Where do you think it's the best place to ski during Xmas?

L

loveski

New member
Hi there,

I can't believe Xmas is coming and we don't get that much snow in Tahoe! :(

Where do you think it's the best place for Xmas?

I went to Whister during Thanksgiving and I love it. I'm just an average skier who enjoy blue run. I think Whistler Mt has better snow than Blackcomb Mt at that time.

Then I went to Heavenly last week. It was like spring! Sunny though a bit cold.... I enjoyed Liz's run and Dipper....

I'm thinking about going back to Heavenly during Dec 24-26 since I have season pass there. However, it seems like there won't be new snow and the weather will be something like 40-50s!!!

I hate to pay for airfare but do you think there is a better place out there that it's not too exp like Whistler? :lol:
 
I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but the Cottonwood areas have received 7 feet of snow in the past week, and are skiing primo right now. Cheap digs may be found in the Salt Lake Valley, even over the holidays, and SLC Airport's status as a hub for Delta ensures reasonable flight prices (or even drive times from CA).
 
Cottonwoods went from less than half normal to about 120% in the past 2 weeks. It's unclear whether the Park City group and Snowbasin got enough snow to get everything open for Xmas.

But Northern Rockies and Colorado on or north of I-70 are having the best early season since 1996-97, close to 200% of normal. For Xmas high snow areas (Targhee, Jackson, Vail, Steamboat, Winter Park) should be outstanding, and some of the places that are normally sketchy at Xmas (Big Sky, Bridger, Summit County in CO) will be good this year.

Mt. Bachelor will also be excellent, and the Washington State areas will be good. This last round of storms tracked south of Whistler, so it is now below average and needs some more snow to get everything open for Xmas. The rest of western Canada looks close to average.

SLC is logistically easy, but for the busy Xmas-to-New Year's week I would recommend someplace off the beaten track: Big Sky/Bridger, Jackson/Targhee, Bachelor or Steamboat.

Just reread the post that you're an "average" skier. I strongly recommend Mt. Bachelor. It's drivable from Northern Cal, high speed lifts everywhere but very uncrowded, and you should be able to find a reasonable place to stay in Bend. Current base depth of 79 inches isn't going anywhere. I was there at Christmas 1985 on 50 inches and 90% of terrain was skiable.
 
I can vouch for the Colorado conditions off of I70 this year. Amazing, the snowpack wasn't this good until Febuarary of last year, and it wasn't a bad year. If you choose to fly out this way, Steamboat might be to your liking. It's about 21/2 hours from the Airport or you can charter a plane to fly in locally. Driving is probaly a less expensive option.
Tony's advice on Oregon is probably spot on. You could even head a little further up North to the Washington areas for tons of snow. I have to admit I am not aware as to how the terrain up there would suit you.
 
I agree that for an intermediate skier Steamboat would also be an excellent choice. I suspect Bachelor will be much cheaper though.
 
Admin":17h45zhy said:
I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but the Cottonwood areas have received 7 feet of snow in the past week, and are skiing primo right now. Cheap digs may be found in the Salt Lake Valley, even over the holidays, and SLC Airport's status as a hub for Delta ensures reasonable flight prices (or even drive times from CA).
Click to expand...

That's it, I'm coming. Don't think I can do it before xmas though. :-(

Early January will be like what, typically? Below freezing in the city?

Maury
 
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