 Poster: A snowHead
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i'm partial to winter park for the following reasons
1. historically great snow.
2. if you like bumps we have all shapes/sizes
3. quiet town and rare for any lift lines
winter park/mary jane does have plenty of groomed terrain and above treeline skiing. i tell you what it is getting more and more known for is the tree/glade skiing. if you know where to go the skiing in the trees is superb and often affords fresh snow long after other runs are cut up.
steamboat is typically great early season and through february. the base area is a little on the low side and i'd be afraid to suggest the place past march 15th. i'd call it hit or miss in late march. the mountain is great with varied terrain and it does have legendary powder mid winter.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks Rusty Guy,
Thought I had decided on Tahoe, but have narrowed it down to:
Heavenly
Winterpark
Steamboat
Big Sky
Park City
Also considering going early season, maybe second week of December for 7 nights.
All thoughts welcome
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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The drive from LA to Mammoth takes most of the day, but is prettyspectacular. Mammoth is a pretty good spot.
http://www.mammothmountain.com/
There may well be more convenient resorts for LA.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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^ I've been told getting to Mammoth takes something like 5/6 hours - is that about right?
I might consider Mammoth then going on to the Tahoe area which is only another hour or two beyond, or so I'm told.
Only hassle is the return trip which could be long so if there's anything good nearer LA it'd definitely be of interest.
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roga, If you go mid season and check the snow LA has the following resorts virtually on the city limits in the mountains that surround it:
Snow Valley
Snow Summit
Big Bear Mountain (mucho boarders and hill furniture but big enough for everyone)
Big Air Winter Park
all to the East
North of the city you've got
Mt. Baldy
Snowcrest
Mt. Waterman
Buckhorn ski/snowboard club (private mountain but you can be a guest)
Mountain High
Ski Sunrise
There are a bunch more tiny or private resorts with only a lift or two and only operate at the weekends
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roga, 5/6 hours is probably right. As I said, it's a beautiful drive, although we did it later in the year than you will. I'd guess that Tahoe is more than an hour or two beyond Mammoth. There's plenty in Mammoth to keep you amused for a week or more.
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If you fly into San Francisco, Heavenly is just 3 hours drive away. (But make sure you get snow chains, you might well need them for the last 30 miles).
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Or if you get flight from LAX to Reno (c.$210-220 Alaska Air/Amerian Air return) and allowing 1hour drive or transfer (No Stress Express $95 return), Tahoe's only 3hrs from LA (quoting times/costs to Squaw - actually S. Lake Tahoe/Heavenly has cheaper options coz there is shuttle coach down there for the casinos)
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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roga, I think you'll find that Mammoth will keep you entertained, although visiting Tahoe would obviously be a good thing to do. The drive LA to Mammoth is excellent, but Death Valley is not part of the route; it would need a detour which, I think, would take a long time (another day, I'd guess, at least). The scenery is impressive, although like all N.American scenery it doesn't change minute by minute. There are the usual slightly odd towns to pass through (are all US towns other than big cities a bit weird, or is it just me?).
We o/ned at LAX (Wyndham Hotel, good pool, excellent brekkie) and then set off (saved a day's car hire, FWIW). Got to Mammoth easily the next day without busting a gut.
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brian
brian
Guest
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roga, it may also be worth checking the price for returning via SF or Vegas and getting an internal flight added in. I had to do a site visit in one of the armpits of the universe in New Jersey once. Got a flight to Boston, stayed the weekend with a mate and then home from there at no extra charge.
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You know it makes sense.
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johnboy,
To throw another couple of suggestions into the mix:
Big Mountain, Montana and Fernie BC. - Both quite close (though separated by the 49th parallel). Friendly locals, good snow in March/April, few crowds, a good mix of relaxed and challenging terrain.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I am now considering going in Mid December. Should that effect my choice?
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Poster: A snowHead
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johnboy, Decisions, decisions 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thanks for all the brilliant advice - I'm going to sit down and mull it all over now and decide exactly what I'll be doing. 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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BC - close ?????? Yeah well s'pose it is apart from Oregon and Washington states being in the way. I would think Geneva is comfortably closer to UK.
roga Mammoth will have more than enough to entertain you. Personally I think Squaw is brilliant and there is Heavenly too around Lake Tahoe (not to mention smaller but excellent terrain Alpine, Kirkwood etc.) both of which have enough terrain to keep you amused for a week but I would stick with one area or another unless you want a sight seeing trip. Spectacular scenery but doesn't change that quickly and you could end up spending a lot more time on the road than on the snow especially if there's bad weather (snow!!!!). Even if you fly out from different airport to LAX. Given that you're starting in LA either drive to Mammoth or fly to Reno hire car there do Tahoe and fly out from SF, I'd do Mammoth  .
johnboy If it helps over last 5 yrs or so Squaw has had 100-150 inches of snow by Christmas but obviously that early in season you may be there when the first storms are arriving (true of anywhere). Aparrently this year was pretty poor and they had 100" although I believe it wasn't very nice snow, '99 also was pretty poor (60" - must've been in Whistler with me). You might be better off at Heavenly where they groom more which obviously with low snow is helpful no idea how much it takes to fill in at Squaw and with 200" still I'm probably not going to find out.
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johnboy
Squaw this year had a late start for decent coverage then was completely washed out by rain on New Year's Eve at lower elevations. I went up to have a look & it was definitely green in the bits that weren't raging torrents.
I'd say anywhere in NA is a bit of a gamble still in mid December - probably a better chance than Europe of full opening & powder but definitely not guaranteed. Higher the better so Colorado & Utah less likely to be rained out but still need to have been hit by early season storms - I remember seeing World Cup events at Park City on tv on the man made ribbon of death.
roga - on the same trip I made the drive to Mammoth straight from a transatlantic flight into LAX. Not too bad - didn't even stop till the Mojave, very simple navigation but I guess I was lucky with LA traffic. I've heard that Mountain High often has real gangstas not just freestylers with their pants round their knees but the genuine article with guns in their waistbands - anyone confirm or deny this?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Anybody got any views on Smugglers Notch.
I know its good for kids which is why we would be going but what is the skiing and boarding like for adults. I have also heard it is pretty cold so when is the best time to go. Wife and children like March skiing in the Alps. Where is the best place to stay we don't mind hotels, condos or chalets and the best way to get there. The kids will be from five and a half to about eight from beginners to two weekers.
Thanks for any input
ash
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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snoflake,
Close.....to each other.
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Interesting
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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johnboy, think you and mrs JB should take virgin into san fran and allow yourself a few days in town then head over to lake tahoe for some great skiing and awesome views. And its easy to safari different resorts with the benefit of ski lift pass covering a bunch of different resorts like Heavenly, Kirkwood, Northstar at Tahoe, Sierra at Tahoe, and Squaw Valley. Check out the following link http://www.ultimate-ski.com/uk/Ski_Resorts/United_States/Squaw_Valley,_CA/index.html which may help you. have fun
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ashton parker,
Just saw your question about Smuggler's Notch. I've not skied there so I'm not much help but I do live in and ski in the Northeast and I have been to Smuggler's Notch. My wife and I absolutely love Stowe. I think Stowe village is world class and the skiing can be terrific. That said it's difficult for me to recommend that anyone cross the pond just for a ski trip to the Northeast. The weather is just so unpredictable. This past winter it seemed every good snow fall was followed by heavy rain. We spent a week in Stowe in January and were lucky, we had good conditions every day but as we were leaving it was pouring rain, then it gets cold, and then you have a big ice cube that takes lots of grooming to even become decent again. There were periods in March when the Northern VT areas had excellent snow. Weather is obviously unpredicable everywhere (Whistler was horrible last year until very late) but especially in New England. I'd say late February through most of March would be the best time to plan a trip. March tends to be both the snowiest month but also a time when there are lots of sunny days and the days are longer. Days can be short and cold in January. Part of Smuggler's is on the same mountain as part of Stowe, but they are about 45 minutes to an hour apart by car during winter. By reputation Smuggs is very child friendly. Our limited experience at Smuggs is that it's really geared towards families and has a bit of a Disney like feel - that's not bad except that we're old child less crumudgeons (at least I am -- my wife is actually quite charming). I have no doubt they have excellent ski instruction and programs for children. By reputation the lifts are slow but lots of adults really like skiing there and there is some challenging terrain. I don't think there's much there to entertain adults without children. Stowe, on the other hand, has great restaurants.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Well, never managed that trip yet, but considering North America for next season. Same resorts on my list.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Go for it johnboy, we got back from Heavenly a week or so ago,loved the place,plenty of long crusing pistes,not busy at all.
We were lucky i guess with plenty of snow and glorious blue skys,perfect ski conditions in fact.
Only advice i'd give is not to do the Journey straight fron san fran after the long flight,stay overnight in san fran then go 1st thing in the morning,we didn't and found the last hr or so drive up and over the hill to the resort very tiring
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LIAMJ,
Where did you stay? How long did you go for? My mate is still living in SF, so that is a good reason to visit Tahoe.
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You know it makes sense.
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Stayed in the Forest Suites Resort,which to be fair is ok and in an ideal position,just under the main gondola in Heavenly ,unfortunately we stayed during half-term week and the hotel had 4 schools from the UK running wild in it!
Deff wouldn't stay there again during school hols,looked at a couple of other places nearby a Marriott resort hotel was next door that look really nice,although i guess a bit pricey and The Embassy Suites that also looked good.
Although there is an excellent shuttle service to all the base lifts,i'd recomend staying as near as poss to the main Gondola
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Still thinking about it.
LIAMJ,
What sort of atmosphere is there in Heavenly? For some reason Heavenly is cheaper than alot of the Colarado resorts?
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Poster: A snowHead
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| johnboy wrote: |
| What sort of atmosphere is there in Heavenly? |
Mainly sunny, with a few cottonwool clouds with harpists. 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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FAQ
), so as long as you can resist spending your money on the gambling they are quite a good deal! 
then Virginia City (old western mining town) and Carson City (Nevada state capital where John Wayne's last film The Shootist was filmed) are within easy distance.