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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
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    The better LA
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    2,450

    Cheapest trip possible to CO/UT

    OK, laid off.

    Negative:
    Obviously it's $.

    Positive:
    Time off from work.

    Wife and I decide to make some lemonade. (and recapture a bit of our youth in the process)
    Trying to figure out how cheap a week of Colorado & Utah skiing can be.

    Unfortunately, no BC gear so we'll be stuck paying for lift tickets.
    Have decent camping gear and friends in Colorado Springs and Park City so lodging/eating could be done on the cheap.

    Couple of questions:
    Are there places to camp around Summit County and Utah resorts?
    What/where are the best deals on lift tickets?
    Although going to different places has it's appeal, cash is king and multi-day ticket deals might make staying in one spot a better option.
    If so, what resort has the best deals?
    Quote Originally Posted by Jer View Post
    After the first three seconds, Corbet's is really pretty average.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ian Malcolm View Post
    I mean, it's not your fault. They say talent skips a generation.
    But hey, I'm sure your kids will be sharp as tacks.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    east of west
    Posts
    3,017
    I got a trip including airfare, car, hotel and lift tickets for 997.00 per person x 3 people from NYC. Its a 7 day trip.

    Expedia
    Took me like 10 minutes to figure out how to change this shit

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    North of South, South of North, West of East
    Posts
    1,718
    Just put it on Mr. Underhill's American Express
    I should probably change my username to IReallyDon'tTeleMuchAnymoreDave.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    The better LA
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    Quote Originally Posted by bmg97 View Post
    I got a trip including airfare, car, hotel and lift tickets for 997.00 per person x 3 people from NYC. Its a 7 day trip.

    Expedia
    When I say cheap, I don't mean a good, all inclusive deal, I mean CHEAP
    As in, load up with camping gear and PB&J, drive to Colorado, find cheapest lift ticket possible, sleep in tent or SUV. Repeat. Repeat again. Drive to friend's for shower and laundry, drive to next resort...

    Remember when you were 18, broke, and jonesing to ski? THAT kind of cheap.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jer View Post
    After the first three seconds, Corbet's is really pretty average.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ian Malcolm View Post
    I mean, it's not your fault. They say talent skips a generation.
    But hey, I'm sure your kids will be sharp as tacks.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    San Juancisco
    Posts
    811
    Relentless spam on my part, but our site Liftopia.com has solid deals on lift tickets. They tend to be better in UT than CO (more variety, better deals), but we do have Loveland/A-Basin in Co.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Posts
    5,518
    Brighton for $45, Canyons 2 days for $106:
    http://www.backcountry.com?asdf/stor...t-Tickets.html (remove the "?asdf")

    or, even better:
    http://www.liftopia.com/

    Edit: Ev beat me to it!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    east of west
    Posts
    3,017
    Quote Originally Posted by Roxtar View Post
    When I say cheap, I don't mean a good, all inclusive deal, I mean CHEAP
    As in, load up with camping gear and PB&J, drive to Colorado, find cheapest lift ticket possible, sleep in tent or SUV. Repeat. Repeat again. Drive to friend's for shower and laundry, drive to next resort...

    Remember when you were 18, broke, and jonesing to ski? THAT kind of cheap.
    Ahh !!! Well I can think of anything like that. Sorry.
    Took me like 10 minutes to figure out how to change this shit

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Whistler
    Posts
    531
    Go to UT, the skiing is better and alot cheaper.... gas is gonna run you quite a bit, however you might make it back by camping...consider the perks of a cheap flight.

    Do you have a bunch of high tech camping gear? if so you could backpack it and take a cheap flight and go for no joke pennies... it all depends how much you want to rough it and how dedicated to cheap you are.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2008
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    On a genuine ol' fashioned authentic steam powered aereoplane
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    16,803
    You can camp for free in Last Change lot at A-Basin. It will get pretty cold at night so bring at least 0* bags, booze and collect firewood from up the hill near the parking lot.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
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    wherever my car takes me
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    Camp at the last chance lot at ABasin and buy a season pass there($380).

    Fill up with 10 or more gallons at a shell and get a 2for1 voucher at some other resorts.
    Quote Originally Posted by wintermittent
    And furthermore. What is up with turkey bacon? Healthy bacon? Unpossible.
    Quote Originally Posted by snowsprite
    That is like masturbation. People resort to it when they can't have the real thing!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    The better LA
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    Quote Originally Posted by lookinback View Post
    Go to UT, the skiing is better and alot cheaper.... gas is gonna run you quite a bit, however you might make it back by camping...consider the perks of a cheap flight.

    Do you have a bunch of high tech camping gear? if so you could backpack it and take a cheap flight and go for no joke pennies... it all depends how much you want to rough it and how dedicated to cheap you are.
    Quote Originally Posted by Whiteroom_Guardian View Post
    You can camp for free in Last Change lot at A-Basin. It will get pretty cold at night so bring at least 0* bags, booze and collect firewood from up the hill near the parking lot.
    Quote Originally Posted by StroupSkier View Post
    Camp at the last chance lot at ABasin and buy a season pass there($380).

    Fill up with 10 or more gallons at a shell and get a 2for1 voucher at some other resorts.
    Now THIS is the kind of info I'm looking for.

    As far as gas goes, due to a situation, my gas is free which is the only reason any of this may be possible.

    From what I'm seeing, bottom dollar on discounted lift tickets is in the $50-$55 neighborhood.
    Figuring on stocking up at home and resupplying at grocery stores we can get by with $20-$30 for food.
    Trying to keep unexpected stuff to a minimum I'm thinking roughly $110-$120/day for both of us.

    Is that too optimistic?
    Quote Originally Posted by Jer View Post
    After the first three seconds, Corbet's is really pretty average.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ian Malcolm View Post
    I mean, it's not your fault. They say talent skips a generation.
    But hey, I'm sure your kids will be sharp as tacks.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Bloomington
    Posts
    22
    If you tire of camping in SLC, Extended Stay America on Fort Union in Midvale is 49.95 a night if you stay a week. There is also a $50 discount code on the internet somewhere.

    Unfortunately you are too late for best aspect of the Utah Ski SuperPass. If you bought it before Dec.1st, you got one free day with a 3 day purchase. I bought 2, and I figured it out to cost $42 a day to ski at either Alta, Snowbird, Solitude or Brighton.

    And the very best deal was the early season purchase of the Vail Epic Pass.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Posts
    75
    you're on the right track.

    and somewhere on this site is a comprehensive list of the rules of uphill skinning at western ski resorts. now, it's a crime to "steal services" from the ski areas, but most big western resorts don't check tickets on the upper mountain.

    another way to look at it --> for what you'll each pay in lift tickets, could you scrounge skins and AT bindings??? would that free you to ski wherever you wanted? why yes, yes it would.

    i'm not saying either of these are necessarily good choices, but they're both well-known ways to ski on the dirtbag program.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Indy
    Posts
    644
    hELL, iNDIANA? fuck that's ALL of indiana. I'm in Indy, what part of hell you leaving from?


    I'm partial to Wolf Creek and Monarch both @ about $50. You can find rooms in Salida (Monarch) and South Fork (Wolfie) for $50.

    Don;t sleep in your car that is dangerous and you will suck @ turns the next day.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Jackson, WY
    Posts
    396
    buy backcountry gear! it'll cost money now, but it frees you from expensive lift tickets, and you don't have to deal with people. We've been on the road for 3 weeks now, with 3 people and have visited utah (twice!), cb, summit county, bozeman, and jackson, and all for just over a grand so far...

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Geopolis
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    16,083
    Quote Originally Posted by StroupSkier View Post
    Camp at the last chance lot at ABasin and buy a season pass there($380).

    Fill up with 10 or more gallons at a shell and get a 2for1 voucher at some other resorts.
    i heard no more camping there due to corporate b.s., anyone have solid info re: right now?
    j'ai des grands instants de lucididididididididi

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    LV-426
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    21,123
    Quote Originally Posted by Roxtar View Post
    As far as gas goes, due to a situation, my gas is free which is the only reason any of this may be possible.
    Gas is free? As in.... you have a company gas card from your former job, and you're gonna use it?

    Then you have a source of $.

    You: at gas station -
    Random stranger: needing to buy gas-
    You: offer to put gas on your credit card, they pay you cash.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Hell Track
    Posts
    13,841
    If you've got friends in Colo Springs, you could head over to Monarch - its a little less than a 2 hour drive, and lift tickets are cheap (relative to Summit County). You'd probably have a pretty easy time finding someplace to camp over that way too.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    salida
    Posts
    221
    There is plenty of free car/tent camping near Monarch. 2 for 1 tixs at Phillips 66 in Poncha Springs w/$10gas purchase. You may even look into their season pass which gives you free days at 8 other mtns including 1/2 price at Alta.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    there's more than corn...but not much
    Posts
    618
    Hey Rockstar,

    Fellow Hoosier coming at ya...I am taking a group out to WinterPark/Steamboat?Copper at the end of February...RT Airfare from Indy, 7 Days Skiing 9 (2 at copper, 1 at steamboat, 4 at WP) , 7 or 8 nights Lodging (depending on what day they fly out), transportation and breakfast everday is.........






    $745.00



    No room left in Any of our condos, but I if you are lucky you still might be able to find some of the lift ticket deals, hook up with Mags and use their Buddy Passes, etc.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    miles from 11
    Posts
    118
    if you all are in summit/eagle i could hook you up with some of my buddy pass coupons from my pass and it comes to under $50


    but heck why not take the bite and get soem bc gear? its cheaper in the long run and much better skiing and with your tents and gear you could go for days in the bc


    or even try and ski from hut to hut in the 10th Mountain Division Huts and most likely there will be room for the 2 of you at about every hut except Shrine

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    JH
    Posts
    468
    Quote Originally Posted by televback1 View Post
    or even try and ski from hut to hut in the 10th Mountain Division Huts and most likely there will be room for the 2 of you at about every hut except Shrine
    ^^^This is true and a great idea, except you will have problems with a lot of huts on the weekends. http://www.huts.org/menu_availablity.html

    I lose my job day after tomorrow. Sequoia is getting a mattress. My only question is if I will stop in Bozeman or go all the way to Revelstoke.

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Sandy
    Posts
    5,151
    You can camp in Big Cottonwood Canyon @ the Spruces lot- you might have to hike/snowshoe/ski in ~ 10 mins but you'll be good to go.
    Just don't get to cold and call 911.
    You can probably do the same out of White Pine in LCC too.
    When life gives you haters, make haterade.

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    The better LA
    Posts
    2,450
    BC would definitely be the way I'd go if it was just me.
    My wife is an intermediate skier and has never done side country.
    Getting her into winter camping will take some effort by itself. BC skiing would be seriously pushing it.
    Don't get me wrong, she's no girlie girl, she's a personal trainer who loves skiing, snowshoeing, mnt biking, and qualified for the Boston Marathon this year.
    Three years ago we skied Squaw till 2:00PM on our wedding day.
    I just don't think she's ready for BC skiing yet.

    Quote Originally Posted by sawatchsplitter View Post
    There is plenty of free car/tent camping near Monarch. 2 for 1 tixs at Phillips 66 in Poncha Springs w/$10gas purchase. You may even look into their season pass which gives you free days at 8 other mtns including 1/2 price at Alta.
    Cool, a Phillips card is part of my, uh, severance package.

    Huge appreciation for all the ideas and offers from all the mags here.
    Just a serious badass community.
    If I can pull this off, I may be getting in touch with some of you.
    Thanks again.
    Brad
    Last edited by Roxtar; 01-20-2009 at 08:18 AM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jer View Post
    After the first three seconds, Corbet's is really pretty average.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ian Malcolm View Post
    I mean, it's not your fault. They say talent skips a generation.
    But hey, I'm sure your kids will be sharp as tacks.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    UT
    Posts
    81
    Here are some things to think about. If you are going to tour you can rent stuff for both of you for ~$80 for the day. Unless you guys are more into hiking than skiing and your wife is hard ass, I would say touring every day isn't actually going to provide for that much skiing. Kind of depends what you are into, but I wouldn't come out for a week and just strictly tour. But that's just me. I think a day or two of it would be fun.

    http://web.utah.edu/campusrec/outdoor_rec/rentals.html

    If your wife is an intermediate skier (which could mean more beginner/intermediate in soft snow), she might like Sundance/Powder Mt./Wolf Mt (I think $25 a day midweek) better than the bigger/expensive/busier mts. I can't say for sure, I've never skied any of these places. Might be an option though.

    http://www.onthesnow.com/news/deals/...-canyon-sports

    Keep an eye out for stuff like this and all of a sudden lift tickets get way cheaper.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/2-DAY-SNOWBIRD-U...3%3A1|294%3A50

    Use www.justsnipe.com so you aren't sitting around all day getting outbid 10 sec. before the auction closes. Some planning for tickets could save you some decent $.

    I believe you can buy single ride passes at Solitude, might be the way to go for a day and tour off from there.

    I wouldn't recommend camping after skiing all day unless you just love being cold. I've done it in NH and it sucked, my face just got chapped and I ended up spending lots of time in bars and spending nearly as much money as I would have just staying somewhere. Realistically, I would plan on a night or two max. I may have an unfurnished apartment but with pots and pans you could rent for $50 a night if you are interested depending on dates.

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