Planning 1st trip out west...

[bigprocess]

this is truly amazing. i posted here hoping to find a few tips and the feedback has been overwhelming. thank you all for creating such a welcoming and informative environment.

it''s clear that you've all thought about 1st western experiences and have great ideas for any newbie. some of you have very slightly differing opinions, but for the most part i think you all hammered the same thing home: get diversity.

everybody was in favor of 2 locations- SLC and Summit CO. they both seem amazing from what i can gather here on the net. the variety of terrain and ability available having that many mountains in such close proximity makes total sense.

the lodging ideas- studio 6, hostels, etc are all things i never thought of. i was a little bummed when i was seeing prices over 100 dollars a night to stay at the villages. then food...wow.

the transportation seems to be available in SLC via the tracks and summit via the shuttles.

i honestly don't know which i'll pick at this point. i'll continue researching and buy tickets etc. this weekend. i'm stoked.

this has all been so much better than reading random reader reviews that don't really tell me anything about the resorts. for every good review, there's an equally scathing one put up in reply.

i THINK i'm leaning towards utah right now based on the general consensus that there are less crowds, great snow (although now lookin4powder has me a little worried about that), great public transport, cheap lodging, etc. i will spend some more time checking out colorado since i've honestly spent less time looking there since i'd heard it to be crowded from people i've known who went out there. of course, they're mostly fairly wealthy, stay at the resort, and go around Christmas.

again, thanks to all for the time and effort you put in. i'll even be checking out those particular flights. sometimes i can get cheaper flights from madison, wi too. i was going to wait to buy a ticket, but i doubt they'll be dropping much lower than those quotes.

p.s. it was nice to be on a forum where admins actually contributed to the discussion. props to all of you.

 

[Rikki_d]

Hello..
I am posting also for the first time, although I have been using this post to read and look at the awesome pics the other riders provide.
I'm from Sarnia ...hour North of Detroit and also a snowboarder...first time went to SLC was 2 yrs ago..2nd week of December..stayed in Park City..nice place hated the hill..truely a ski mtn..long traverses..much easier with poles and crowded...brought my group of buddies down for the week last year...stayed at the Super 8 in Midvale, we bought Super Passes and that worked out great..bus stopped just outside the doors...5 or 6 songs on the Ipod and your at Brighton and Solitude..If your a boarder you will love Brighton and Solitude, Snowbird rocks but as some as the other riders stated it can be a lil intimidating..I could tell that by the looks I got from some of my buddies..Mineral Basin on a Monday Morn. is the place to be!.Last year we took one day to hit Powder Mtn...This place can be fun except for the slooow lifts..If you only have a couple days..stay in SLC and take the bus unless u want to rent a car..I am bringing the gang again this Jan.13-20/07..Hoping to hit some dumps..although last Feb..we had above 45 deg. temps and was nice..the year before it was 4ft in 4 days..hit or miss the location from the airport to the mtn's are what sells me to keep going to SLC..and of course the parties that happen at the numerous bars..One of these years I'm going to rent a condo and just hang out around Pow. Mtn. and Snowbasin..Hope this helps! pic below is of the Basin at Snowbird..Booya!

 

[Admin]

Last year we took one day to hit Powder Mtn...This place can be fun except for the slooow lifts..

Welcome, Rikki_d!

You'll be happy to learn that the painfully slow Hidden Lake double at PowMow will be replaced this season by their first high-speed detachable quad. As their PR rep mentioned at a dinner I attended in September, and I paraphrase only slightly, "The old lift is for sale so someone else can claim the world's slowest chairlift! :lol:

 

[jasoncapecod]

I would go with Utah..So much to choose from and the airport is so convienent. It's a real schlep to Summit Co from DEN.
Where ever you go, It's going to be hard returning to the mid west. You will be changed for ever.

 

[Tony Crocker]

With regard to snow conditions observations such as

2 of the last 3 years have had great Decembers followed by mid-Jan droughts;thus, although SLC is a good option, it is not to be held as a gold standard for January. On the other hand, I have a buddy who usually skis Summit County, CO during Jan and seems to always have a blast.

are just statistical noise. There are almost no ski areas that have peaks and valleys of average snowfall through the season. There are regions where the average by month is very flat (Utah) and some with broad but mild peaks (December/January in PNW, January Jackson, March/April Front Range Colorado). The peaks are overwhelmed by random volatility in any individual season.

This is one instance where snow conditions shouldn't enter into his decision. The average expectation is very good, and the chance of poor conditions low at all locations analyzed here for mid-January. Odds are always better in the Cottonwood Canyons, but other factors may argue for going there on a later trip rather than the first trip. After all, this is the perfect time of year at Jackson Hole and no one is suggesting that he should go there.

I know many here disagree, but I strongly advise renting a car in Utah for flexibility. The option to ski Snowbasin/Powder Mt. is a good example why.

 

[tirolerpeter]

I know many here disagree, but I strongly advise renting a car in Utah for flexibility. The option to ski Snowbasin/Powder Mt. is a good example why.

I agree with Tony about renting a car. It certainly opens up your options about where to ski. But unfortunately for some, especially individuals under 25, the cost is prohibitive regardless of the area of the country they travel to. It is something that we "seniors" don't have to deal with. Ah, youth...wasted on the young!

 

[TeamSummit]

I am a Denver area resident and typically ski in Summit County. I know nothing about Utah since I haven't skied there since I raced as a child so I can't comment there.

A note about traffic for you, generally you'll see the worst times on Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday mornings 7am-10am going up and anytime after 2pm going down on the weekends. For that reason, I have a pretty hard and fast rule that I am off the mountain by 1pm on Sundays. I can't do that on Saturdays because I coach and we are on the mountain until at least 3pm. I agree that if you can swing a Monday morning flight out you'd be much better off.

As far as terrain, I think you'd be fine at any of the Summit County mountains and they would give you plenty of variety. I would definitely look into a 3 mountain ticket for Breck, A-Basin and Keystone so that you can try each of them.

Whatever you decide, have fun!