 Poster: A snowHead
|
Hi there fellow snowHeads.
Im a new snowHead from Sweden.. well not new snow head but new to these forums... been a snow head all my life.. 
Me and my GF are trying to decide where to go for our winter vacation and Im having a really hard time making the call. I need more input...
We are planing on going in early march.
Option 1: SLC + JH
Staying in SLC for about 7 ski days. Skiing Alta, Brighton and Snowbird. Ive been to this area before and I just love Alta. Most likely its gonna end up beeing 4 days Alta, 2 days Brighton and 1 day Snowbird. Snowbird is good but its not alta and its a bit pricy.
Accomondation: Motel in SLC
Then we drive up to JH for another 6 or so days of sking. Taking the middle day of a two week vacation of aint a bad thing since the shape aint what it used to be.
Accomondation: Condo in JH
Price Including flight, accomondations, lift tickets but excluding car rental, gas, food: 3200 USD
Option 2: Fernie
This option we would stay a full 14 ski days in Fernie.
Accomondation: Ski in ski out Condo in Fernie.
Price Including flight, accomondations, lift tickets but excluding calgary->fernie transfere and food: 3055 USD
About our skiing experience and our expecations of the vacation
Ive skiied since I was a little kid. Ive skiied alot of EU resorts. Ive been to the SLC area 3 times and Whistler once.
I love Alta and my favo run there is under the Supreme lift. Its nice steep and deep powder that is easily accessible.
I would call my self an advanced but not extreme skier who is a bit lacking in physical shape (30+ consultant what can I say;) ).
I prefere to ski trees and open deep snow areas that are easily accessible from the lifts, no hikeing. Reason I dont like to hike is that my mountain knowledge isnt as high as I want it to be inorder to feel safe about hikeing out.
My GF is an intermediate skiier who wants to take her skiing to the next level. Ive skiied some trees with her in Norway. It wasnt really steep but it was tight and with deep heavy snow. Im comfortable I can find stuff that fits her in Brighton and Alta as well, maybe not under the supreme but there are other spots. She wants to evolve her skiing outside the groomed stuff.
Info Id like to recive from you.
First of all what type of skier are you and which of the areas have you skied.
Then which of the two trips would you pick for your self and why?
I know how good the conditions are in Utah but Im a bit worried about the Fernie conditions as Ive read alot of posts/reviews/reports that have the word "rain" in them. Is the rain risk high in Fernie?
Is 3rd->19th of March to late to go to Fernie?
Do you know anything about the road conditions between STL and JH in march?
Is it naive of me to expect that we would be able to drive from SLC to JH in 6 hours?
Do you know anything about food prices in JH and/or Fernie (both eating out and grocery shopping)?
Thanks in advance
Tex
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Thu 24-08-06 13:32; edited 1 time in total
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
Welcome to  , Tex!
| TexMurphy wrote: |
Info Id like to recive from you.
First of all what type of skier are you and which of the areas have you skied. |
Low intermediate, really enjoyed the stuff off Supreme. For the areas you are looking at, I've skiied Alta, Snowbird, Brighton, Solitude, Canyons, Park City, Deer Valley, Jackson Hole.
| TexMurphy wrote: |
| Then which of the two trips would you pick for your self and why? |
Definitely the Alta one. But, rather than Brighton, I'd suggest Solitude (very quiet) or the Canyons (big).
| TexMurphy wrote: |
| Do you know anything about the road conditions between STL and JH in march? Is it naive of me to expect that we would be able to drive from SLC to JH in 6 hours?? |
I've done SLC to JH in February. Unless you hit the pass into JH in a blizzard, it's OK. Done it in 5 hours.
| TexMurphy wrote: |
| Do you know anything about food prices in JH and/or STL (both eating out and grocery shopping)? |
Food prices are reasonable, although JH is a bit of a tourist town, so restaurant prices can reflect that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
Wear The Fox Hat
Thanks for the info.
You know in the 4 weeks that Ive skiied the STL area Ive never been to Solitude. I guess that we have been put of by the fact that everyone that has talked good about it to us has been 60+. I know its a stoopid reason but when people are saying so much good about the groomed runs it kind of has felt that it hasnt been "our place" to go.
Though I must say I totally hate the Canyons sure its big but its "fake big" everything is made diagonal inorder to increase the appeared lenght of the runs. The weather has always been bad when Ive been there, wet snow. Prices are relativly high but not as extream as DV or PC. So Im staying away.
Ive also done Snow Basin which was decent but had pretty low snow base when I was there so going outside the groomed stuff was out of the question. Powder Mountain is just horrible any place that you park your car on the top and ski down is out of the question for me.
Thanks again
Tex
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Hi Tex,
Welcome to
Fernie's an old mining town, and prices are pretty reasonable, since it isn't really a big tourist magnet like Banff or Whistler. Great skiing though.
If you plan on staying in a condo on mountain, you'll need to get a bus into town to do your shopping: it's not expensive, but it's a bit inconvenient. If you're into vibrant nightlife, you won't find it, although the locals are very friendly. It's a low key place.
Conditions should be just fine early March. Fernie gets a LOT of snow: the local weather systems funnel up the valley and dump it all on the Lizard range. The downside is that sometimes it falls as rain, not snow.
If that looks like hapenning, you can get a bus trip to Kimberley: it's covered by the same lift ticket. Not such a good ski mountain, but it might miss the rain.
Don't believe Fox when he describes himself as a "low intermediate": he's way better than that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
To compare your trips I'd think you'd be better looking at multi base Canada as well as the US - for you I would think Red Mountain, Whitewater & Kicking Horse are worthwhile additions to Fernie in your itinery, Red is the furthest drive from Fernie but its still only half a day - passes &/or ferry permitting. However obviously Langley Travel do a lot of packages to Fernie, you essentially have your own Scandinavian bar/hotel in town etc
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TexMurphy, Welcome. What a terrible decision you have to make!
I haven't skied Fernie, although a friend hs done a few seasons there.
I have (last season) done the SLC route and have driven SLC - Jackson. That would get my vote.
The drive (in decent weather) is a comfortable 6 hours unless you get distracted by the excellent aircraft museum (you can tell I did) not far out of SLC. They even have an SR-71 Blackbird. Awesome. Beautiful aircraft and huge!
Great scenery in places. I returned via "Blue" Lake (?) and through Beaver Pass. I am not sure this is open in Winter and adds to the drive - I just like seeing a bit more of the place. I didn't ski the Jackson area but had lots of fun in back country with Jackson Hole Mountain Guides.
We decided after our last trip that if we did Utah again, we'd lodge in Park City. More fun than SLC. Also, your GF would I think love Deer Valley. I concur with Foxy that Solitude is fantastic. I reckon it might even be better than Alta on a powder day. Also, you can arrange a back country tour between the areas - no hiking, just off piste down between the valleys. I'm sure you could arrange a level that will suit both of you (Ski Utah Interconnect). One thing we didn't do was Snowbasin - and the locals were raving about it...
I found Snowbird a little over-rated I must admit... Whereas Alta does just rock!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
TexMurphy, not too tight trees? She'll love Solitude! Lots and lots of trails through the trees...
Solitude was our favourite find of the trip actually. We weren't impressed ourselves with DV (although I lurved all the immaculate bumps) - with the exception of the last day lunch (River Street Cafe) which while $$$$$ was absolutely fantastic. I should point out that while my chums and I are competent recreational skiers we do appreciate our lunches!
We found very reasonable (by our standards anyway) accom in PC...but we were a party of 6 sharing a condo, which may help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
| David Murdoch wrote: |
| Whereas Alta does just rock!! |
Shhhhhhhhhhh.
Don't tell them all!
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
I would have to agree.. first rule of Alta.. dont speak of Alta..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second rule of alta . . . don't take a snowboard 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
|
Masque, same with Deer Valley!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
Does my bum look big in that tree?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Such a sweet picture... christ I cant wait for good powder and tree skiing....
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
TexMurphy, my advice (UCA) is to look at the gaps, not the trees...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
