997 who seemed quite happy. But I agree Red would be a long week for intermediates.

I will once again make my case for using the rental car. Rossland is 2-3 miles from the hill, has very reasonably priced lodging, and most of the dining/apres ski is there too. Plus from Spokane with a car you have options to check out Schweitzer, Whitewater and a couple of smaller places in the region.
 
Thanks everyone!..I was hoping for honest opinions and all were that and not complicated with bashing...Powder Mtn. might be a place also since some of the group like to snowkite..too many choices..guess I'll have to book more holidays..Question?..Is the Lake Tahoe area comparable to S.L.C...or would we be better off driving to Mamoth?
 
Tahoe and SLC are similar setups.

Relatively cheap urban areas less than hour from skiing ranging from super steeps/powder (UT- Snowbird, Alta, CA - Squaw, Kirkwood), intermediate cruising (UT - Park City, Deer Valley, CA- Heavenly, Northsate) and funky local hills with good terrain (UT - Solitude, Snowbasin, CA- Sugar Bowl, Alpine, Mt. Rose). The snow is wetter in CA but fills in chutes with a very stable pack. Weather patterns in CA tends to be sunny or dumping...slightly warmer too.


My understanding of snowkite is you need open, desolate, flat spaces with decent snow coverage. Essentially flat open valleys in rural areas -- usually more north to keep the snow on the ground. Heard Jackson is really good for this. I'm guessing most northern rocky areas with flat valleys are. Coastal mountain valleys generally too warm. Same with southern Rockies.
 
Rikki_d":263vni3t said:
Great responces...I will have to do more research..Mt. Baker or Crystal Mtn. are other options and flying into Seattle..S.L.C. was so easy to plan, stayed in Midvale and bussed it..no hassles..just lots of riding time! :D
Click to expand...

Mt. Baker is a day ski area, there are some options for staying in Glacier but the real town is Bellingham, which always seems a long drive to me. Crystal tries to be a resort, but has little lodging or dining or night life. Washington State ski areas tend to be day ski areas and hardly compare to Big Sky, Mammoth, the areas out of SLC, etc.
 
Thanks again to everyone for their input!...But it looks like Utah has been picked again this year..staying up towards Powder Mountain..they are having a Snowkiting Festival on Feb./08..and since half of us also snowkite we win!..Ha!..I've been to PowMow for one day only and have never been to Snowbasin..the rest of the group are all newbies to the Ogden Valley..Thanks Again...anybody have a couple condo's to rent..lol
Cheers!
 
Rikki_d":k9yzqciq said:
Thanks again to everyone for their input!...But it looks like Utah has been picked again this year..staying up towards Powder Mountain..they are having a Snowkiting Festival on Feb./08..and since half of us also snowkite we win!..Ha!..I've been to PowMow for one day only and have never been to Snowbasin..the rest of the group are all newbies to the Ogden Valley..Thanks Again...anybody have a couple condo's to rent..lol
Cheers!
Click to expand...

Best place to stay is right on the slopes at PowMow. Contact Scott or Jim at http://www.powmowcondos.com/index.html Here's a shot of the condos' location - click on the photo to enlarge it
107_0778a.jpg


Scott also runs PowMow tours. http://www.powmowtours.com/
If any of your group have splitboards and skins, Scott can take you into some cool places.

Here's my TR from PowMow, SnoBasin, and touring with Scott. http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards ... php?t=1692
 
When is the snowkiting festival??

I windsurf and have some interest in learning to kiteboard, but I would prefer to learn on snow, as it seems much safer than the water. I recently got body dragged out of the lake, onto the rocky beach and launched my friend's kite into a tree in an effort to save my sorry ass.

Not sure if kiting is really for me after that experience, but I'd like to learn on snow. I'll be in Utah first week of Feb as usual.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top