 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi all,
2019 will be my twin daughters 21st birthday at the end of January.
While on a long train journey yesterday we discussed the birthday and one of them said she would love to go to New York to celebrate.
We ski every year and I thought it would be great to ski a week somewhere then onto New York, or visa versa, so I thought the East Coast would be best.
I feel this is something I would have to DIY, but I am looking for a great ski area for Intermediate Cruisers.
A good bit of nightlife would also help...............
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards,
DJ
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I would find a non-direct US flight to somewhere like Denver or Salt Lake City which has a free stopover in New York.
Long leg first to ski Colorado (Keystone, Vail, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek) or Utah (Park City, Canyons, Deer Valley staying in Park City) then short flight to NYC for the birthday.
NYC to UK for a shorter return leg home.
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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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The weather in the NE resorts can be brutally cold in January,with lots of ice,though there is great skiing to be had The skiers in the Ne resorts pride themselves on there love challenging ice. Far better as the previous post said .a 5hr flight to Denver or Salt lake City, Denver one has good resorts 1.5 - 2hrs drive say Copper Mountain, Keystone,Salt Lake one can be Skiing less than 1hr from the airport,such as Alta ,Park City.
Both citys have good transfer links, Colorado Mountain Express v/good .look on the Web Colorado, can be cold say -12 in January but as there is no humidity not noticeable ,not nearly as bad as the New York /Vermont resorts both Utah and Colorado very little ice.Alta great for ski/inski out night life Park City a nice old mountain town big ski area. lots of choice
also there are direct flights home both Denver (BA) Salt Lake (Delta)
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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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Nearest Place & Good Party Town is Hunter Mountain in The Catskill Mountains (Hills)
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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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| Quote: |
Good Party Town is Hunter Mountain
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@stanton, you have clearly never been there. It is not any sort of party town.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I guess you mean New York City, not the state? I would just use NYC as a stopover as suggested.
If you want to ski in the state then I'm sure you can, conditions permitting, but people from there tend to like to go elsewhere to ski. I think it's like asking someone from Milton Keynes where the best local ski place is. The answer would likely be somewhere in the Alps. Sure, you can ski right there, but you'd not do it if you had the choice.
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East coast is fine if you live there, especially if you have weekend accommodation.
I wouldn't go transatlantic just to ski there though. (I've skied on business trips at Mount Snow from Boston, Hunter and Wyndham from NYC).
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As above ski elsewhere then go to NY as a layover. Competing with the crowds for sub optimal conditions in the NE doesn't sound like any kid of fun to me. Make sure you go post 21st birthday if you want to make the most of nightlife.
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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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@Drunkenjoiner, I did a 3 week trip years ago that took in New York, Boston and a tour around New England, including skiing in 6 areas. The ones I recall are Stowe, Killington, Sunday River, Smugglers Notch, Sugarbush and something like Mad Glen(?). Overall a very enjoyable tour but, even though it was mid March, it was still bitterly cold. Snow conditions generally hard and icy. Ski areas fairly small and quite a bit of driving between them. I was less discerning in those days.
Don't think I'd recommend skiing there in January. The two cities were wonderful, as were some of the towns and countryside of New England, worth a trip on their own IMO. Or if determined to ski in USA, some good suggestions above from snowHeads.
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As a long time NYC area resident. I would do salt lake area for a weekend rather than drive up to vermont.
Used to be nice 6pmish flights out ehich got you to SLC by 9pm, then a 30min shuttle to alta/snowbird.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Completely agree with the concensus on here. Do NYC on the way back from Colorado, Utah etc. I've skied most of the resorts on the East Coast and would not rush back, particularly in January when the wind can blow and it can be horrendously cold.
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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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having skied quite a bit on the east coast (have family there) i can happily say that there is no "decent Skiing" within easy driving distance of NYC....pretty much the best and biggest resort on the east coast is Killington and even then you will seriously struggle to make a full week out of it and it is not a party town...its not really even a town. Killington is about 3 hours north of Boston so would be a 6 hour drive from NYC.
for that time you might aswell spend the time on a flight and go west. But wherever you go it will be a huge culture shock from european skiing, runs are a lot shorter, food is crap, most lifts are built around a central base lodge which will be driving distance from the town or village and apres is pretty much non existent unless you go to vail or aspen or whistler.
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I skied at killington about 7 years ago. As others have said, I would hop back on an internal flight and head west to either the rockies,
Or Sierra Nevada California. The weather and snow out east can be so unpredictable and extreme. One thing you do need to be aware of is the absolutely insane cost of everything when skiing in USA. Accommodation isn't cheap, ski hire isn't cheap but most of all is the lift passes and food once Up the mountain. I cut a few days off my ski holiday earlier this year as paying £100 a day for a lift pass really took the shine off the trip.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Ricklovesthepowder wrote: |
| One thing you do need to be aware of is the absolutely insane cost of everything when skiing in USA. Accommodation isn't cheap, ski hire isn't cheap but most of all is the lift passes and food once Up the mountain. I cut a few days off my ski holiday earlier this year as paying £100 a day for a lift pass really took the shine off the trip. |
Yep, if you just turn up on the day at a US ski resort then the day lift passes in the better known ski resorts are eye wateringly expensive e.g Vail single day ticket was $175 last season (it'll doubtless be more this season!). Most Americans buy a discounted lift ticket online for several days, but even with these discounts lift tickets are still very expensive compared to Europe. I have to disagree however about food on the mountain in the US being that expensive, it's generally typical American fast food i.e burgers/hot dogs etc so whilst it doesn't compare gastronomically with a lot of the food available in European mountain restaurants I don't think price wise it compares unfavourably with the prices you'll pay in a French mega ski area like the 3 Valleys.
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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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@Alastair Pink, $13 for a slice of pizza 7 years ago was outrageous. Granted it was a large slice of pizza but give me the alosnwith overpriced food anyway over that!
The best day skiing I've ever had in USA was in Utah this year. We had left Mammoth and Heavenly behind us and decided to quit with the skiing as $150pp a day really had taken the fun element out of it. We drove to Utah as we had our route and other visits planned and came across a smallish ski resort, Brian Head Resort. Friendly locals, cheap lift tickets in comparison, Better terrain, cheaper accommodation. If I ever ski in the USA again then I will be doing a tour of the smaller less known resorts rather than the big well known ones. I had a better time skiing there than anywhere else I've skied in the USA.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Went to Killington for a weekend in mid March after a work trip to Boston. Got a hotel and lift pass deal. It was ok. Chatting on the lifts to some locals who were saying it's really big. But its quite like a Scandinavia resort in scale i.e., not big, similar vertical etc. More trees. No off piste or glade skiing at that time (conditions significantly better in Europe). Bitterly cold, below -20C. Night life quite good on the weekend.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| under a new name wrote: |
| Quote: |
Good Party Town is Hunter Mountain
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@stanton, you have clearly never been there. It is not any sort of party town. |
I been there 1989 . There is one bar , thats all you need !
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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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@stanton, point stands. Unless your idea of a party is an invitation out back for a little upstate hospitality from the gang.
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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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| Ricklovesthepowder wrote: |
The best day skiing I've ever had in USA was in Utah this year. We had left Mammoth and Heavenly behind us and decided to quit with the skiing as $150pp a day really had taken the fun element out of it. We drove to Utah as we had our route and other visits planned and came across a smallish ski resort, Brian Head Resort. Friendly locals, cheap lift tickets in comparison, Better terrain, cheaper accommodation. If I ever ski in the USA again then I will be doing a tour of the smaller less known resorts rather than the big well known ones. |
Yes some of the smaller (sometimes community owned) ski resorts in the US have much better value lift tickets. I can recommend Bridger Bowl near Bozeman Montana, a lovely uncrowded ski area with lots of well maintained treelined pistes, and a day pass price for the coming season of only $60! Bozeman is also well placed for making a day or two sidetrip journey into Yellowstone (winter is by far the best time to visit imv, no crowds and covered in snow the geothermal areas are a wonderful contrast of frost and fire!) 
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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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Brian Head: can't we keep it a secret? An amazing place in good conditions, beautiful, quiet, weird but mostly harmless locals, grockle free. That said, not a "destination resort" people would want to book ahead to go to for two weeks, of course. You need to check if the conditions are great, then go there for a couple of days.
But the issue with the Eastern stuff (USA or Quebec for that matter) isn't particularly the size of the ski areas, it's the terrain and the snow.
Brian Head is in a great place for good snow; the Eastern USA isn't, particularly.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Yep if you rock up to big resorts on the day looking to buy a day pass you'll have your trousers taken down. You sometimes see people whose friends have obviously invited them to stay but aren't dedicated skiers look a bit resentful when handing over the cheddar. Vail and Aspen are in a race to the $200 day ticket yet you can ski all season at any Vail property including Whistler Stowe and Park City for about $850.
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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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| under a new name wrote: |
| @stanton, point stands. Unless your idea of a party is an invitation out back for a little upstate hospitality from the gang. |
Weekends are great with all the New Yorkers invading. One bar lots of loose woman
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I'm not quite sure what your post relates too? Using the epic pass (which I used and had this year myself) still works out very expensive. Out of interest I've just done a trial run of 4 days at 4 resorts and the price, $649 for 4 days skiing. It's embarrassing
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Ricklovesthepowder wrote: |
I'm not quite sure what your post relates too? Using the epic pass (which I used and had this year myself) still works out very expensive. Out of interest I've just done a trial run of 4 days at 4 resorts and the price, $649 for 4 days skiing. It's embarrassing |
I think he's rightly pointing out that buying tickets as you go is almost always a worse deal than passes in advance. 4 days skiing doesn't need to cost $649. An epic 4 day pass is $449, and as said above there are plenty of smaller and more off the beaten path resorts with cheaper options. In fact for $659 you can get an epic local pass giving you pretty much unlimited skiing at breck, keystone, and a-basin plus days at Vail, beaver creek, and whistler. Assuming that most people are heading over for 10 days skiing $66 per day average doesn't seem too outrageous, but all depends on what you consider expensive.
I understand its more expensive than Europe, but thats not really comparing apples to apples.
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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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@stanton, only loose to the extent that they're avoiding you presumably so any port in a storm.
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| Ricklovesthepowder wrote: |
I'm not quite sure what your post relates too? Using the epic pass (which I used and had this year myself) still works out very expensive. Out of interest I've just done a trial run of 4 days at 4 resorts and the price, $649 for 4 days skiing. It's embarrassing |
The post summed up the best pass deal for people who go over the pond to skiing. If that's not "related" to your purpose, you don't have to read it.
If you can beat those deals, we're all ears (eyes). But I'm not sure what's the relevant of your listing your expense, except to illustrate what NOT to do (going up to the pass office for a day pass)
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You know it makes sense.
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abc, The only thing to add to Mikes list is Liftopia - ideal for the odd day or so at any places not covered by your pass. Some places aren't covered admittedly - but there are bargains to be had.
We've had 3 and 4 days sking at some good places for $35 per day - cheapest was $25 for a day at Eagle Point in 2016 . Not the biggest place but was fun in the trees and locals rate it better than Brian Head which is where we were headed, so well worth stopping off for a day.
This season we've bought the MCP which should cover us for 9 days, so $44 a day approx. Lodgings/ski shops will provide some of the discounted passes on the trip. Liftopia provided the rest, with savings around 30%.
Its very rare anyone paying the window rate at a ski mountain in North America 
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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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Exactly ladies and gentlemen 👍
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Poster: A snowHead
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I worked in Connecticut one winter and took in some ski hills recommended by locals. I'm not sure you'd call them resorts. One I am fairly sure was Hunter, not sure about the others. I really wouldn't bother unless you are staying locally anyway. And yes it is cold. I had an office looking out over forests. Blue sky and fluffy clouds most days, it looked lovely. Step outside dressed for the office and you instantly think you are going to die between the door and the car.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Drunkenjoiner,
What a fantastic idea! That would be some 21st "do!"
I agree with the responses above. It's definitely worth the extra travel time to Denver, then have a New York stopover on the way home.
And, out of interest, where is the other twin going for her birthday? 
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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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East coast skiing is worth doing if you're already on the East Coast. Sunday River is lovely. Killington has a range of skiing and Stowe quintessentially New England and the front four offer piste skiing as challenging as anywhere on the planet given the moguls and ice.
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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'll be skiing East Coast a lot this winter so will update as I hit various resorts. Took advantage of the MAX Pass so can hit up 44 different resorts up to 5 days at each. Seemed good value to me and figured a good way to see a lot of different, smaller resorts.
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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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Having spent a fortnight there I would go back to Killington. Check out Killington Motel for the best breakfast you have ever had at insanely cheap prices. The skiing is excellent for every ability. Stay right for the easy runs and as you go left it gets harder. Nightlife is unusual...all you can eat pizza for pennies and drinking beer out of jam jars, but it was good craic. Steak in McGraths needs a Michelin star.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| stanton wrote: |
| under a new name wrote: |
| @stanton, point stands. Unless your idea of a party is an invitation out back for a little upstate hospitality from the gang. |
Weekends are great with all the New Yorkers invading. One bar lots of loose woman |
Stanton is quite correct, though it has been a few years since i overnighted at hunter. It is full of weekend shared ski houses many from NYC.
Not sure why you all won't listen to the man, he has much knowledge.
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@essex, i’ve weekended somewhere around there -either Hunter or Wyndham - selected on best looking skiing.
I assure you, the best and biggest party was inside my own head.
Stanton has a bit of a reputation around these parts, which I presume he enjoys.
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