Thread: Suggest a (North American) destination for our mid-March trip.

Originally Posted by garyfromterrace

I would book it last minute based on snow condition otherwise you're gambling.

This. Anything else is a risk.

Gotta say, Tride is an excellent date location. I went during a week with no new snow until the last day, and we still had a blast. The town is great with plenty of good food, and if you don't mind eating at the bar, great prices. Silverton is just a day trip away. And when we did get some fresh storm snow, the terrain at Tride is pretty fun.

Jackson has a lot of S facing, so unless the snow is fresh in March, you can generally rule out enjoying the lower faces until afternoon in March.

Originally Posted by nateski

coming out this year, dale?

Should be there for opener, a couple of other times snow permitting and I would not miss closing weekend no how. Staying at Huntley closing fer sure, a Suite or whatever they call it.

Originally Posted by Buster Highmen

I'm putting it out there for a SWCO trip: Telluride/Silverton tour with Crested Butte sidetrip.
T-ride is a swell place.

This is our target for this season. T-Ride, Silverton,CB,Durango.

mid-late march is nearly ALWAYS money in Tahoe, just like Whistler.

Like others have said. Wait and book last minute unless skiing groomers makes you happy. You can also find steals on lodging last minute. I have been skunked more times than I care to count planing a destination well in advance.

Originally Posted by Section ThirtyOne

Well well well, this looks very interesting. Thank you very much for the link.

If we don't do it this year, it will definitely be on the list once we're out there. A quick flight from Van City to Smithers makes it pretty easy to get to as well.

yup and when you land its only 4KM into downtown Smithers so you don't need a car and the hill is right there over looking town if you wana do a tuneup day or 2 but the flight is usually kind of expensive

As a Tahoe local I wouldn't recommend for a week trip in march--much as I love skiing here. Less vertical, more crowds than other areas mentioned. In March when it's dumping the lines are huge on whatever's open and when the sun comes out it turns to mush pretty quickly. Living here my personal bucket list in NA are Alta/Snowbird (again) Jackson Hole (again) Whistler (again) and top of the list because I've never skied it Big Sky.

^^^ Silverton is the shit.

i'm about to pull the trigger on an unguided season pass (and i live ~ 6 hrs away).

if the bear mountaineering trip (which looks cool) is within your budget, check out the solid gold pass at Silverton.

I just did, possibly one of the best deals in lift skiing if you can get there enough. I think they have about 30 days total for unguided.

If coming from the south, I'd be interested in carpooling.

Last minute, whoever has the most/best snow.

Originally Posted by XXX-er

http://bearmountaineering.ca/index.p...ring-at-burnie

At Burnie "intro to ski mountaineering" is the same price as a 1week trip so its like booking a week of hut skiing and getting the aviy course thrown in

last year there was a course for the younger skiers so a buddy of mine gave his sons a set of BC touring skis and the week as grad presents and it really got them stoked on ski touring and they did lots

gary & I are repeat offenders at Burnie altho not on the same trip so far

What Al said.
Burnie with Christoph is a bargain at twice the price.

Originally Posted by Section ThirtyOne

If we did the Bozeman area, where would you recommend I stay?

Your car.

in bozeman, there is a fairly cheap decent hotel, wingate something or other. keep in mind that its like an hour and a half to big sky parking lot in the winter time depending on who your behind on 191. if u have the cash, stay in big sky and day trip to bridger if you want

Originally Posted by jlboyell

keep in mind that its like an hour and a half to big sky parking lot in the winter time depending on who your behind on 191.

I hear that all the time.

Bollocks, I make the drive every day and have been doing so since 2006.

From my house in 4-corners is is 50 minutes to the lower parking lot at Moonlight Basin.

Sure if you wait to start driving at 9:00 you will run into traffic, but the winter drive is much quicker than the summer drive.

Several options on N. 7th for inexpensive lodging but if it were me I would try and score a place in Big Sky for part of the trip and in Bozeman for part of the trip.

But then again since I live here I would be looking at someplace else.... Like Terrace.

Originally Posted by garyfromterrace

What Al said.
Burnie with Christoph is a bargain at twice the price.

Helping to do a micro hydro project at the lodge in august which should eliminate carrying the milk pails of water from the stream ...should be running water, endless cold showers and endless electricity without a noisy/stinky/thirsty generator next winter !

Thanks to all that replied.

We're likely going to go last minute, although SLC will get a hard look because we've never done the Utah thang before.

Originally Posted by Section ThirtyOne

Thanks to all that replied.

We're likely going to go last minute, although SLC will get a hard look because we've never done the Utah thang before.

I can't believe I am saying this but Utah will give you the best chance of decent snow. Last winter was awful yet Alta ended up with 390" which is more than Vail or Aspen average. March has the highest average snowfall of 100" but January is right there and Feb would be higher if you took in account the fewer days in the month. Don't let anyone spook you about Utah liquor laws you will need a ride home just as often if you want to get after it. If you want the after ski activities then you have to stay in Park City and then I have to say go elsewhere. Park City and Deer Valley are ok but just not what I normally like to ski.

If you have to plan it, I'd recommend Revelstoke, otherwise follow the snow! Kicking Horse has a good online weather station that you can use to track snow fall too.

Mid-March isn't late season. Nontheless, here are some possibilties that should hold snow into April:
MT: BS/MLB
BC/AL: SSV/LL/KH
UT: Alta/SB/PM

SW Colorado- Silverton/Telluride/Crested Butte, maybe Wolf Creek for a day if they get hammered. Best ski towns in the U.S., imo.

Few things about SLC that forced my hand in moving here for college and to semi-retire at 30:

- Resorts for all types of skiers/boarders
- Typically too much powder for skibladers
- Resorts all super accessible despite claims by Talisker of a transportation crisis
- Great backcountry to walk around in, play with your navel and ponder the meaning of life
- An actual city with a downtown scene of breweries, decent bars (see Bayou), that's very close to all the above awesomeness

The downside is that you might feel like a temporary resident rather than a catered-to tourist like you might staying at the Breck village. There are ways to get around that downside though like staying in PC if that's your scene.

As a Tahoe local I would recommend against skiing here. It's a great place to ski but not really the resort atmosphere I'm looking for on a vacation (ie no driving), doesn't have the vertical a lot of other places do. I'd call squaw and alpine excellent local areas rather than destinations. I'd love to try Jackson again, and Big Sky for the first time. If Jackson I would try to stay on the mountain if you can, rather than down in town--for me not driving is important, night life not (note the user name).

Originally Posted by Buster Highmen

I'm putting it out there for a SWCO trip: Telluride/Silverton tour with Crested Butte sidetrip.
T-ride is a swell place.

If it's a big El Nino then this would be my choice. I can't think of a more beautiful mountain range in the lower 48 for skiing then the San Juans. The terrain is real big and the alpine has huge faces and couliors. The pitches don't bench out like the terrain in the Teets. If you can be there when it's deep and stable you WIN! It will be the only area I will be traveling out to this season.

Originally Posted by Bromontana

Few things about SLC that forced my hand in moving here for college and to semi-retire at 30:

- Resorts for all types of skiers/boarders
- Typically too much powder for skibladers
- Resorts all super accessible despite claims by Talisker of a transportation crisis
- Great backcountry to walk around in, play with your navel and ponder the meaning of life
- An actual city with a downtown scene of breweries, decent bars (see Bayou), that's very close to all the above awesomeness

The downside is that you might feel like a temporary resident rather than a catered-to tourist like you might staying at the Breck village. There are ways to get around that downside though like staying in PC if that's your scene.

But your in Utah, and it sure has gotten crowded up in those hills! Actually I love Utah but the whole church thing is weird, I guess in SLC you can pretend it doesn't exist but I always thought there was a strange vibe in that state. I imagine PC is very laid back. SLC, LCC, and BCC just don't have the charm that you find in the little mountain towns of southern Colorado and this may be THE year to get there.

Silverton is so rad. It's the anti resort. Heli drops for 125. Get there. Telluride is a really fun town to visit as well. If you can be there during a big cycle and be up on Palmyra right when it opens you will be very happy. The San Joaquin is one of the most gorgeous classic side country couliors you could imagine and Bear Creek Canyon is as real as it gets. Touring out of Ophir is world class.