Steep and Deep: The Snow Skiing/Boarding Thread

[Commando]

Did our two days at Jackson this weekend. This is an advanced mountain, even the intermediate runs have a section or two that are really steep. One run these two guys came up behind me carving big GS turns and going really fast, it was awesome, best skiers I've ever seen. It's beautiful up there, we had a good time.

I've always said Jackson is the best when they have snow. Rendezvous Bowl has to be my favorite.

[RC Vikings]

Did our two days at Jackson this weekend. This is an advanced mountain, even the intermediate runs have a section or two that are really steep. One run these two guys came up behind me carving big GS turns and going really fast, it was awesome, best skiers I've ever seen. It's beautiful up there, we had a good time.

[RC Vikings]

We used our two days at Big Sky over the 16th and 17th. I have a buddy with a time share up there that wasn't being used so we got a couple of free nights also. For a family or a group with all different ranges of ability I can't think of a better place to go. My wife is not very good or brave but she loves the long groomer runs up there. The days were beautiful and ten minutes is about as long as you ever wait in line, it's a huge mountain that can spread a lot of people around it.

[Commando]

I'm sure it's wonderful even on merely average days. But the one day I managed to get there was pretty much perfect.

Those days are sure few and far between. Especially as you get older and aren't going like 20x per season. Don't know if I'll ever get another one. Ouch!

[All-American]

Never skied Colorado, but can't imagine Vail is that bad where a powder day would make you not want to go back. I've had big powder days at Jackson off the tram and icy days too doing gondola groomer runs. You just ski different parts of the mountain is all.

I'm sure it's wonderful even on merely average days. But the one day I managed to get there was pretty much perfect.

[Commando]

Never skied Colorado, but can't imagine Vail is that bad where a powder day would make you not want to go back. I've had big powder days at Jackson off the tram and icy days too doing gondola groomer runs. You just ski different parts of the mountain is all.

[Bo Diddley]

I promised my ten-year-old that I would take her to Vail this year as a Christmas present. She's an excellent skier-- she'll do blacks and double blacks just fine. We went the Friday before President's day, as our school gave kids that day off. In addition to weekday traffic (i.e., no traffic at all), it snowed half a foot the night before. She and I zipped to the back bowls and spent all day in untouched powder.

The bad news is, I can never go back to Vail again, because there's no way that day could ever be topped.

Very cool!

[All-American]

Got out for a say and skied Brian Head last week. It snowed the night before and was still snowing right up until about 9:30 am. So when the lifts opened at 10am, it was 35 degrees and powder. It was mid week, so I never waited for a single lift. Also, for the last 5-6 years, I’ve been accompanied by a beginner every single time. This time, it was me and two seasons a snowboarders . Best ski day I’ve ever had.

I promised my ten-year-old that I would take her to Vail this year as a Christmas present. She's an excellent skier-- she'll do blacks and double blacks just fine. We went the Friday before President's day, as our school gave kids that day off. In addition to weekday traffic (i.e., no traffic at all), it snowed half a foot the night before. She and I zipped to the back bowls and spent all day in untouched powder.

The bad news is, I can never go back to Vail again, because there's no way that day could ever be topped.

[Donuthole]

Got out for a say and skied Brian Head last week. It snowed the night before and was still snowing right up until about 9:30 am. So when the lifts opened at 10am, it was 35 degrees and powder. It was mid week, so I never waited for a single lift. Also, for the last 5-6 years, I’ve been accompanied by a beginner every single time. This time, it was me and two seasons a snowboarders . Best ski day I’ve ever had.

[YOhio]

Third day at Brighton on Friday. I want to get her out a couple more times before the end of the year but her brighton passes are done. I'm seriously considering the ikon when it goes on sale on the 14th because I believe the unlimited solitude benefit starts immediately so we could essentially go there for free until it closes this spring.

On a personal selfish level, some kind of exclusive brighton pass makes the most sense. My office (when I am there) is very near the mouth of Big Cottonwood. I imagine a brighton pass would have me up there for twilight riding a lot. But being my daughter will only get 3 passes there again next year I probably need to get some kind of multi-resort pass for myself.

I wish solitude had night skiing. Then the ikon would be a no-brainer for me.

A Brighton add-on for a kid is pretty cheap. Like just a couple hundred bucks. Totally worth it, especially for those days when a couple of hours is all that's needed. I did the Ikon for a couple years and just couldn't make myself love Solitude. It's fine, but it's like the RC Cola of the Cottonwood resorts.

[Omaha 680]

Third day at Brighton on Friday. I want to get her out a couple more times before the end of the year but her brighton passes are done. I'm seriously considering the ikon when it goes on sale on the 14th because I believe the unlimited solitude benefit starts immediately so we could essentially go there for free until it closes this spring.

On a personal selfish level, some kind of exclusive brighton pass makes the most sense. My office (when I am there) is very near the mouth of Big Cottonwood. I imagine a brighton pass would have me up there for twilight riding a lot. But being my daughter will only get 3 passes there again next year I probably need to get some kind of multi-resort pass for myself.

I wish solitude had night skiing. Then the ikon would be a no-brainer for me.

[Shaka]

What a great January and February. Went to Brighton a couple times with my brother, then ended up doing the cousins snowboard trip 2 days at Powder Mountain sandwiched around 1 day at Snowbasin. First time to Snowbasin and wow that is a great resort. I will definitely be going back but we were there when it hadn't snowed in about a week and I fear how the lines would be on a good day. In February I took my 10 year old daughter skiing for her first and second times at Brighton. I put her in lessons both times and she caught on extremely quickly. By the end of the second day she was going on the bigger lifts and taking the easy way down with absolutely no issues. I think she will try some blues before the end of the season. We are going with my brother and his wife again on Friday and she is so excited to hang out with her aunt all day. And I am just beyond excited that this could be something I love that I can share with my daughter as she grows up, until I get too old.

Side note: I don't know how you people who are serious skiers and golfers do it. One insanely expensive, time consuming activity is about all I can handle.

I do it with a midweek pass.

[Omaha 680]

What a great January and February. Went to Brighton a couple times with my brother, then ended up doing the cousins snowboard trip 2 days at Powder Mountain sandwiched around 1 day at Snowbasin. First time to Snowbasin and wow that is a great resort. I will definitely be going back but we were there when it hadn't snowed in about a week and I fear how the lines would be on a good day. In February I took my 10 year old daughter skiing for her first and second times at Brighton. I put her in lessons both times and she caught on extremely quickly. By the end of the second day she was going on the bigger lifts and taking the easy way down with absolutely no issues. I think she will try some blues before the end of the season. We are going with my brother and his wife again on Friday and she is so excited to hang out with her aunt all day. And I am just beyond excited that this could be something I love that I can share with my daughter as she grows up, until I get too old.

Side note: I don't know how you people who are serious skiers and golfers do it. One insanely expensive, time consuming activity is about all I can handle.

[Joe Public]

Went to Alta on Friday, February 9. Took about 20 minutes to turn right from Wasatch Blvd onto Little Cottonwood Rd and another 20 minutes to get past "the merge" going up the canyon. But that day was a no-school day for some school districts in Salt Lake County so it was a little more crowded than a normal Friday. Once we got to Alta it was fine and we had a good day. Going up LCC on a Saturday morning would be even worse.

I left the Eastbay area of Provo at 7:15am this morning and was parked at Snowbird (taking the same route you mentioned) by 8:10am. First time here.

[BigFatMeanie]

The thought of driving up Little Cottonwood Canyon on a weekend gives me quite a bit of anxiety. I used to love to ski Alta and Snowbird, but haven't in years because I don't want to navigate the crowds and such. I'm starting to get to the same point with Big Cottonwood Canyon. I have about six seasons before my youngest graduates high school and I've wondered if that will be when I hang it up.

Went to Alta on Friday, February 9. Took about 20 minutes to turn right from Wasatch Blvd onto Little Cottonwood Rd and another 20 minutes to get past "the merge" going up the canyon. But that day was a no-school day for some school districts in Salt Lake County so it was a little more crowded than a normal Friday. Once we got to Alta it was fine and we had a good day. Going up LCC on a Saturday morning would be even worse.