 Poster: A snowHead
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Fernie vs Jackson Hole. It's a real toughie, so I'm going to need some help here chaps.
I guess the best way to do this is for me to explain what rocks my boat:
- steep and challenging
- good odds of getting a powder dump in a given two week window
- relatively fast lifts and lift lines
- mountain operators who don't get the hump when you ski outside the managed area
- good ski community atmosphere
- a local heliskiing operations is a bonus
Any thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated. Anything to stop the daily Jackson-Fernie seesaw!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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snow_gibbon, welcome to  !
2 Questions:
When were you planning to go?
Where else have you been?
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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 date is completely flexible. Once I've decided on the location I'll dive into the historical snow records, do some sums and cross my fingers, and then pick a date!
I've skiied in mostly in the European Alps, but also have spent a season in the Southern Alps in New Zealand. My only N.American experiences have been small local east coast hills in Canada, and Whistler.
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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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Either - steep and challenging
Either, but I'd favour JH - good odds of getting a powder dump in a given two week window
Fernie (until the new tram at JH) - relatively fast lifts and lift lines
Either - mountain operators who don't get the hump when you ski outside the managed area
Either - good ski community atmosphere
Fernie - a local heliskiing operations is a bonus
I'll throw Alta/bird into the mix for you.
Alta/bird - steep and challenging
Alta/bird - good odds of getting a powder dump in a given two week window
Alta/bird - relatively fast lifts and lift lines
Alta/bird (a lot off inbounds off piste) - mountain operators who don't get the hump when you ski outside the managed area
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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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Not skiied the othe places mentioned but have been to Fernie twice. I'd agree with most of what Fox said, with one exception - the headwall above Face List in Fernie is closed during lift opening hours. Mostly though they're fine with people skiing anywhere
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Jackson has longer steeps - big open faces like the Hobacks, Sublette and some chutes.
Fernie's steeps generally are tight chutes spilling into bowls, but also some great ridge bump runs.
Jackson faces East and South -- and surface conditions start hurting by late Feb. March is not great - ice, then slush. Ski Jackson from mid-Jan to mid-Feb.
Fernie mostly faces East. However, it is low altitude and can get get hit by a random rainstorm anytime of year. It gets a lot of snow that can cover any blemishes.
To note: Jackson's Tram is gone for the next 2 years. So there is not top-to-bottom lift. Although a bottleneck, it is useful 1-3x/day.
They both get dumped on. Grand Targhee, WY on the front-side of the Tetons gets more snow than either.
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I just made the choise between Fernie and a Alta+JH combo for two weeks...
Fernie ended up beeing a much cheaper option. Just JH for two weeks was out of my league price wise. Ive been to Alta 3x and although I love it I do love it I wana see something new plus that JH is really out of the question in mars.
Basicly what I came up with in my resarch.
Fernie is cheapest but has risk of rain. Best nr skiiers to lift capacity ratio.
Alta has most snow, biggest powder chance, just doing SLC is cheap as well if you live in SLC.
Snowbird is from my experience overrated and over populated.
JH has the longest rides but is most expencive and has logistical issues till new tram is built. Not even worth bothering with in mars.
Though Im sure all 3 give a fantastic vacation.
When it comes to weather you cant guarantee anything. Sure you can get a rain storm in Fernie but at the same time Ive actually experienced a very early spring in SLC on one of my trips. So its still a lottery.
Tex
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