 Poster: A snowHead
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My friend and I had originally planned to go to St Anton but with the mediocre snow conditions there we are now looking into skiing in North America. My friend is very keen on Whistler but I am favouring the Salt Lake City area. I know that Whistler is a top notch resort but I have also heard from people that the expert skiing is not that good. We are mainly interested in off piste, sorry meant ungroomed, perhaps even guided out of bounds.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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snowman, how long are you going for?
Whistler is good, and has a lot of off-piste without having to go too far. With SLC, you'll have 8 resorts, all with good off piste, within 1 hour (4 are within 25 minutes of the city)
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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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Whistler is a destination resort, Salt Lake City is not. It has a middle-America suburban shopping mall feel to it.
I am not sure how expert you would need to be to find Whistler 'not that good'. There seemed to be plenty of bowls and steeps to me.
SLC may be cheaper than Whistler and the four Cottonwood Canyon resorts are connected by bus. Alta and Brighton were my favourites. Neither has many lifts and there is as lot of hiking going on after fresh snowfalls.
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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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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Been to both...SLC without any doubt at all. just make sure you rent a car.
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If this trip is happening this year then Whistler is the only choice. The intermountain area (Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Southern Idaho) is experiencing a low snow year. Looks like the weather might be changing this week but it will take a lot to get the "expert" terrain skiing well.
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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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stuarth, JH was already on my radar, would be a great twin with SLC as only a few hours drive away.
canucklehead, thanks for the info...I was not aware that this is not a good season for the area.
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Hi Snowman - try Kicking Horse in Canada. Met a few expert skiers in Banff last year that raved about it.
The D Telegraph ski writer also very impressed "Kicking Horse is a destination for serious skiers and riders who want steep and deep powder without having to dispense with creature comforts. This remote resort lies above the town of Golden on what was once the community ski hill of White Tooth, a three-hour drive from Calgary." DT 27/11/06
The other resort N American resort recommended in the article was Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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No idea about current snow but although we had some fine and steep skiing on our Whistler trips, I think Utah and or JH would be my choice for a repeat. Don't stay in SLC as it's really not that great a city (sorry any locals). If it was me/us we'd probably stay in Park City again or maybe even up a Solitude...(OK so there's nothing up there but I reckon it could be better than Alta after a storm...)
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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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"Kicking Horse is a destination for serious skiers and riders who want steep and deep powder without having to dispense with creature comforts.
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Creature comforts!!??? In Golden!!!!!!????!!
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what I heard from a SCGB rep
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You know it makes sense.
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| Acacia wrote: |
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"Kicking Horse is a destination for serious skiers and riders who want steep and deep powder without having to dispense with creature comforts.
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Creature comforts!!??? In Golden!!!!!!????!! |
Hey-there's a curry house of sorts & a VIP gondola cabin!
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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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Poster: A snowHead
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snowman, I've not been to SLC, but I have been to Whistler. It's an excellent resort, with plenty of challenging skiing to keep you occupied.
Really though, I don't think that you'll go wrong with either. 
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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 your help. Any idea when it's a good time to go to Whistler (in the next few weeks) or what dates to avoid....half term/holidays, etc.
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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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Any idea when it's a good time to go to Whistler (in the next few weeks) or what dates to avoid....half term/holidays, etc.
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As soon as you can manage!
The biggest winter holiday has just past (this week)! The equivalent of half term in America is in middle of March. So resorts tend to get booked up starting in 2nd week of March. So if you can get yourself over the next couple weeks, you would avoid the crowd and probably even score a discount lodging deal. Don't know about Canada though. I would recommend to avoid at least the Easter weekend.
Starting April, the crowd will be gone and the day long and warm, and snow soft. Both Whistler and Utah usually have plenty of snow cover till mid-April or later.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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either destination.....period.
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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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WHISTLER..............I've not been to Utah but the skiing is great in Whistler and there are some good double diamond (blacks) and plenty of off-piste but by far the best aspect is the Longhorn Bar (I'll be in there every day from 4.30 between 7th and 14th March!).
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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There is a lot of expert terrain in Utah (I can only vouch for Snowbird and Alta some very scary chutes), but due to the lack of snow (for utah at least, although a big storm has hit last night and today) a lot of the expert terrain is a little rocky. So be prepared to avoid the odd rock and expect to get your skis tuned afterwards. I haven't been to whistler so can't compare the two. As a resort goes Park City is closer to a European resort, while SLC is just a VERY conservative middle American city that happens to be close to some great skiing areas.
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Snowman, i went to both last season. Whistler has great vertical, an awesome village and a cool atmosphere. I prefer Utah. The Park City resorts are pretty mellow skiing-wise though you can have a good time off of the Jupiter lift at PCMR as an expert. My wife is a cruiser and loved Deer Valley. Go to PC if you've got a group of mixed ability levels. Alta and Snowbird have amazing terrain. While the vertical is only half of Whistler's, the runs are more consistently pitched. You can get to any of these resorts easily with a car. Whistler and Utah are both having good snow years so you're going to find snow and have a good time either way. Good luck and have fun!
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