Reflection of Mt. Baker
This winter is shaping up to be a good one. We’ve had lots of precipitation in the high country this summer, and if things keep up, we could have some serious snow on our hands! If you’re beginning to dig up you ski equipment and want to try something new, or are considering buying a season pass, here are some resorts you might want to consider, and some tips on how to save some serious money!
West Coast:
Lake Tahoe- With views down a snowy slope to a great blue Lake, people tanning mid mountain in the California sun and not a care in the world, it’s a pretty safe assumption your skiing Tahoe! Lake Tahoe is a beautiful, well-kept gem that spans from Northern California, into Nevada. With tons of skiable terrain Tahoe has seven separate ski resorts: Heavenly, Alpine Meadows, Mt. Rose, Northstar, Kirkwood, Sierra and Squaw Valley. Lake Tahoe is a rare place where you can get the beauty of the big mountains and the water. Centered around the largest lake in the Sierras, Lake Tahoe has everything for the beginner skier, right up to technical, powdery chutes. Take your family on a sleigh ride around the lake or to a fine dinner at any of the resorts or surrounding towns. This area has been a thriving skiing community for decades. You cant go wrong in terms of food, or which mountain you ski! You can save some money however by skiing at Vail Resorts. Buy an Epic Pass from Vail Resorts and you can ski at Heavenly, Kirkwood and Northstar in addition to 23 other Mountains in 3 other countries! This is an amazing deal!
Looking down from the top of Heavenly Ski Resort.
Mt. Baker- Simply put…record snow! Located in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Mt. Baker set the official record for most snow. In 1998/1999, Mt. Baker got over 1,140 inches of snow during their winter season, and since then, it has become something of lore to ski this mountain. Baker is known for its challenging inbound runs as well as the many backcountry options that exist out of bounds. Baker attracts skiers and snowboarders from all over the globe and while it can definitely be a family resort, this one goes in my book as one you’d want to do with your ski buddies. With so many backcountry routes and so much powder, it’s sometimes better to leave your worries at home, and go full tilt!
Mt. Baker- 1925
Rocky Mountains:
Alta- Actually located west of the Rockies in Utah, Alta hosts record snow levels, sweet big mountain terrain and chutes to die for. Heli Drops, chest deep powder, and huge sluff shots is the norm at Alta! Alta is interestingly enough one of three ski resorts that prohibit snowboarding! Sorry guys, not to ruin the fun, but this truly sets Alta apart from other resorts. If you are a skier, you might want to check this out! Instituted early in Alta’s creation, all runs on the mountain are skier exclusive. We’ve heard stories of people hiking their snowboards to the top of the mountain to bury them in the snow, then riding the lift up in the morning with skis to recover them and ride down. The charisma and attitude is definitely there!
A good day!
Vail- Sweet, sweet Vail! A lot of the time when you hear rumors floating around about “the best this”, or “the most technical that”, you tend to be let down by the real thing. Not at Vail. While you certainly pay the price (day passes are now $109, plus $25 parking!), you get what you pay for. On a perfect day, you can ski fresh lines of powder, tight trees, open glades, big drops into fluffy powder, and huge, open bowls at twelve thousand feet! Vail is truly one of my favorites. This mountain hosts a plethora of trails at every skier level, and is a great resort for the family. Vail Village has great dining selections, shopping and lodging, and is nestled up against the mountain. Tip: If your taking a week off, save some SERIOUS bills by purchasing a Epic Pass for $709 and get Ten days at Vail/Beaver Creek, plus unlimited skiing at Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Eldora! In addition, the Epic Pass will allow you to ski an additional 20 mountains in 3 other countries! This is the way to go folks!
Telluride- Telluride is the backcountry skiers dream. Founded in the late 1800’s, Telluride is an old mountain town built in a Box Canyon (one way in, one way out). Before the paved road was established, miners fought their way over the pass from Ouray and Rico in search of good mining. What they found was Telluride. Breathtaking in every season, Telluride has some of the best, remote skiing in Colorado. Take the free gondola straight from the center of town up to mid mountain to start your day off right. Telluride is extremely family friendly, with a mid mountain village, a fun downtown scene, and lots of fun places to stay. Though on the pricier side ($1098 for a season pass), Telluride is a great place to go when you want solitude, great skiing, and the finer things in life without that new money feel. Telluride has a deep heritage and history and has become one of the last resorts in Colorado to resist “commercialization”. You notice as soon as you get there, this mountain is not like others; it’s really something special.
East Coast:
Stowe- While East Coast skiing varies exponentially from West Coast/Rocky Mountain skiing, Stowe does a darn good job at achieving the best of every world. When I first went to Stowe, I was baffled by the difference in terrain across the mountain, and the fluidity of all of their runs (when there is snow of course). There are still the East Coast ice patches, and at times it can be very crowded (go on a weekday), but Stowe has got everything from family friendly runs to highly technical cliff drops and chutes that make the best skier think twice. What is cool about Stowe is the ski town vibe that it has retained through the years. Very resorty ski towns can take away from the authenticity of a real ski trip and what it’s all about…skiing! Here at Stowe though, that’s what its all about. Talk to the locals and find out the secrets!
Groomer
Killington- Killington is one of my favorite East Coast Resorts. Six mountains. 140 trails. Over 70 miles of terrain…need I say more? Oh wait…they guarantee your satisfaction! That’s right; Killington is one resort on this list that makes its own snow. While on average, the mountain gets 250 inches annually; Killington makes tons of its own snow, and actually goes so far as to guarantee that the conditions will be to your liking. If you bring in your lift ticket within the first hour of skiing you can redeem a return voucher for another date! How cool! Check out the town of Killington and experience Vermont and all it has to offer!
Aerial of Killington
Now; go out and get your gear in order, buy a season pass and get stoked! I have personally ridden most of these mountains and would say that you really can to wrong either way! For more information on individual resorts, follow the links to their respective websites! Enjoy the trails!
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