Temporary Freedom Jan 12-16 - Where to go?

[Mike Bernstein]

I have a unique opportunity (for me at least) to get away from rainless/snowless California in the Sunday-Wednesday time frame for a brief ski junket. I am looking for the considered wisdom of the contributors here with respect to where I should be thinking of flying to. My requirements as follows:

1) Reasonably likely to have good conditions, with snow over a solid base in the recent past or during that window

2) Is served by a direct flight from LAX or Burbank

2) Has a Starwood property in town, or via a shuttle to the mtn.

Excluding Mammoth, I think this leaves the list of contenders as follows:

SLC (not counting DV/PC b/c the St. Regis is not on the itinerary for solo missions)
Steamboat
Snowmass
Beaver Creek (Avon)
Whistler

Looks like there is snow in the forecast for the Wasatch and presumably Steamboat in the Thursday-monday period, so I guess those would be the leaders in the clubhouse at this point.

Thoughts? Anecdotes?

 

[jimk]

I skied Aspen/Snowmass/Highlands and Loveland in late Dec/early Jan (just a few days before the dates of Mr. Crocker's visits) and all were in real good shape including Highland Bowl. They've all gotten a few more little dumps of snow since then. Ajax on 12/29/13:

 

[EMSC]

Forecasts look good through ~14th for Colorado and i heard Beaver Creek was going to open Stone Creek chutes... etc... I suspect SLC will be in the mix for these storms too, so Either SLC or Beav/Snowmass I think are pretty good bets for early next week.

 

[Marc_C]

The Wasatch forecast right now is calling for over a foot of settled snow by Sunday evening. That could easily mean 2+ feet of new snow over the weekend, depending on density.

 

[Staley]

I'm in a similar situation as you with the Starwood properties, and have been told that SLC is not where you want to do Starwood. I've heard less than inspiring things about the Sheraton in SLC, and considering you'd probably want to be skiing the LCC, the shuttle/drive could be greatly decreased by staying in one of the many hotels near or in the canyon. I have looked into the shuttle to the LCC from the Sheraton downtown and it also appears that it arrives slightly after the lifts open, so that's an additional disadvantage if you're trying to get powder without renting a car.

I'm headed to Aspen in a few days and have therefore been following the weather patterns. It seems like Steamboat has been favored in the last few small storms, but that can certainly change. Still, Aspen is fully open and has the better terrain.

 

[Mike Bernstein]

I'm in a similar situation as you with the Starwood properties, and have been told that SLC is not where you want to do Starwood. I've heard less than inspiring things about the Sheraton in SLC, and considering you'd probably want to be skiing the LCC, the shuttle/drive could be greatly decreased by staying in one of the many hotels near or in the canyon. I have looked into the shuttle to the LCC from the Sheraton downtown and it also appears that it arrives slightly after the lifts open, so that's an additional disadvantage if you're trying to get powder without renting a car.

I'm headed to Aspen in a few days and have therefore been following the weather patterns. It seems like Steamboat has been favored in the last few small storms, but that can certainly change. Still, Aspen is fully open and has the better terrain.

This is really helpful beta re: the SLC Sheraton. Might be a game changer. Not in a position to pay for a hotel, so SLC may be out.

 

[Admin]

Hey Bernstein, you may recall you personally know someone in SLC, although Crocker may have pre-reserved the guest room for the first part of your visit.

 

[Tony Crocker]

It seems like Steamboat has been favored in the last few small storms, but that can certainly change. Still, Aspen is fully open and has the better terrain.

Obviously we've enjoyed our time in Aspen/Snowmass, as we extended it 2 days. We've had 2 "refresher storms" since we have been here (the ones that were much more in Steamboat), one more occurring now, with 2 more predicted for Friday and Sunday (these supposed to be similar throughout Colorado). Here at Aspen/Snowmass these have all been of the 2-4 inch variety. It' may not be deep powder, but the stated 93% open is accurate and there is no melt/frozen snow whatsoever. However, Joel Gratz says after the Sunday storm Colorado is going to be dry for a week.

I think Colorado has had the better skiing than Utah the past 2-3 weeks. However the upcoming storms are supposed to be the real deal in Utah, totaling 2-3 feet. Thus that's where we're headed tomorrow. We have to drive back to SoCal no later than the 14th.

The Utah areas outside the Cottonwoods still seem to have substantial proportions of terrain not yet open. Supposedly Powder Mt. is only 20% open. Hopefully that will change after this weekend.

Whistler was only 60% open with less than half normal snow a week ago. 14 inches since then, but they still need more.

 

[Admin]

the upcoming storms are supposed to be the real deal in Utah, totaling 2-3 feet.

Keep in mind that's the total of all 3 systems moving through this week. The first wave dropped the first 10" of that already today. The second wave moves through tomorrow, and at least in the Salt Lake Valley it's supposed to be a bit stronger than today's. System #3 arrives Saturday night into Sunday but that system is still a real wildcard - it very well may split.

Also, "2-3 feet" is overstating the forecast just a bit, although today's first wave clearly exceeded expectations.

On the good side, base depths at Alta' s mid-Collins snow plot are now at 56", which is a season to date high.

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3 using Tapatalk

 

[socal]

the upcoming storms are supposed to be the real deal in Utah, totaling 2-3 feet.

Keep in mind that's the total of all 3 systems moving through this week. The first wave dropped the first 10" of that already today. The second wave moves through tomorrow, and at least in the Salt Lake Valley it's supposed to be a bit stronger than today's. System #3 arrives Saturday night into Sunday but that system is still a real wildcard - it very well may split.

Also, "2-3 feet" is overstating the forecast just a bit, although today's first wave clearly exceeded expectations.

On the good side, base depths at Alta' s mid-Collins snow plot are now at 56", which is a season to date high.

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3 using Tapatalk

If you got 10 already the guys at Utahskiweather.com would agree with 2-3 ft. I land tomorrow night, looking forward to fighting the locals Friday morning at Alta.


Forecasts »
LOCATION Little Cottonwood Canyon
ELEVATION 8530-10550 feet
SIZE 115 runs / 2200 acres / 10 lifts

Alta Ski Area
THURSDAY
9 January

Snow, heavy for the majority of the day...
9AM: 18° 3PM: 10°
SNOW: 10-20" WINDS: 15-30mph
FRIDAY
10 January

Light, showery snow later in the day
9AM: 15° 3PM: 23°
SNOW: 2-4" WINDS: 20-35mph
SATURDAY
11 January

Slight chance of snow early, winds picking up later
9AM: 26° 3PM: 30°
SNOW: 1-3" WINDS: 20-40mph
SUNDAY
12 January
22° 26°
MONDAY
13 January
27° 22°
Current Weather (9 Jan at 12:00am)
14° TEMPERATURE
WNW at 6 mph WINDS

Snow Report (8 Jan)
Open RESORT STATUS
Machine Groomed SNOW CONDITIONS
53" BASE DEPTH / 2" NEW SNOW (48hrs)