Suggestions for Christmas-time skiing

I'm looking for suggestions for myself and my brother for where to go
skiing over Christmas. We're both in our late 30's. He's been skiing a
bit over the last few years and is probably advanced intermediate. I
used to be the same, but it has been 10 years since I last skied. I'm
hoping for about a week of skiing from a little before Christmas until
a couple of days after.

Anywhere in North America is workable. We are both travelling from the
east coast. I'd prefer a resort with lots of long, interesting runs.
I'll try challenging runs at a slow pace after I get my ski-legs back.
:-) Not really looking for bars and such at night, but good, not overly
expensive restaurants are a nice plus. Other options could be nice
instead of staying in every night, though.

We would also prefer not to spend a fortune on accomodations. And any
suggestions for comfortable, non-smoking rooms would be appreciated as
well.

So far, I have thought of maybe Breckenridge, Salt Lake City Area, or
possibly Whistler. Since I have no idea how crowded or expensive things
get at that time of year or where the better snow is likely to be, I
would love suggestions. These locations are just ideas, not limits to
possibilities.

Thanks,

-Rodney

How much time do you have? I'm thinking not just of travel days, but
also acclimating to altitude if you go somewhere like Summit County, CO.
That can make for a pretty sludgy first day.

--
Mary Malmros
Some days you're the windshield, other days you're the bug.

Rodney Somerstein wrote:
I'm looking for suggestions for myself and my brother for where to go
skiing over Christmas.

So far, I have thought of maybe Breckenridge, Salt Lake City Area, or
possibly Whistler.


Salt Lake City Area would be my choice.

-- Mike Treseler

Mammoth Mountain, Ca. will most likely have the best snow for the early
season. 97 inches so far this season. It's a huge place with a good
share of green and light blue runs.
Rodney Somerstein wrote:

I'm looking for suggestions for myself and my brother for where to go
skiing over Christmas. We're both in our late 30's. He's been skiing a
bit over the last few years and is probably advanced intermediate. I
used to be the same, but it has been 10 years since I last skied. I'm
hoping for about a week of skiing from a little before Christmas until
a couple of days after.

Anywhere in North America is workable. We are both travelling from the
east coast. I'd prefer a resort with lots of long, interesting runs.
I'll try challenging runs at a slow pace after I get my ski-legs back.
:-) Not really looking for bars and such at night, but good, not overly
expensive restaurants are a nice plus. Other options could be nice
instead of staying in every night, though.

We would also prefer not to spend a fortune on accomodations. And any
suggestions for comfortable, non-smoking rooms would be appreciated as
well.

So far, I have thought of maybe Breckenridge, Salt Lake City Area, or
possibly Whistler. Since I have no idea how crowded or expensive things
get at that time of year or where the better snow is likely to be, I
would love suggestions. These locations are just ideas, not limits to
possibilities.

Thanks,

-Rodney




--
Wes Pearson
********************************************
* Why Yes! I am a real Helicopter Pilot!!! *
********************************************
KF6QQQ

How is Lake Tahoe skiing the two weeks before Christmas?


On 11/13/2004 8:30 AM, WES PEARSON wrote:

Mammoth Mountain, Ca. will most likely have the best snow for the early
season. 97 inches so far this season. It's a huge place with a good
share of green and light blue runs.
Rodney Somerstein wrote:

I'm looking for suggestions for myself and my brother for where to go
skiing over Christmas. We're both in our late 30's. He's been skiing a
bit over the last few years and is probably advanced intermediate. I
used to be the same, but it has been 10 years since I last skied. I'm
hoping for about a week of skiing from a little before Christmas until
a couple of days after.

Anywhere in North America is workable. We are both travelling from the
east coast. I'd prefer a resort with lots of long, interesting runs.
I'll try challenging runs at a slow pace after I get my ski-legs back.
:-) Not really looking for bars and such at night, but good, not overly
expensive restaurants are a nice plus. Other options could be nice
instead of staying in every night, though.
We would also prefer not to spend a fortune on accomodations. And any
suggestions for comfortable, non-smoking rooms would be appreciated as
well.

So far, I have thought of maybe Breckenridge, Salt Lake City Area, or
possibly Whistler. Since I have no idea how crowded or expensive things
get at that time of year or where the better snow is likely to be, I
would love suggestions. These locations are just ideas, not limits to
possibilities.

Thanks,

-Rodney

WES PEARSON wrote:
Mammoth Mountain, Ca. will most likely have the best snow for the
early season. 97 inches so far this season. It's a huge place with a
good share of green and light blue runs.

light blue? I have persuaded people that a Black run was a "Dark blue" but
what's a "light blue"? ( oh, this was in france where "black" = "double
black diamond")


--
Chris *:-)

Downhill Good, Uphill BAD!

www.suffolkvikings.org.uk

"MoonMan" wrote:
WES PEARSON wrote:
Mammoth Mountain, Ca. will most likely have the best snow for the
early season. 97 inches so far this season. It's a huge place with a
good share of green and light blue runs.

light blue? I have persuaded people that a Black run was a "Dark blue" but
what's a "light blue"? ( oh, this was in france where "black" = "double
black diamond")

Light blue as in almost a green. My impression of Mammoth was lots of
blacks, and lots of greens, with limited blues in between.

Richard M wrote:
"MoonMan" wrote:

WES PEARSON wrote:

Mammoth Mountain, Ca. will most likely have the best snow for the
early season. 97 inches so far this season. It's a huge place with a
good share of green and light blue runs.

light blue? I have persuaded people that a Black run was a "Dark blue" but
what's a "light blue"? ( oh, this was in france where "black" = "double
black diamond")


Light blue as in almost a green. My impression of Mammoth was lots of
blacks, and lots of greens, with limited blues in between.

Sounds like another trip is warrented, with additional terrain scouting.
Try the Dragon Back area, for starters...

Something along the line of Stump Alley or alot of the runs on the east
side going into Canyon Lodge. Slightly more then a green but along way
from the blues on the on the west outpost side.

MoonMan wrote:

WES PEARSON wrote:


Mammoth Mountain, Ca. will most likely have the best snow for the
early season. 97 inches so far this season. It's a huge place with a
good share of green and light blue runs.



light blue? I have persuaded people that a Black run was a "Dark blue" but
what's a "light blue"? ( oh, this was in france where "black" = "double
black diamond")





--
Wes Pearson
********************************************
* Why Yes! I am a real Helicopter Pilot!!! *
********************************************
KF6QQQ

Thanks to everyone who replied. It turns out that we decided to wait
until February anyway. So, the snow shouldn't be too much of an issue,
hopefully.

I expect we'll probably get in 4 or 5 days of skiing, so it should be a
nice trip. I hadn't considered Mammoth, but that could be a
possibility. I think we are kind of leaning toward somewhere in
Colorado or maybe Utah. My brother has skied in Utah relatively
recently and favors trying somewhere in Colorado.

-Rodney