Skiing from Boulder (p.1, then Random Topics)

[rsmith]

My conclusion is that the best base location for skiing is actually somewhere like Laguna Beach, CA. Stick with me here. Perfect weather, no smog, beautiful surroundings, access to a huge metro area with every amenity you could ever want . All you need to do is make a hell of a lot of money so a) you can live there, and b) you can jump on a plane out of LAX as soon as a storm hits and be at Alta (or Whistler, Jackson, the Selkirks, etc.) a few hours later. It's all so simple... O

Why not Lyon France? It's 1 hour from the Alps. No superficial culture (i.e. that show laguna beach :lol: :shock: ), close to the alps, and it's the capital of France's culinary scene. The weather is pretty good, and if it's too cold drive 1 1/2 hours to nice. Oh yeah, and health care is free.

You're right - there's probably any number of places near the Alps that absolutely blow away anywhere in the U.S. (or the world) in terms of resort access, scenery, culture, food, nightlife, etc. But, as Tony would likely state, there are few (if any) resorts in the Alps where you're going to get anything approaching the consistent powder conditions of the Rockies and Canadian ranges...

 

[Tony Crocker]

Laguna Beach, CA.

I spent nearly every summer weekend there growing up as my grandmother lived there until 1972. I also shared a very small condo there 1988-1990.

Why not Lyon France?

I think Patrick would sign up for that pretty fast.

 

[Geoff]

My conclusion is that the best base location for skiing is actually somewhere like Laguna Beach, CA. Stick with me here. Perfect weather, no smog, beautiful surroundings, access to a huge metro area with every amenity you could ever want . All you need to do is make a hell of a lot of money so a) you can live there, and b) you can jump on a plane out of LAX as soon as a storm hits and be at Alta (or Whistler, Jackson, the Selkirks, etc.) a few hours later. It's all so simple... O

Why not Lyon France? It's 1 hour from the Alps. No superficial culture (i.e. that show laguna beach :lol: :shock: ), close to the alps, and it's the capital of France's culinary scene. The weather is pretty good, and if it's too cold drive 1 1/2 hours to nice. Oh yeah, and health care is free.

I suppose you could make the same argument for NYC. The weather isn't perfect but the concentration of activities and amenities in the city is a lot better. I know people who have pretty much stopped skiing the Northeast. With all the air service and discounting, you can do 3-day weekends in SLC for less than it costs to get yourself to Vermont when you consider the expense of running a car in NYC. You can also get to Geneva really easily.

 

[Geoff]

Uh huh. Sounds like someone has such an East Coast inferiority complex that they think everything has to be an East/West food fight. :lol:

The East and West don't have food fights. It's the marginal restaurant scene of Salt Lake City that has the issue. I've seen your photos of the dog vomit on a styrofoam plate you call good eatin'. :mrgreen:

/troll

Personnally, I like the summer salt water life in New England. Denver or Salt Lake wouldn't work for me.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I know people who have pretty much stopped skiing the Northeast. With all the air service and discounting, you can do 3-day weekends in SLC for less than it costs to get yourself to Vermont when you consider the expense of running a car in NYC. You can also get to Geneva really easily.

I've been making the point for some time that above strategies are most appropriate for skiers based in NYC and other metro areas farther south on the East Coast.

 

[Marc_C]

It's the marginal restaurant scene of Salt Lake City that has the issue. I've seen your photos of the dog vomit on a styrofoam plate you call good eatin'.

Geoff, you win the prize for one of the weekest trolls ever! You know damned well there's excellent dining here!

Personally, I like the summer salt water life in New England. Denver or Salt Lake wouldn't work for me.

There certainly is that lack if that's what you want. Personally, I don't swim or boat, so it's of no concern. However one thing I do miss from New England is the rocky Maine coast and the ease of getting fresh, reasonably priced shellfish - notably Maine lobsters and littleneck clams. And although not NE, Chesapeake Bay oysters.

 

[Admin]

It's the marginal restaurant scene of Salt Lake City that has the issue. I've seen your photos of the dog vomit on a styrofoam plate you call good eatin'.

Geoff, you win the prize for one of the weekest trolls ever! You know damned well there's excellent dining here!

You weren't privy to the inside joke. Geoff's actually referring to a Facebook/Twitter post I sent yesterday from lunch at Pat's BBQ:

The best pork rib ends I've ever had, accompanied by jambalaya and homemade corn bread. Yum!

It came with some seriously talented lunchtime entertainment:

Notice the old guy sitting at the table at the stage's back right. He just sat there tapping the table with his hand, otherwise barely moving. We concluded that he was their percussionist. :lol:

I've been meaning to get there for years. If you can find it at its dead-end alley location in South Salt Lake, they serve amazing food in a funky eclectic joint.

 

[Marc_C]

Oh. I get it now. I'm absolutely certain it tasted fantastic, but presentation is obviously not their forte.
And remember, anything you post to twitterhead you need to cross post here for those of us who no longer teenagers who hang on every 140 char missive from BFFs.

Don't sweat it though - twitface only has about another 10 months of traction before it too fades into obscurity like myspace and second life.

 

[Patrick]

Why not Lyon France?

I think Patrick would sign up for that pretty fast.

I don't think so. Lyon is a beautiful city, but winter in Lyon and surrounding area is depressing. Grey, rain or fog...you don't get to see the blue sky very often. I've stayed

Why not Lyon France? It's 1 hour from the Alps. No superficial culture , close to the alps, and it's the capital of France's culinary scene. The weather is pretty good, and if it's too cold drive 1 1/2 hours to nice. Oh yeah, and health care is free.

What this with all this food conversation and dog vomit in plates in this thread. :roll: Lyon is close to the Alps, but there is no way that you are 1 hour from the skiing. I know what I'm talking about here, I've done a few day trips from my in-laws east of Lyon toward the Alps. Grenoble is maybe 1 hour, but then you need to get up the switchbacks to Chamrousse.

1 1/2 hours to Nice???? What are you smoking? Try 4-5 hours maybe? Oh yeah, Health care isn't really free....however universities are free.

 

[Tony Crocker]

but winter in Lyon and surrounding area is depressing. Grey, rain or fog...you don't get to see the blue sky very often.

Pot (Ottawa, Quebec), meet kettle. :lol:

But Patrick has a point about distance to the mountains, as I recall flying in and out of Lyon on the La Grave trip.

 

[rfarren]

Oh. I get it now. I'm absolutely certain it tasted fantastic, but presentation is obviously not their forte.

Who cares how it looks, it's BBQ, it's supposed to be serve on a styrofoam plate.

 

[rfarren]

1 1/2 hours to Nice???? What are you smoking? Try 4-5 hours maybe?

TGV? I did it a couple of years ago. I think it was about 2 hours. I might be confusing this with train ride with Avignon though so I'll defer to you Patrick. I will say Milan is another city well located for skiing.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I will say Milan is another city well located for skiing.

Geneva (as noted by james earlier in this thread), Munich, Zurich also.

As one who lives somewhat near beach resorts, I will say the Mediterranean does not impress me in that department.

 

[rfarren]

As one who lives somewhat near beach resorts, I will say the Mediterranean does not impress me in that department.

Why would that be? The French and Italian rivieras are wonderful. I would rather go to the surrounding areas of Nice nine of ten times over L.A's beach areas.

 

[rsmith]

As one who lives somewhat near beach resorts, I will say the Mediterranean does not impress me in that department.

Why would that be? The French and Italian rivieras are wonderful. I would rather go to the surrounding areas of Nice nine of ten times over L.A's beach areas.

They're definitely beautiful, but all the Mediterranean beaches I have been to (France/Italy) are rocky - no sand. Plus, they're much more crowded than L.A. beaches - at many you have to rent spots. Plus, you can forget about surfing - the surf is practically nonexistent. The area from Newport Beach down to Dana Point is really pretty and relatively secluded. I agree the other beaches in Southern California are not anywhere near as nice - but you can still surf... In Northern California the coastline is stunning - and there's a good deal of nice beaches and excellent surfing. The only problem is the cold water, but my kids have no problem swimming in it.

 

[rfarren]

Some of the beaches are rocky, but many are not. I wouldn't know about surfing, but to me cold water is more of a deterent than rocks. Aren't there also massive great white sharks in Cali :wink: .

 

[Tony Crocker]

As with the snow, I'm more interested in the recreational options than just looking at the scenery. I suspect surf is rare in the Mediterranean. Calm ocean water I like for snorkel and scuba, and the Mediterranean is not known for that either.

Aren't there also massive great white sharks in Cali

I'm guessing the death rate from that would be comparable to in-bounds avalanche from skiing.

 

[rsmith]

As with the snow, I'm more interested in the recreational options than just looking at the scenery. I suspect surf is rare in the Mediterranean. Calm ocean water I like for snorkel and scuba, and the Mediterranean is not known for that either.

Aren't there also massive great white sharks in Cali

I'm guessing the death rate from that would be comparable to in-bounds avalanche from skiing.

From some quick searches the death rate for in-bounds skiing looks to be at least 10x that of shark deaths... The National Ski Areas Association http://www.nsaa.org/nsaa/press/facts-ski-snbd-safety.asp states the annual average at around 40 deaths - I assume this is inbounds based on the way they state their data and I believe it's only for the U.S. From what I read shark deaths have lately been as low as 0 per year, world-wide. Normally less than 10. Surprising... Especially the 40 deaths for inbounds skiing - I figured it would be lower since the media seems to report on them quite readily. Still better odds than getting hit by lightning...

 

[Admin]

The National Ski Areas Association http://www.nsaa.org/nsaa/press/facts-ski-snbd-safety.asp states the annual average at around 40 deaths - I assume this is inbounds based on the way they state their data and I believe it's only for the U.S.

No that's got to be both in-bounds and out of bounds and not only to skiers. Until a couple of years ago inbounds avi deaths in the U.S. were nearly non-existent.

 

[berkshireskier]

40 deaths per year from avalanches in-bounds at U.S. ski areas??? I'd be highly suspect of that number. I would guess more like 5 to 10 deaths per year in bounds at U.S. ski areas (and maybe not even that high a number most years). I'm sure if you included all deaths from avalanches in the U.S, inluding snowmobilers and back country skiers, it would average at least 40 per year. I'm guessing there are not more than 5 people per year who are killed by sharks off of U.S. beaches. By the way, there are some beautiful, sandy beaches along the "Tuscan Riviera" on the northwest coast of Italy - NOT rocky at all but NO waves for surfing.