Holiday Ski Plans, again!

Schweitzer is on Ikon since Alterra bought it. It's 99% open now and squarely in the path of prevailing storms this season. There are numerous other ski options within easy drives of Spokane, all of which are getting the snow this year too.

We will get another shot at Mammoth later this week, and hopefully the 19 inches Dec. 12-15 will improve surfaces vs. last week.
 
Utah still looks to be hurting for the foreseeable but a bit further north looks to have more in the forecast.

Edit. If heading north I might divert via Dinosaur National Monument. Anyone checked that out?
 
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EMSC said:
It's been a long, long time. I recall it being somewhat interesting, but also very desolate and very remote. It's certainly no Moab for example.
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Thanks. The nearby town of Vernal has a brewery so it can't be that remote. :)
 
Sbooker said:
Thanks. The nearby town of Vernal has a brewery so it can't be that remote. :)
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I've made the drive by the Dinosaur Natl Mon area several times in recent years. Once coming up from Glenwood Springs (very remote two lane roads) and a couple times from Steamboat Springs (via US 40, two lanes in spots but able to go 60-70 MPH). I never stopped at the Monument itself. It's a few miles off US 40. Vernal is an old Mormon farming town, rather isolated and sleepy, but with numerous gas stations, fast food places and motels.

US 40 looking west between Steamboat and Vernal:
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Tony Crocker said:
Schweitzer is on Ikon since Alterra bought it. It's 99% open now and squarely in the path of prevailing storms this season. There are numerous other ski options within easy drives of Spokane, all of which are getting the snow this year too.

We will get another shot at Mammoth later this week, and hopefully the 19 inches Dec. 12-15 will improve surfaces vs. last week.
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I’ve been to Schweitzer, had great conditions and liked it a lot. Mammoth was easy and we used our flight credits to switch to Snowbird over MLK.

With that said, I might have considered Schweitzer if I thought about it before. Oh well.
 
Sbooker said:
Utah still looks to be hurting for the foreseeable but a bit further north looks to have more in the forecast.

Edit. If heading north I might divert via Dinosaur National Monument. Anyone checked that out?
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Have you given up on Targhee over the holiday? Have gotten a fair amount of snow over the past few days and they now have all 6 of their lifts open and 87 of 93 trails open. I would expect they might have 100% open by this weekend, with perhaps more snow later in the week. From their webcams, looks like mid-Winter there.
 
berkshireskier said:
Have you given up on Targhee over the holiday? Have gotten a fair amount of snow over the past few days and they now have all 6 of their lifts open and 87 of 93 trails open. I would expect they might have 100% open by this weekend, with perhaps more snow later in the week. From their webcams, looks like mid-Winter there.
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It looks like we will end up skiing there. The points you make mean it’s the obvious choice. Aspen doesn’t have as much in the forecast from what I can interpret. I’m also curious about Big Sky that seems to have a fair bit open. My kids have never been there and it would be nice for them to be able to check it out.
 
Sbooker said:
Dinosaur National Monument. Anyone checked that out?
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Yes, for a couple of hours between Utah and Colorado in spring 2011. It's on the way much more east than north.
Sbooker said:
It looks like we will end up skiing there. The points you make mean it’s the obvious choice.
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Yes, Targhee may not have the base you would expect but at 90+% open it will still be worthwhile. Do not be tempted to go to Jackson, 19% open mid-December vs. long term average 52%.
Sbooker said:
I’m also curious about Big Sky that seems to have a fair bit open. My kids have never been there and it would be nice for them to be able to check it out.
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Big Sky is 44% open vs. 46% average mid-December. The caveat there is the ability range gap at the high intermediate/low advanced level which you already know about. What's likely not to be open (holiday average is 78% open) is a lot of the Lone Peak steeps which are not appropriate for sbooker and family. If you go that way you should definitely take the snowmobile day tour from West Yellowstone. It goes to Old Faithful with stops at other thermal features on the way. If that's during the peak holiday period you might want to think about reserving it soon.
 
Tony Crocker said:
Yes, for a couple of hours between Utah and Colorado in spring 2011. It's on the way much more east than north.

Yes, Targhee may not have the base you would expect but at 90+% open it will still be worthwhile. Do not be tempted to go to Jackson, 19% open mid-December vs. long term average 52%.

Big Sky is 44% open vs. 46% average mid-December. The caveat there is the ability range gap at the high intermediate/low advanced level which you already know about. What's likely not to be open (holiday average is 78% open) is a lot of the Lone Peak steeps which are not appropriate for sbooker and family. If you go that way you should definitely take the snowmobile day tour from West Yellowstone. It goes to Old Faithful with stops at other thermal features on the way. If that's during the peak holiday period you might want to think about reserving it soon.
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I sometimes personally find myself more conflicted when it comes to skiing now than I did 10 years ago. Back then I was delighted to just be on a mountain and skiing low angle groomers was no compromise whatsoever. Now that I have more ski days and more variety under my belt the idea of skiing groomers exclusively doesn't excite me greatly but given we haven't skied with the kids since January 2023 in France I will happily forego the more exciting terrain for the family experience.

Good tip on the West Yellowstone tour. That would certainly be memorable for the family. Thanks. :)
 
tseeb said:
My report on West Yellowstone tour is at beginning of https://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards/threads/jackson-hole-wy-march-3-5-2019.14031/
With four of you, you could share two snowmobiles which saves a lot of $, but then you'd have to decide who drives. My wife was happy to ride.
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Thanks Tony. I had read your report previously. I'm going to try to fit this in if there is enough snow on the trails. I stayed at the Stage Coach Inn in February 2020 and will do so again this time if things work out.
 
The skiing/riding is fantastic here in the mtns of w-central Idaho with 80-100% open. It's the best early season in a very long time. We're not a sun valley or aspen, but With Tamarack, Brundage and even Bogus Basin within striking distance, it can make for a fun ski trip for the family. Of course, none are on Ikon.. but if planned ahead, the Indy Pass can be a good deal.
 
snowave said:
The skiing/riding is fantastic here in the mtns of w-central Idaho with 80-100% open. It's the best early season in a very long time.
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Yes, I noted that back in November and unlike Colorado the snow has continued in December. Is there any issue with rain/snow line in recent storms?
 
Tony Crocker said:
Yes, I noted that back in November and unlike Colorado the snow has continued in December. Is there any issue with rain/snow line in recent storms?
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December started slow (only a few inches until the 13th), but the dreaded long term high pressure did not redevelop over our area as expected, as things picked up again the 14th through the 18th... the next ~10 days look pretty good, but snow levels could be an issue at times.

Not really any problems with rain/snow, however we had some inversions the last few days, which allowed temps to reach into the upper 30s to low 40s on the mountain. The snow was ever so slightly affected, with a little bit of an inconsistent texture, especially on sun exposed areas. Still, it was quite good yesterday at Brundage, both on and off piste. Zero crowds. I suspect the lower portion of Tamarack might be kinda weird with the inversion, where the warm and colder temps merge about 1/3 the way up.

I tried to hit Tamarack this past Monday, but the main lift was down with a mechanical when I arrived (waited 45 min), so went back to brundage... where ironically, they lost power and their lift was down for 30 min (tree down over line about a mile away). However, I scored some medium density powder after they came back on aux power, especially off Bluebird, where they had it closed about 2 hrs... and everyone was riding Centennial (very small crowd) and it was snowing pretty nicely during that time.

With the holiday period, my midweek pass at Brundage is blacked out until Jan 6. However, Tamarack does NOT have the midweek blacked out. Normally I would not consider riding during holidays, but this year might be an exception.
 
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Tony, any thoughts on June mountains conditions? Never been still and I thought a day up there might be fun given the crowds at Mammoth.
 
socal said:
Tony, any thoughts on June mountains conditions? Never been still and I thought a day up there might be fun given the crowds at Mammoth.
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One of the people in the guest house where we stayed was over there and reported negatively. Silverado is not open and the Face is not even close. Surfaces are also more hardpacked. This does not surprise me considering that June averages about 2/3 of Mammoth's snowfall and is lower.

Mammoth's current conditions are an outlier, vastly superior to any other ski area in the US outside Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
 
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You’ve heard of Sleepless in Seattle. I’m currently Stranded in San Francisco. A delayed flight from Brisbane caused us to miss our flight to SLC. All flights are full.
We’ve now lost our prepaid rental car that I paid $2000aud for. New price for the same car and same time is $9000aud. There has been a list of other f*ck ups as long as your arm. I think we’re cursed.
**I’m currently thanking the higher powers for no illness or injuries. So far.
***I have a tendency to be a relatively intense person and I have trouble with “when life gives you lemons make lemonade”.
****That fu(king QR code ordering at restaurant still calls for a 20% tip? What a joke.
*****Who knew the country would go to shit so fast. The Donald hasn’t even taken office yet.
 
jamesdeluxe said:
Even if you arrived late to pick up the car (and let them know), why would it be cancelled?
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Blowed if I know but apparently the fine print says if you don’t collect within 24 hours they can give it away. I’ve made umpteen phone calls but can’t get anywhere with it. I even asked if I can change it into Kylie’s aunts name and get her to collect it but that is “against policy”.

Oh. There is no way (apparently) to talk direct to the desk at SLC airport. The only people I can talk to is the main ‘customer care’ (oxymoron in the case) number.
 
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