 Poster: A snowHead
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Looks like I may spend Christmas and New Year with the inlaws in San Francisco, and if I'm there I might as well go skiing in the States for the following week / 9 days.
I've skied once before in Snowbird +Jackson Hole, but I was still a tentative offpiste skier. I could go back to one of those - any other thoughts?
Anyone skied in the Lake Tahoe resorts and can give me some info?
I'm asking on TGR as well, of course, but I'd like the views of those who usually ski the Alps...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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horizon, I love Utah and Wyoming and have heard that Tahoe is fine if you're there but not worth making a trip for. That said, Squaw didn't seem to do Scot Schmidt any harm 
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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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Chase snow. That time of year can be very nice or very dry, in any region.
If there's sufficient snow cover, the easiest would be Tahoe region and/or Mammoth (come to think of it, Mammoth tend to have good snow that time of year).
Unless there's insufficient cover in the Tahoe and Mammoth region, I don't see the point to going to Snowbird or even Jackson Hole. There's quite a lot of advance terrain in Squaw, Kirkwood and Mammoth.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I went skiing North Tahoe (Squaw, Alpine, Sugar Bowl, Northstars) at Christmas time for 3 weeks few years ago, exceptional epic snowfall that year, Squaw recorded 63 inches of snow in 72 hours. The following year, snowfall was only a fraction of previous season.
Last year, I went skiing South Tahoe (Heavenly, Kirkwood, Howewood) in mid Jan for 4 weeks. Snow was OK, better than the year before.
Tahoe is convenient, easy drive from San Fran. If you are flying, then you have many choices - Utah, Colorado, Wyoming.
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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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Kirkwood and Squaw nuff said unless Tahoe's been skunked.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| abc wrote: |
| Chase snow. That time of year can be very nice or very dry, in any region. |
This. Americans tend to book much later than Europeans so late availability is unlikely to be a problem.
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| Quote: |
| Anyone skied in the Lake Tahoe resorts and can give me some info? |
A fair few resorts to pick from - so more than enough to keep you entertained.
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Ok more time for the lowdown
Tahoe region generally - snow can be good or terrible at that time of year. If it's bad it can get good really quickly if the storms roll in. Chances are if it's not good in Tahoe rest of the west (i.e. SLC, Colorado, Jackson) won't be epic as they get largely the same systems. Pac NW/BC different rules.
Resorts
North shore
Squaw - Squallywood name is deserved - lots of good skiers including pros/spancerred you will see around. Lots of steep terrain and mini golf lines/drops
Alpine - Squaw's hippy brother, now on the same pass and linked by short bus-ride. Some good lines to be had and some near Out of bounds lines with a short hike - Open boundaries in contrast to Squaw
Gnarthstar - also known locally as Flatstar - a frontside typical Vail resorts mild groomer experience with some excellent long tree pitches over the backside and on Lookout. Lookout also gets man-sized bump lines and some nice steep GSy quiet groomers. Good bet on storm days when will almost always be 100% open while other places are lower lifts only
Sugarbowl - Often overlooked as it's not really in the Basin but on the crest. Rahlves' home resort. Some respectable terrain and locals say quieter than the sh*t show that Squaw can be on a weekend/holiday. Locals do Donner Lake laps, avy permittinbg
Rose - Not skied there but the chutes look good from Reno
Diamond Peak - local Incline Village hill - not overly exciting
Homewood - really quite cool for a tiny hill. Ski right down to lake level, another good storm day bet.
South Shore
Heavenly - Another Vail Resort, lots of commuter cat tracks and dull groomers (but for the views). Some decent tree shots, Mott & Killebrew canyons plus the Face/Gunbarrel for wannabe Glenn Plake mogul monsters. Closed boundaries although firebreak /gondy line gets skied quite a lot if you're willing to risk a run in with the Sherriff.
Sierra - Quite small but again some great trees and adventure to be had
Kirkwood - a TGR maggot fave, highest base in Tahoe basin so most snow usually, great terrain (some of which needs a lot of traversing), nice vibe/less tourists/Texans (although Vail may want to change that). Open boundaries.
Accomodation - easy - even if it's looking sketchy, assuming you've a rental car you can always stay in Reno (for North Shore) or Carson Valley (for South shore) and drive up. Lots of stuff in South Lake Tahoe ranging from cheap ass roach motels to Marriott suites and casino penthouses. North Shore a bit more limited - Resort at Squaw Creek would be my pick for easy access if you wanted to be on the slopes, somewhere in Tahoe City/Sunnyside if you wanted lake. Lots of apts to rent.
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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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I'd love to spend some time doing the PNW resorts - so consider them, esp if the snow everywhere else is looking sketchy. Really enjoyed Crystal in fairly average conditions. With good conditions it could be epic. Baker, obviously. Alpental supposedly has some of the steepest inbounds terrain in the US, which ranges from death defying if it is icey to really awesome if there is fresh snow.
The PNW maggots I have met are a good lot too
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^+1
Baker and Alpental are really good fun if you get snow - both have old school Glenshee type lifts too for added bonus with anti snowboarder ramps
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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The Tahoe region tends to get a lot of snow with each winter storm that makes its way inland from the Pacific. It can easily get three feet or more in a single 24 hour period. Between storms there are usually a lot of clear, cold days. Although Tahoe has had rather poor ski seasons the past two years, normally the snow starts getting good by early to mid January. Tahoe can be accessed by car from San Fransisco in 3-4 hours (weather cooperating). Or you can fly into Reno and drive about hour and a half (get a 4 wheel drive or carry chains as there are passes to be driven through in accessing the Tahoe region from any direction). Your timing for a Tahoe trip hopefully will be good. Mammoth Mountain is said to be the most like the Alps in that much of the skiing there is above the treeline. However, Mammoth is somewhat south of the other Tahoe resorts. If the roads are clear Mammoth is definitely worth the drive. If it is snowing I would strongly recommend staying closer to Tahoe itself. There are seven major Tahoe ski areas more or less surrounding the Lake as well as a few smaller ones. Each has its own flavor.
The Pacific Northwest generally has the most reliable early season snow. The closest major Pacific Northwest area to San Francisco is Mt. Bachelor which has 360 degrees of skiing when the Summit Chair is running including steeps. Even if winds close the above treeline Summit Chair, there is still a fair amount of variety below the treeline and out of strong winds. However, Bachelor lacks any "if you fall you may die" terrain. Mt. Bachelor can be accessed by driving up from SFO which is about an 8 hour drive or by flying into Redmond from SFO and driving about one hour to get to the mountain.
Alternatively, you can fly to Portland, Oregon and check out Mt. Hood Meadows about an hours drive east of the Portland Airport. Close to Hood Meadows is the Timberline ski area home to the permanent Palmer ice field. If all else fails in the Western region of the United States Timberline can be skied. Timberline is most noted for its summer ski racing camps and not its terrain variety.
Alpental in Washington State is about a one hour drive from Seattle and enjoys a core cult following. The far tamer The Summit at Snoqualmie is located just across the Highway. However, the low 3,000 foot base elevation of both areas means that what is coming down as snow elsewhere in the Northwest may be rain at Alpental/Snoqualmie.
Crystal mountain in Washington State is the largest resort in that state with a good variety of skiing. It can be accessed by flying the into Seattle/Tacoma Airport and is about a one and 1/2 hour drive away from there.
Stevens Pass is about a 2 hour or so drive from Seattle depending on the weather. Although smaller than Crystal it has a lot of variety for its size and often receives more snow than Crystal. It has a mix of high speed and traditional double lifts where the other resorts mentioned have predominately high speed quads (Alpental excepted).
North of Stevens Pass is Mt. Baker. It is known for the very large amount of snow it receives each season. Because of where it is situated, Mt. Baker is often the recipient of storms funneled in from two directions. Although not a large ski area you can often feel like you are skiing in the backcountry while being inbounds. Baker claims a world record established in 1998-99 when it received 1,140 inches of snow for the season. Like Alpental and Stevens Pass it has a few traditional double chairs still running.
Just a few hours North of Baker and crossing the border into Canada is Whistler/Blackcomb which can be accessed by car or flight into Vancouver from Seattle and a easily manageable drive from the airport.
With the exception of the Timberline Lodge and a small hotel at Snoqualmie, none of the USA PNW resorts have "ski-in ski-out" on slope housing. However, all have accommodations within 20 minutes to half and hour or so and most of the areas also have shuttle service from the nearest local ski town.
January tends too be on the early side for the best skiing in Utah, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Because Rocky Mountains snow is so light and dry, it takes much more of it to produce an adequately consolidated base than with most other places. In other words, a foot of new snowfall in the Rockies will settle out to much less than that when the snow settles. Without a genuine three to four foot consolidated base you may well enounter rocks, of course, as well as downed trees, limbs and other unpleasant surprises. Some of the Rocky Mountains areas have turned to snowmaking to give nature an early season assist. Vail seeds clouds. It is worth keeping a weather eye out for the possibility of great early season conditions but count yourself lucky if this happens. Wolf Creek in Colorado (although somewhat isolated in the Southern part of the state), Alta and Snowbird in Utah and Grand Targee in Wyoming tend to be among the better bets for a decent amount of early season snowfall in the Rockies.
Enjoy your trip.
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