Kirkwood end of December trip questions.

baldyskier

baldyskier

Member
I may be visiting relatives in San Jose, CA between Christmas and New Year's. Kirkwood is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from San Jose. How much snow does Kirkwood need to make it worth the trek? How crowded does Kirkwood get between the holidays? Is there a 2 day window between 12/23 and 1/1 that would tend to be less crowded than the other days?
Thanks,
Baldyskier
 
Is there a 2 day window between 12/23 and 1/1 that would tend to be less crowded than the other days?
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Yes, 12/24-25. Most families would not approve of using that window for skiing. New Year's Day is not bad either, as most people don't get up too early.

With regard to conditions, it is probably not worth the trouble unless there is a substantial dump before then. The weather forecasts are contradictory. Some are calling for snow between Sunday and Wednesday. I would wait to see what happens before committing to anything.

Skiing during Christmas "zoo week" can be especially unpleasant during lean snow years. If a couple of the areas in a region have decent snow, they will be even more overrun with the people fleeing the more marginal areas. I found this out the hard way at Alta in 1986.
 
Kirkwood needs A LOT more snow. Last year, ski patrollers were out with weed-whackers over the holidays to mow the branches and grass sticking through the snowpack. Yes, mowing the snow in January. This year looks similar to worse so far.

Snow-wise. Kirkwood does not really ski well until they report a 80-100". You probably are not going to get much of the groomed paths until 50-60"+.

Xmas is generally easy to predict.

Dec 24 - no one
Dec 25 - no one. It's Xmas
Dec 26 - sill few. Everyone is traveling.
Dec 27 - crowded. First day for many.
Dec 28 - very, very crowded.
to
Dec 30 - still very, very crowded.
Dec 31 - some crowds
Jan 1 - not bad until 12noon
 
I have skied many Christmas Days from Mammoth to Utah. It was crowded. Many families do not view skiing on Christmas as sacreligious, in fact, as a lovely religious gift. I think Crocker is drawing on his own experience and has not skied on Christmas, per him. It is quite crowded at many areas, in Big Bear for example were I worked and lived for years. Many families celebrate in this way together as part of a vacation and white Christmas package, albiet for the elite. Watch out for the crowds. Best times are mid-week non-holiday, non-peak. Resorts include Christmas and the 24th as peak black out dates for cheaper passes because they are busy on those days. Otherwise, they would take the lesser dollar for a lift ticket. I do have a lot of Christmas skiing experience!



Tony Crocker":1n0t9tri said:
Is there a 2 day window between 12/23 and 1/1 that would tend to be less crowded than the other days?
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Yes, 12/24-25. Most families would not approve of using that window for skiing. New Year's Day is not bad either, as most people don't get up too early.

With regard to conditions, it is probably not worth the trouble unless there is a substantial dump before then. The weather forecasts are contradictory. Some are calling for snow between Sunday and Wednesday. I would wait to see what happens before committing to anything.

Skiing during Christmas "zoo week" can be especially unpleasant during lean snow years. If a couple of the areas in a region have decent snow, they will be even more overrun with the people fleeing the more marginal areas. I found this out the hard way at Alta in 1986.
Click to expand...
 
Today's storm is developing a bit stronger than expected, likely 2-3 feet, with another 1+ foot expected by Thursday. Sierra skiing could be worthwhile by this weekend.
 
Tony I was referring to your assumption is disapproved of by families. I have found quite the contrary. It is a special time they share together skiing as a family. They celebrate in the a.m. of p.m. and do not have any negative disapproving issues about skiing on Christmas. Instead it is an incredible, positive, sumptuous experience in their heads! It is the assumption that most families would disapprove of it. I don't agree at all. I think this is your experience. After you ski with devout Mormon families in Utah on Christmas, etc. you understand. Many folks, Jehovah Witnesses, etc. don't believe in celebrating either. It is not just our own experiences that are true. To many is is the best way to spend Christmas! Present opening, eating, worship take place at other times, not skiing hours! Even the hedonistic families at Big Bear have fun skiing on Christmas and feel blessed! (I could relate at Mammoth!).
 
CWHappyRN":2jxd9l38 said:
Tony I was referring to your assumption is disapproved of by families. I have found quite the contrary. It is a special time they share together skiing as a family. They celebrate in the a.m. of p.m. and do not have any negative disapproving issues about skiing on Christmas. Instead it is an incredible, positive, sumptuous experience in their heads! It is the assumption that most families would disapprove of it. I don't agree at all. I think this is your experience. After you ski with devout Mormon families in Utah on Christmas, etc. you understand. Many folks, Jehovah Witnesses, etc. don't believe in celebrating either. It is not just our own experiences that are true. To many is is the best way to spend Christmas! Present opening, eating, worship take place at other times, not skiing hours! Even the hedonistic families at Big Bear have fun skiing on Christmas and feel blessed! (I could relate at Mammoth!).
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I don't think the activity of skiing on Christmas is seen negatively by anyone. However, finding the time to ski and coordinating schedules with sometimes extended family members is really tough. Add gift exchange, a meal and a potential religious service - the resorts are lucky anyone skis. Especially at a $50-60 half-day rate!

Frankly, skiing on Christmas might be seen as selfish, not sacrilegious.

I still do not find it crowded to ski on Christmas. Maybe in comparison to a non-holiday weekday, but that is not really a fair comparison.
 
Thanks for the helpful replies. Looks like the snow is shaping up, but I still may have to wait, as my wife isn't interested in making the trip to Tahoe.
 
I still may go by myself to Kirkwood from San Jose. I would probably ski Sunday and/or Monday (perhaps cross country if downhill coverage isn't good enough to really experience the better terrain at Kirkwood.) What's the verdict based on their coverage and what is open?
Thanks,
Baldyskier (Roy)
 
All of Kirkwood's lifts and marked runs are allegedly open. Obviously with base depth of 37-44 inches many of the steeper lines aren't going to be there yet. Only half of Heavenly's runs are open, so come Dec. 26 I would expect excessive crowds at Kirkwood.

Mammoth has all lifts but 75% of runs. That is probably a realistic assessment of ski conditions at most Sierra areas. In summary, a little bit better than last year, when the corresponding storm hit Dec. 26-27 and was not as big as Dec. 18-20 this year.

Where last season in the Sierra really went sour was getting only a foot of snow in January after the below average holiday season. November and December are quite similar to last year so far, but any snow that comes between now and early February will make this year better.
 
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