 Poster: A snowHead
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having pretty much decided against Aspen/Vail (£££££sss  ), now wondering about Fernie.
we like on-piste, regularly groomed, don't mind steep(ish). Particularly hate queues and spoilt kids. Apres needs to be reasonable food, good beer, live music.
Will it suit us? where best to stay?
sharkymark - you there yet?
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 30-12-07 18:13; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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holidayloverxx, I'd say no. There's little apres and and although there are groomed trails, Fernie's more about the trees and fun stuff. Whistler sounds like a much better bet for you.
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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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holidayloverxx, YOU ARE NOT MIDDLE AGED! 
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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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maggi, I was thinking of Mr HL, obviously 
Oooh - dunno what to do! nbt, I've been to Whistler, and it was wet, (we go in March) so want to be guaranteed dry snow!
Bones, All the places in Aspen I've looked at in my price range have really poor reviews on tripadvisor
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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We did Fernie in march, it was also wet 
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nbt, 
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holidayloverxx, you tried Banff? Drive/bus to the slopes though, but Banff can be quite good for music and good food (cheaper than Whistler too).
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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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holidayloverxx, We had a wet day trip to Fernie in March 2004 aswell! Probably there at the same time - absolutely chucked it down, we were drenched. Would echo nbt's comments that it's mainly challenging terrain definately for the more confident have a go at anything skier, don't know about off the slopes.
Have you looked at staying in Snowmass rather than Aspen. It's the biggest hill of the 4 with brilliant skiing enough for at least 5 days then you just get the shuttle bus to other 3 to ski them or to visit Aspen at night - accomodation is more reasonably priced than Aspen. Be warned it is a long transfer from Denver to the Aspen area.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Park City?
Grooming? Check. Food, check. beer, check (despite being in a Morman state). No queue, check (exception MLK week perhaps). Music, likely check (not my thing on ski holidays).
Don't know about prices though. Definitely less than Vail, but most likely more than Fernie. Must make sure you get the discounted interconnected passes though. Or the lift pass could cost you.
Other contenders, Steamboat, Sun Valley, Mammoth, Lake Tahoe. The last may have "wet" snow but not as likely as Whistler. All but Tahoe should have at worse short queue. Tahoe depends on what time of the year/week.
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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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Helen Beaumont, done banff twice. I'm looking for something differnet and would prefer not to have the bus ride. agree though, great apres.
nbt, thanks - I'll take a look. I think I shoudl be more adventerous to be honest.
minx, yes, looked at Snowmass - accommodation in TO had lousy write up. also Jerry told me it was dead as a door nail at night...as in 9.00pm bedtime Do you know anything different?
abc, Park City, hmmm....worth a look. had a look at Steamboat - looked to be lots of the terrain marked as black diamond and double black, rather limiting the options.
Should have said, am looking for TO, not up for 4 hour drive after flight, but no problem with long coach transfer.
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I went to Fernie in march/ april 2003 and had a fab time I didnt get rained on but it did snow like mad and I got thigh deep powder and then in the last few days it got really hot and sunny I had a amazing time and would love to go back !
Some of the other colorado resorts may fit the bill though ??
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You know it makes sense.
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Steamboat has the reputation of "over-rating" their terrain by marking blues to blacks. But I can't say for sure since I haven't been there. But it's not a huge place, on the other hand. So it may still be limited.
So Tahoe is out, you really need a car there. So is Mommonth.
Part City is known to be a lively place with (some) taste. Transfer is short (< 1 hr). But I'm not sure about door step skiing though. It's been a looooong while since I've been there. (going again in early Feb ) Bus is the way around to different resorts. They're not link by lifts. Such being the case in most US/Canadian resorts.
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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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Helen LS, Yep - went to Breck last year, which is why I fancied Vail or Aspen.
abc, just looked up Park City - looks good, but crystal don't have any availability - scheduled flights are 15 - 17 hrs 
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Quote: |
Some of the other colorado resorts may fit the bill though ??
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I think so too.
Breckenridge, for one. And all the other resorts in the Summit County. Again, no queues and extensive terrain. Not as well connected as Park City though.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
scheduled flights are 15 - 17 hrs
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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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abc, all with a stop with lengthy wait, although I have found 1 direct outbound with Delta with one stop on return - starting to look do-able. (we're only going for a week).
To be honest, I'd go back to Breck must Mr HL would prefer to try somewhere different.
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One stop is to be expected. Lengthy wait... probably rquires more digging to avoid.
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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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I agree with the people saying Fernie isn't the best groomer resort, its more off-piste skiing. I prefer Whistler as your best bet, but I live here, so am biased. No one has offered any other BC resorts, you should look into Big White, for a fairly big place, with lots of variety in the groomed runs. Sun Peaks, near Kelowna, is supposed to be quite good as well, and has an international airport for easier access ( although I think it only has US flights) but i expect it would be easy enough for a 1 stop to there. Don't forget about all the extra delays in US airports these days getting through customs, even when just transferring planes in an airport. took me 2 hours to get processed in LAX about a year ago when transferring to a flight to Vancouver. getting of topic sorry
look into Big White, Sun Peaks, Lake Louise ( base yourself out of Banff, $$$ accommodation but reasonable everything else), and of course Whistler
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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wbsr has a point about US immigration/custom hassles.
You can't have a tight connection between flights because you may miss you next leg of the flight if you have to spend 2 hours in immigration. I had a visitor from UK recently. He went through Miami both ways. One was only 10 minutes but the other was nearly an hour!
On the positive side, Salt Lake City is a busy airport, so even if you miss your connection, it's easy to get on the next plane within an hour from whereever your connection point.
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PhotoTim, thanks for that info, got PM thanks.
abc, wbsr, yep, we got a bit stuck in Boston in Sept, we were only staying in the US 2 nights so it probably looked a bit odd at immigration, othwerwise have managed to clear in les than half an hour, which is pretty good going.
I think we will have to make final decision this weekend, thansk for all the help guys.
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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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holidayloverxx, true the accomodation we had - Stonebridge inn wasn't great we did get it for a good price though. It was clean and functional but that was about it. No condos available? The nightlife was pretty quiet although our Hotel had a live band 2 nights out of the 7 we were there and it was pretty good. We didn't go into Aspen at night but it would have been pretty easy to do so. And there is a bar on the top floor of the pedestrian area that served the perfect margarita, we staggered back after an early sess at 7.30pm not to resurface until 9am the next day
Thinking about it today, why not try Fernie you could have an absolute blast and it's another one ticked off the list - that's how I look at it.
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Hi,
Have a look at Steamboat. We've been 3 times. Old mining town with new build at far end on the slopes. Not as many $$$ as some other USA resots and does good food in old town, beer and live music, Is for skiers, not poseurs, well groomed, nice locals, no crowds, mix of bowls and motorway cruising. BA direct to Denver, then 3-4 hour transfer. Last December, week before Xmas, empty resort and perfect conditions - heaven!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Doctorron, thanks for that - I'll have a look
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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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holidayloverxx, Excellent. I'm sure you;ll have a great time - remember to push yourself, get a private lesson booked for day 2 and tell him you want to try skiing the gladed runs or something like knot chutes. If you have plenty of cash, get yourself on the wait list for a singe day with the cat-skiing guys too. and remember to write up a trip report
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You know it makes sense.
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nbt, Yep, you've hit it on the head about lessons. I need to save up a bit before booking that. I've booked the lift pass with Crystal as the price was clearly using an old (generous) exchange rate. I'll do lessons and rentals locally so I get what I want rather than what they want me to have.
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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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I stayed in Lizard Creek Lodge a few years ago - excellent choice and wonderful food. Hope you are not expecting much wild nightlife. The skiing is wonderful and you cannot help but improve and master off piste. You can get the bus into town which I understand has both grown and improved recently.
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Poster: A snowHead
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skilegs, thanks - no, not expecting wild nightlife (although I could always go to "bingo"). The Lizard Creek menu looks great and am quite happy to go into town if I feel the desperate need for something more lively. I'm really looking forward to mastering challenging on piste
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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holidayloverxx, I think you'll have a great time 
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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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minx, thanks - I'm sure I will
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Lizard Lodge food is top quality, as is Fernie pow and terrain. Forget about groomers ... you'll have a ball. Looking like adecent season is building in BC - at Red now and there's lots of pow. A few rocks too, but the snow is fabulous.
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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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glad to hear it. I will be in Fernie in February. Great powder day today in JH.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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| holidayloverxx wrote: |
having pretty much decided against Aspen/Vail (£££££sss ), now wondering about Fernie.
we like on-piste, regularly groomed, don't mind steep(ish). Particularly hate queues and spoilt kids. Apres needs to be reasonable food, good beer, live music.
Will it suit us? where best to stay?
sharkymark - you there yet? |
Forget the piste skiing, you'll be lucky to get 2 pisted runs per bowl. Get to like steep and deep, there's plenty of it.
Forget queues and kids, lucky if you see anybody else on the hill.
Lizzard Creek is great.
Beer is superb, mainly micro breweries.
The 'Wood' restaurant on hill is fantastic, as is the 'Curry Bowl' in town, on the left hand side of the highway, coming from the hill.
Have a great time.
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holidayloverxx, nice one! Lizard Creek lodge ah, thats our competition, tut tut! I could sort you out with rental with these guys http://www.top-shelf.ca/ if you like. Apparently they use retail equipment as opposed to rental specific stuff and they also do custom boots fitting.
Someone suggested going down knots chuts. These runs are double diamond blacks and apparently are pretty insane with some drops and stuff. There is loads of other easier glade skiing though.
Sharkymark just had the best days skiing of his life...you've made the right choice
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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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that post was from me, Sharkymark has been using my computer
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top shelf = total legends. They're only doing custom made boots this season as far as I know, but they know their stuff inside out.
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