 Poster: A snowHead
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Anyone know the nearest resorts to SF? I might only be able to manage a day next April, so flying off somewhere not an option. Someone did mention somewhere to me, but I can't remember where. I also don't want to drive (55mph on a motorway? I wouldn't be able to afford a ski pass for speeding fines), so somewhere accessible by bus/train would be cool.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Mammoth is not too far, and L.ke Tahoe, Heavenly and that lot aren't either.
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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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Good luck with access by bus/train this is the US you are talking about - best bet would be a day trip to Tahoe with someone like Snowbomb.
Otherwise if you can bear to get a car - speed limit on I80 is generally 65 (& most people do a cruisey 70) and Sugarbowl is right on the interstate almost. Maybe 3-3.5 hours drive depending on traffic, more if snow. Planning for a year away though??
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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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Yup, v. forward thinking - OH told me this pm that he needed to be in Berkeley for a mini-conference next April...and if I go with him, I'm thinking I might ski while he's yakking...will have a look at Snowbomb, thanks.
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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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Bear Valley maybe?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I meant to add that you can pretty much forget public transport, and that (several years ago anyway) 70mph seemed to be the standard cruising speed - a bit slow for us Euros but you can still get the miles shifted. I assume that you mean a day in resort, rather than a day including travel; if the latter, forget my suggestions (which you probably have already). If you can get a whole day or preferably two or three, Mammoth is well worth a look.
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Yup, a day in resort. OH's mini-conf will last 2-2.5 days, and since I know everyone there, I should spend at least a dinner with them! So a day with e.g. Snowbomb seems to be my best option, provided I can hire nearly everything - I certainly don't want to take all my gear for 1 day's skiing!
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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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I'd forget Mammoth, then. By the time you get there, it'll be time to go home. Nice drive, mind.
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vetski, see this map of the Lake Tahoe area.
Hwy 80 is the freeway from SF, so the resorts before Truckee are the absolute closest. I think most of them are quite small, with Sugar Bowl the biggest and with most vertical. That shouldn't matter too much for a day. As a matter of fact, I'll be spending some time there (probably including visiting other resorts) next March. If you want a big (by US standards) resort, Squaw Valley isn't too much further. I've skied there in April - quite warm, but snow held up pretty well.
The speed limit in California is 65 mph, but you'd be unlucky to be stopped at 70 mph.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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vetski, Badger Pass, Donner Ridge, Bear Valley and Kirkwood are the nearest, but a bit off the main drag (I80), after that you're at Tahoe. Fly to Reno and take your pick of the Lake resorts.
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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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At Squaw you can hire everything except gloves and goggles, and if it's normal spring skiing you'll need sunglasses anyway. The drive from Berkeley is under 31/2 hours, and is easy to do at 4 or 5 am so you would get a full day here. Equipment wise I might be able to help out, since I don't ski on all my skis at once! And you may be able to borrow lots of other stuff if you're any where near my size! It's unlikely that I'll be able to get a comp ticket for you since I only get one a season, but you never know!
The skiing at Squaw right now is still good, and we did have an inch or so of new snow last night - it will warn up again tomorrow and we will be skiing in light jumpers again.
Don't forget the sunblock. 
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pollittcl, thanks for that - v. kind offer. I'll pm my measurements nearer the time, they may well expand...I know it's a long way in advance, which is completely against my usual holiday-planning pattern, but we want to be ready to book flights as soon as they come up, so I need to have figured out ski-feasibility. It's all looking pretty good at the moment!
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FAQ
Worth it though! 
