ski destinations I never thought I would consider (Yellowstone Club, Vail)

[Dexter Rutecki]

May spend a few days this winter with some old friends, a few of whom aren't the strongest skiers. One of them has proposed Yellowstone Club or some snowcat op in Vail (which even he says is really flat). How boring is the skiing at Yellowstone? There must be some good stuff you can get to, somehow, right? I heard a rumor about a couloir...and I figure Big Sky isn't that far away? If it came down to Vail I guess skiing at Beaver Creek would be preferable? Almost the only firsthand experience I have with that place is that you have to go by it to get to Aspen.

Main point of this is to see some old friends I haven't skied with in decades (in some cases), but is one of these places preferable in terms of skiing? Will the skiing be boring enough to make me long for the flats and icey groomers of New England? Will I be asked to remove myself from the Yellowstone Club when my cummerbund doesn't pass muster? At the least I guess I can rest assured that my pockets will be full of delicious breakfast meats.

[Notyourtocayo]

Just make sure to pack your gorilla suit.

[Buster Highmen]

Telluride or Aspen, way more to do for the marginal skiers.

[Hood26]

How about Timberline? World class accommodations slope side without anyone judging your attire. Palmer Cat skiing on the weekends, weather permitting, for a long run. Close to Meadows and Ski Bowl (if the snow is there) for when you get bored hanging with your friends.

[doebedoe]

Tell them to spring for a day guided by Scot Schmidt @ Yellowstone.

[2FUNKY]

Tell them to spring for a day guided by Scot Schmidt @ Yellowstone.

And bring your big boy pants. Serious gnar to be had. First and second hourglass, Steins, Luke-N-Nater, corner pocket are all great lines with spicy entrances. The rest of the mountain will be perfect for your buddy. Plus Big Sky is right next door.!

[Doremite]

I’ve heard the ‘Stoners cruise the groomed so powder hangs around awhile. No idea if that is true. I am not fancy enough to have passed through the yellow gates.

[Danno]

Neither of those places would be my choice, and mediocre skiers might have trouble with ANY snowcat operation. That said, I've ridden the terrain the cat does on Vail Pass, and it's fun. And Vail itself may be the evil empire and have very little great terrain, but holy shit does it have a metric shitton of decent terrain. It's not a great mountain, but it is HUDGE and not flat. You could do at lot worse than skiing a few days there. And yes, the Beav is betterer funnerer.

[Harry]

I have a friend who is an owner at YC, so I ski over there sometimes. Overall mostly intermediate terrain, but like 2funky said, Stein's and those chutes are legit gnar. Some great tree skiing too. Plus super easy connect to Big Sky. Fun place, great food.

[BFD]

yea bring your big boy pants I heard they have black cod on the lunch buffet.

[The AD]

If it came down to Vail I guess skiing at Beaver Creek would be preferable?

Vail is a fun place to ski. Ridiculously overpriced and probably overrated, but I have a feeling you'd have fun there if there's good snow.

[thefortrees]

I heard there’s some decent skiing down in Bama.

[Dexter Rutecki]

Telluride or Aspen, way more to do for the marginal skiers.

True, but...whiskey? (These two possibilities are based on what one guy has done previously--still could end up elsewhere...maybe Aspen.)

Tell them to spring for a day guided by Scot Schmidt @ Yellowstone.

Uh, wait...what? That's Mr. Schmidt to me. [/endthread] Completely forgot about that. I could ski with the man? Someone will have to bring smelling salts. Looked at the YC site and it's mostly real estate related, but Schmidt is still their ambassador. It doesn't say if he guides people, but I have always enjoyed stalking famous skiers around mountains, so. Yeah, that would more than work. Choice made?

Neither of those places would be my choice, and mediocre skiers might have trouble with ANY snowcat operation.

Basing this purely on what my buddy who is friends with the guide/owner(?) said about his experience last year. If he described it as flat, it's likely about as steep as a pool table (he did say it was still a lot of fun and the snow was great). Of course, I bet he was with a pretty marginal group as well, which probably dictated the terrain. It's not like I see myself complaining about cat skiing, in any case.

yea bring your big boy pants I heard they have black cod on the lunch buffet.

Hard to get too excited if I don't know the sauce or origin of the cod. I hope it's artisanal. Art is anal. Never noticed that before...

[Benny Profane]

I think it would be fun to ski with Greg Lemond.

[Dexter Rutecki]

More fun, or at least safer, than hunting with him. Presumably better shit talking about Lance Armstrong and assorted other cyclists, too.

[Bunion 2020]

Lemond got the boot from the Club. Something about being a bit too free with some other peoples wives etc.

The Y/C has some seriously good terrain and is a lot bigger than it looks from over at the really Big. It is also no longer the Ghost Town it used to be.

It does get tracked out now.

[DBdude]

Lemond got the boot from the Club. Something about being a bit too free with some other peoples wives etc.

if you can't fuck your rich neighbors' wifes, what is the point?

[Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo]

Almost the only firsthand experience I have with that place is that you have to go by it to get to Aspen.

I don't claim impartiality but it seems to me like you answered your own question .

[Sirshredalot]

Lemond got the boot from the Club. Something about being a bit too free with some other peoples wives etc.

The Y/C has some seriously good terrain and is a lot bigger than it looks from over at the really Big. It is also no longer the Ghost Town it used to be.

It does get tracked out now.

Agreed on the terrain.

How is it getting tracked out these days? Do they have that many more homeowners? Is Oprah just lapping the shit out of all those little chutes on the ridgeline every time it dumps?

[doebedoe]

Agreed on the terrain.

How is it getting tracked out these days? Do they have that many more homeowners? Is Oprah just lapping the shit out of all those little chutes on the ridgeline every time it dumps?

It's all tracked out cause Oprah pulled an Oprah.

You get a chute!
and
You get a chute!
and
You get a chute!
and
You get a chute!

[2FUNKY]

Lol. Knew that was coming.

[Slopetime]

Vail is a fun place to ski. Ridiculously overpriced and probably overrated, but I have a feeling you'd have fun there if there's good snow.

The bowls after a fresh dump, Blue sky basin, and the out of bounds area to the west all great fun, still over priced for sure.

[garyfromterrace]

...artisanal. Art is anal. Never noticed that before...

Mind = blown. Whoa...

[adrenalated]

Basing this purely on what my buddy who is friends with the guide/owner(?) said about his experience last year. If he described it as flat, it's likely about as steep as a pool table (he did say it was still a lot of fun and the snow was great). Of course, I bet he was with a pretty marginal group as well, which probably dictated the terrain. It's not like I see myself complaining about cat skiing, in any case.

There is fun terrain in the area where the cat operates, but the cat op doesn't ski it. The cat runs laps on low angle terrain, with no avy gear on any of the guests, and party skis it. Meanwhile there will be tons of people on sleds spinning 2X the number of laps on the fun stuff while you're gaper party skiing the low angle wind hammered bullshit.

[Danno]

There is fun terrain in the area where the cat operates, but the cat op doesn't ski it. The cat runs laps on low angle terrain, with no avy gear on any of the guests, and party skis it. Meanwhile there will be tons of people on sleds spinning 2X the number of laps on the fun stuff while you're gaper party skiing the low angle wind hammered bullshit.

Whoa, I did not know that, I just knew the terrain (having done a private cat ski day and spent lots of time at Fowler-Hilliard).