 Poster: A snowHead
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Do the American Rockies have a supper busy period of the season, like the French Alps get rammed at February half-term? If so are some "less rammed" than others? Anyone know?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Personally, no idea but Welcome to snowHeads 
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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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Thank you.
Let's hope someone out there has some advice
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I think the dates North American resorts to be busy apart from weekends and the festive period is Spring Break, which is is in in a 3 week block period between 22nd Febuary and the 15th March in the US. In British Columbia Canada, it's between 18th March and the 2nd April.
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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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The “super busy” period is the week following President’s Day, which in 2025 is February 17. So resorts will be “rammed” from February 15 to 23. The equivalent of your half term.
March is a month when a lot of universities have their “spring break”. But it’s different for different school. So it’s spread out over the whole month.
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As said above spring break, presidents day, and MLK day, try and avoid those weekends. In Canada you also have family day.
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Brilliant advice guys and all very similar so I am confident you have this nailed. I will aim for early February before presidents day. Thinking maybe steamboat springs
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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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IIRC Steamboat doesn't usually pick up too much additional traffic during Spring Break as it's a bit more expensive and further out that places like Breckenridge or Copper Mt.
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| Richard_Sideways wrote: |
| IIRC Steamboat doesn't usually pick up too much additional traffic during Spring Break as it's a bit more expensive and further out that places like Breckenridge or Copper Mt. |
Similar experience to this - location helps. You'll still get the folks who have condos there but not day travel from Denver. They'll mostly hit the Vail resorts as having an Epic pass makes sense for them. The rest will be skiing Loveland, A Basin and Copper 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| SRB42 wrote: |
| Do the American Rockies have a supper busy period |
in my experience they eat quite early worth making a booking for tables.
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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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| Quote: |
in my experience they eat quite early worth making a booking for tables.
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This - recall being in a restaurant midweek in Mammoth and they were getting ready to close by 9pm and we were the only customers in there. Had dessert at the bar so they could close out the table.
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| Richard_Sideways wrote: |
| they were getting ready to close by 9pm |
So basically France but without the flavour? (and the pouting)
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You know it makes sense.
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During spring break for Denver Public schools, which is March 24-31 it would be wise to avoid the front range resorts (Breckenridge et al.) Avoid going anywhere between Christmas and New Year’s, and presidents’ Day weekend as has been noted. Otherwise, you should be good to go. Be prepared for great snow, horrible food, and maybe a headache for your first two days (if you are susceptible) as your bed will be going from sea level to 9000’ in a day., and next day you could be skiing above 13,000’.
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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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Early March offers the best balance between snowfall, sun, and (lowish) crowds.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Early April ... snow sure, no crowds, lower prices on accomodation, flights and rental cars ... people in Amrika tend to move on to baseball, biking and other outdoor activities ...
Early March would be my second choice, marginally better snow but more $$$ and crowds.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Arrive the week after President’s Day. Or go to Aspen, where it’s always not crowded.
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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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Respectfully disagree on April. You’re not getting Rocky Mountain snow by then. I love spring skiing, but you can do that almost anywhere.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Look at either Epic or Ikon passes for your trip and black out dates. When I hit CO, I look for early Feb. or late Feb. As others have said avoid the MLK and President's Day weekends. Aspen/Snowmass, Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper, A-Basin are on the Ikon pass.
Epic = Breck. Keystone, Vail, Beaver Creek, Crested Butte and Telluride.
Steamboat is a good choice. Nice town, mellow cruiser terrain and good snow.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 15-10-24 23:25; edited 1 time in total
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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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| Toadman wrote: |
Look at either Epic or Ikon passes for your trip and black out dates. When I hit CO, I look for early Feb. or late Feb. As others have said avoid the MLK and President's Day weekends. Aspen/Snowmass, Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper, A-Basin are on the Epic pass.
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I think you'll find those are on the Ikon pass! 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| Toadman wrote: |
| Look at either Epic or Ikon passes for your trip and black out dates... |
That was my thought. Those blackout dates, when limited passes aren't valid, will tell you exactly when they expect resorts to be busy.
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| sbooker wrote: |
| Arrive the week after President’s Day. |
That would land you in the 2nd busiest week of the season! Just behind Christmas/New Year week.
Aspen will have uncrowded slope due to its limited bed base. But you will struggle to find lodging at all, never mind for reasonable cost, on the 2nd busiest week of the season.
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@abc, that’s not my experience. Why is late Feb the second busiest week of the season?
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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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| Alastair Pink wrote: |
| Toadman wrote: |
Look at either Epic or Ikon passes for your trip and black out dates. When I hit CO, I look for early Feb. or late Feb. As others have said avoid the MLK and President's Day weekends. Aspen/Snowmass, Steamboat, Winter Park, Copper, A-Basin are on the Epic pass.
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I think you'll find those are on the Ikon pass! |
Yes, you are correct. Edited my post.
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I worked at Snowbird (Utah) for close to 30 years. The 2 busiest weeks o the year are the week between Christmas and New Years; AND Presidents Week, which starts on the Saturday before Presidents Day, and ends the Saturday after. Many schools have the whole week of Presidents Day off, some only the Monday holiday.
Avoid any US ski resort on the holiday weekend of Feb 14 thru the 17 at all costs, and preferably the whole period of Feb 14 thru Saturday Feb 21. That is the advice of an (ex) Rockie Mountain big resort ski instructor/lift operator.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| sbooker wrote: |
| @abc, that’s not my experience. Why is late Feb the second busiest week of the season? |
It isn’t.
People beholden to the school calendar go on school holidays. People beholden to the national holiday calendar go then. The week after the Presidents’ Day week is in fact a good time to go. It won’t be deserted, as it is midseason, but you won’t be fighting for space with those two major groups.
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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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@Scooter in Seattle, that’s my experience.
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| adithorp wrote: |
| Toadman wrote: |
| Look at either Epic or Ikon passes for your trip and black out dates... |
That was my thought. Those blackout dates, when limited passes aren't valid, will tell you exactly when they expect resorts to be busy. |
Ironically the megapass dynamic and post covid work patterns have changed the pattern a bit. Blackout dates are when there are most tourists but the hills are often quieter than surrounding days because lots of locals and local drive ups have the cheaper restricted passes.
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You know it makes sense.
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^^^^
Fair point
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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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| Dave of the Marmottes wrote: |
| Ironically the megapass dynamic and post covid work patterns have changed the pattern a bit. Blackout dates are when there are most tourists but the hills are often quieter than surrounding days because lots of locals and local drive ups have the cheaper restricted passes. |
While I agree with this to a point, I don’t think it ultimately changes the decision. It is still busier during holiday weeks. Few of us are going to choose to go on a holiday week when we can choose to do otherwise.
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