Poster: A snowHead
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Hi, I am new on snowheads. And have tried to search for a good answer, but could not find any.
We are three friends from Norway that have planned a trip to Whistler in march, 12 to 26. We love the size, heliskiing etc. But, our main concern is off course the weather. Can anyone give us a good answer on how the weather and the general conditions are there in that period of the year? We really would like some powder, and care for the sun. Rain in the lower areas is not.
Perhaps a location in the US instead? Suggestions (why?) are welcome.
I can add that all three are intermediate+ boarders. Like powder (heliboarding) a lot, but spend many days in the park. All round riders, where the mood takes us.
-Ola
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Evian-Kick, welcome.
I went to Whistler for 10 days around end January and in that time we had everything, powder, gales, sun the lot. At least twice each. We never had rain, though I believe you can get that. The time you're looking at I guess you might get rain lower down but that = snow up top. Just take the gondola up/down.
Whistler is a great resort but possible alternatives >
Breckenridge might be a better bet for good snow to village level at that time of year and the exchange rate is pretty good for US right now. And if you hire a car, there are lot's of near by resorts.
Try posting on http://www.epicski.com/ too.
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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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Vail & Beaver Creek. US Dollar is cheap.
For your standard and that time period I might stick with Whistler. Big area. Easy transfer. Not keen on Breck.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Vail & Beaver Creek. US Dollar is cheap. Utah possibly (still on my to-do list) - but suspect better nightlife at Whistler?
For your standard and that time period I might stick with Whistler. Big area. Easy transfer. Not keen on Breck.
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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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Park City -- night life, poowder.
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You could also consider interior BC, where the snow is drier and more consistent than the coastal resorts i.e Big White, Silver Star, Sun Peaks.
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Thank you for your answers.
How about Lake Tahoe? Aspen or some of the different places one can go from Denver?
We need a nightlife. And, as i understand, most of the places in inner BC is pretty boring in the evening.
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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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Powder & Sun? - usually you can have one or the other.
Rain usually = snow at higher elevations too so is definitely not a bad thing in Whistler.
If you want Euro style racous apres can't think of many N American places outside of whistler that qualify
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Aspen is a good 5-6 hours transfer from Denver, while Park city is less than an hour from Salt Lake City.
But, if it's strong beer you mean by night life, I can understand you'll rule out Utah, which unfortunately for you has the best powder this side of the hemisphere.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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We want some places to go and people to meet.
How is it in Utah? Websites? The thing we like with whistler is that we don't need a car, everything in walking distance.
Is it really not possible to get a place that has everything in march?
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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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I have been looking at some in utah now. It looks like you need a car and drive to the different places each day. Is this correct? Are there any places that are big enough to stay there for two weeks? And there is ski in/ski out possibilities? Some days perhaps drive to another place.
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You know it makes sense.
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Quote: |
It looks like you need a car and drive to the different places each day. Is this correct?
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Park City has a free bus you can take to the 3 resorts in the valley (Deer Valley, Part City, Canyon). I'll find out how convinient it is in 3 weeks. (I had a car before). My friend, who lived in PC for a few years now suggest I should not bother with a rental car this time, since most of her visitors get around fine without one.
To get to the Cottonwood Canyons (Alta/Snowbird, Solitude & Brighton), you probably will do better with a car. Especially there're 3 of you.
I'm not a big fan of Tahoe (only a small fan ). It's possible to NOT have a car, but you're somewhat limited in skiing options. South Lake Tahoe is basically a strip of highway with casinos on the road side. So getting around beyond the strips and slopes requires a car.
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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 have been to Whistler a number of times in March, as well as January and April. In the end of the day the weather is unpredictable whenever you go, as the resort is pretty near the coast and the village is low at about 2000 ft. It all depends on where the prevailing weather is coming from, varying from Hawaii to Alaska to the North Pole.........Hawaii is not good as you get warm and wet from there.
By March there should be a good base at the areas where you will spend most of your time on snow ie up top. Crappy conditions lower down generally wont bother you, unless you are fixated by that last run of the day back to the base. Personally I prefer to download as the conditions often are crappy(and crowded) as you approach the village. But you will probably get rain in the village for some of the time, so if you really want to sit in the sun at the end of the day and have a few beers, Whistler may not be for you. That said we have had a number of days in March/April which were perfect for that...you just cant rely on it being that.
Rain in the village usually means snow up the mountain, depending on where the freezing level sits. Often it is below mid mountain so you come into snow as you ascend in the morning.
Whistler is a 2-3 hour trip from Vancouver. You dont need a car. The village has more than enough bars/restaurants to keep you happy for your stay. the skiing is great......as a one stop shop it ticks a number of boxes, just not necessarily the weather one.
Tahoe in March can be hugely different. It may be either dumping bigstyle (when it snows, it really snows eg last week when some 5-7 feet or more fell in one storm) or gloriously sunny. But you need a car and you will drive to different placeseach day, like SLC. Nightlife is not anything like Whistler, especially if you dont like casinos which is Nevadas big thing.You might find Tahoe boring at night........the driver almost certainly will as it is not a pedestrian sort of place unless you stick to South Lake Tahoe (casino central)
My suggestion....go to Whistler and take your chance on the weather.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Thank you for your answers, very helpful. As we are one a budget, casinos are really not the way to go this time. We will think about renting a car and just drive each day. Most likely we will take our chances on Whistler, but only the first week. The last week we thought about going to big white. As we reckon the weather should be better there. Anyone have any experience from big white in march?
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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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Powder, night life, budget. Pick any two.
Almost ALL of the interior of Canada and US will have powder in March. But if you want night life, the choices are much more limited. And few of those are really "budget".
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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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I'll be in Whistler again in March, this year. - Last year in March we had quite a few rainy days down in the village, with the rain extending up as far as the Chic Pea on occasion, but higher up the conditions were generally good.
It's been said before, but I'll say it again: rain in the village = snow on the mountain. Just get high!
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