Where to go March 17-21

[johnnash]

I'm just about to start planning our last hurrah spring trip out west, March 17-21, and I'm trying to decide where to go. I've paid attention to Tony's advice -- that on average places like Mammoth and Bachelor tend to have the best spring conditions -- but I wonder about this year. When I look at the weather.com temperature history for February for the resorts in the Sierras and the PNW -- and even SLC -- it looks to me like there must have been a lot of thawing and re-freezing (with many highs recently in the high 40s to mid 50s), so there's gonna be a lot of crust under whatever dust may fall over the next couple of weeks. It appears that the Summit County areas and Steamboat have been the least affected - with most of the resorts there having had only 1 or 2 days with highs barely above 40 in February (no days over 40 in the case of Copper). But I don't really have much experience in spring skiing in the west, so maybe I'm off base in being so concerned about this. Anyone care to weigh in with a word of advice? Thanks very much.

 

[Admin]

Just a word of caution: for Weather.com "Alta" is located at its zip code post office...in Sandy, where it's consistently 10-20 degrees warmer. It hasn't been as warm here (yet) as you seem to believe.

 

[Marc_C]

...-- it looks to me like there must have been a lot of thawing and re-freezing (with many highs recently in the high 40s to mid 50s), so there's gonna be a lot of crust under whatever dust may fall over the next couple of weeks.

That's an east coast perspective that doesn't take into account the dryness or elevation here. IOW, those crusts either don't really form, at least not to the extent you think they might (nw thru ne aspects), and the ones that do quickly disappear, or even better, turn to corn on the E, S, and W aspects. If fact, the dryness coupled with freeze/thaw often gives recrystallized powder on the north aspects.

And like Marc said, the Alta and Sandy zip codes are the same, and weather.com is generating their "Alta" data from 3500' lower, 14 miles away.

 

[EMSC]

March 17-21 is not exactly all that late a 'spring' trip for Utah or Colo (or other high elevation places).

In Colo it's potentially different on every day by/starting around that time of year. Could be sunny, warm spring conditions; could be slush at the base and winter up top; or could be full on winter and powder.

March is the snowiest month out here in Colo on average (and prob much of the west). I'm doing a road trip even later than your dates and hoping for at least a powder day or two mixed in...

The only other thing I can think of telling you is that south facing stuff will (on non-snoyw days) get slushy (or very heavy powder, etc...) anytime the sun does come out. So, Vail's back bowls for example could be great for a few hours on a powder day or be like a brick of chopped up snow under 2" of new, say or who knows what the weather will throw at you, etc... North facing stuff will usually (barring a major above normal stretch) preserve very good for far longer into spring than your trip dates...

 

[Tony Crocker]

The humidity factor is important, as MarcC said. As my young engineers Adam and Ben explained while in Canada, "Air is a good insulator. Water/humidity transmits heat more effectively. That's why humidity makes both heat and cold extremes more uncomfortable."

I have many times at Mammoth and Snowbird skied dry winter snow on north aspects whle wearing a T-shirt in the 50 degree air.

Exposure is the key variable in western ski areas in March. Areas with more south than north like Jackson and Steamboat will be tough unless there is lot of new snow. You cold make that argument about Vail's bowls, but there is so much other terrain to ski there while waiting for the right timing on the bowls. As both johnnash and I observed first week of April last year.

Mid-March is usully still winter out here.

 

[johnnash]

Thanks to all for the advice. Based on these reassurances -- and also the fact that it's really tough to find space in Summit Co. (I guess all CO school systems must be on spring break this week) or at Mammoth -- we decided to go to SLC. This experience of looking for space at the last minute during a spring break week underscored for me another real advantage (as if one were needed!) of this area for tourist skiers like us. SLC has a big bed base of hotels apparently oriented to business travelers, which tends to clear out on holidays, leaving plenty of room for us.

I only wish that spring break were a week earlier, since my wife's going to a women's clinic at The Canyons Mar 7- 9, so if the break were earlier, she could just stay there. Between this and our annual Christmas trip She's going to start thinking of the SLC airport as her second home!

We're planning to stay at a new (for us) place -- Chase Suites downtown, since they really have a good deal. If anyone has any reason to think this is not a nice place, please let me know.

 

[rfarren]

we decided to go to SLC

You won't regret it! There is a reason Alta is rated #1 in customer satisfaction by ski magazine. Besides Alta, there are a ton of great resorts. I have a new love affair there: her name is snowbasin. :wink:

 

[Tony Crocker]

I would remind johnnash that Mt Bachelor is an excellent fit for him and his family and I don't think Bend hotels fill up completely. But I'd push that recommendation more when his Easter week break is later. This year is as early as it gets, so I agree to treat it as a winter trip and go for the March pow (that I seem to miss) in SLC.