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Best ski resort in america ?

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LeBlanc
Posts: 2888 - Karma: 20
I'm planning a trip to the states to go skiing, and I need help picking a mountain .. I'm looking to ski powder, lots of powder .. And preferably a place that's not too crowded. Any suggestions ?
Sep 20 2009 8:30PM
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JahJahBinks
Posts: 3567 - Karma: 461
Alta has lotso powder
Sep 20 2009 8:34PM
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Willard
Posts: 5117 - Karma: 429
big sky
Sep 20 2009 8:35PM
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dunkaroos
Posts: 2574 - Karma: 633
bolton valley



lol
Sep 20 2009 8:36PM
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skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
Hard to say.

Alta/snowbird gets a good amount of pow and could be a good bet, but everybody and their mom knows that so the place gets destroyed. Jackson is ill as well. With a light el nino, somewhere in the sierras might be good, depending on when. Ultimately, when is the question, because who knows when or if it'll snow, where, and how much. Good luck to ya.
Sep 20 2009 8:37PM
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DR.SHRED
Posts: 2134 - Karma: 503
mammoth or squaw
Sep 20 2009 8:38PM
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ct_steeze
Posts: 1175 - Karma: 153
jackson hole

Sep 20 2009 8:40PM
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selkirks
Posts: 1978 - Karma: 59
Normally at "best resort in the United States" I'd say Alta/Snowbird. In all respects, it wins: you get the best snow in North America, a great resort overall and the vibe of LCC (not nightlife, vibe -- there's no nightlife whatsoever).

However, since you're looking for an uncrowded resort I'm going to go ahead and recommend the BCC resorts: Brighton/Solitude. You get the same snow and very similar resorts, without the crowds. In addition, Snowbasin wouldn't be a bad choice either.
Sep 20 2009 8:42PM
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jamodeo
Posts: 3040 - Karma: 663
FREESKIER RESORT GUIDE
Sep 20 2009 8:45PM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
SLC is an easy place to get to if you are flying in from another country. which i assume you are.

that said, it snows, it snows, and then it snows some more at Alta.

when is your trip? i skied Pow the week after new years out there. again early April, and again late April.

there is no such thing as a sure bet. but if i were putting my money down, ide put it down on SLC... o yeah and if you dont get fresh snow, you will have a whole plethora of places to ski all within an easy drive.
Sep 20 2009 9:11PM
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brenker
Posts: 3188 - Karma: 71
i heard berkshire east is where its at

Sep 20 2009 9:20PM
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*208*shill
Posts: 742 - Karma: 149
THE one and only bogus basin
Sep 20 2009 9:29PM
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BootySpunk.
Posts: 8148 - Karma: 84
Sep 20 2009 9:31PM
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DHogg
Posts: 3462 - Karma: 237
-Jackson Hole
-Alta/Snowbird
-Crested Butte
-Aspen Snowmass
-Brighton
-Mt Baker
-Whistler if your willing to go to Canada
-Telluride
-Steamboat

Google is your friend. Try it out with these, that'll get you started.
Sep 20 2009 10:24PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
ugh...
Sep 20 2009 10:44PM
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BootySpunk.
Posts: 8148 - Karma: 84
Is that a jizz in your pants ugh or a that place is alright kinda ugh?
Sep 20 2009 10:47PM
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mezzy
Posts: 298 - Karma: 15
ya i went to steamboat for 3 days last year. the locals said that its great around mid season and later. thats when i went and it was amazing! the snow was great and its gotta a lot of variety id say...
Sep 20 2009 10:49PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
kind of alright, definitely not best in america especially for what he is looking for.
Sep 20 2009 11:21PM
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papasteeze
Posts: 12055 - Karma: 913
uh.... c'mon ns'ers, there is volumes of statistical info available, giving good info is great karma.

since he only wants powder and since they don't say if they can fly out on a moments notice from a dumping forecast - then you must play the odds, you send them to the resorts with the deepest historical averages.

In the USA it is Little Cottonwood Canyon ......... the odds are best for him to experience uncrowded mid week powder there.

http://webpages.charter.net/tcrocker818/
Sep 20 2009 11:24PM
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Caveman.
Posts: 9067 - Karma: 330
What about Baker?
Sep 20 2009 11:25PM
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uosdwiSrjewoH
Posts: 4220 - Karma: 122
what grief is anyone caused by this simple of a question? i was caused way more grief by your forgetting of the rule i before e except after c. it rhymes! how do you forget?

as far as the actual question goes, you'll have an epic time at just about any resort,  i haven't ever really gone to any of the "big" mountains and been disappointed. also, if i really had to pick a favourite, it wouldn't be in the states, so that's my best advice, just go somewhere, it'll be sick
Sep 20 2009 11:27PM
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DR.SHRED
Posts: 2134 - Karma: 503
jackson if your whole group can ski really good
Sep 20 2009 11:27PM
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papasteeze
Posts: 12055 - Karma: 913
yah   Baker and Ranier are both over 600 however, I don't consider them "resorts".  besides,  the water content is often high and that doesn't translate to "powder" when playing the odds in booking a trip for powder only.

Hell he did say states, so Aleyska is way up there too.

But naaa..  a Euro, states first time, wants the best we got, Alta/Bird/Solitude/brighton
Sep 20 2009 11:33PM
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gr4
Posts: 1499 - Karma: 945
Silverton if youre down to drive to southern colorado.  one chair lift, tons of crazy terrain, hardly anyone skis there, and they require a guide alot of the time.  If it good enough for seth morrison then it must be pretty good.
Sep 20 2009 11:38PM
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Funnel
Posts: 7815 - Karma: 1,531
If it's the right season, no doubt in my mind Mammoth or Squaw Valley could be the best places.  There's a reason Mammoth has skied to 4th of July many times and the longest season there was October-August, yes, an 11 month season, correct me if I am wrong, but that is longer than Hood.  Squaw has some super sick terrain and lots of snow.  Now, you can either get shat on while you're here, or you can get no snow, the Sierras are extremely unpredictable when it comes to snowfall.  No doubt you would like Squaw or Mammoth on a pow day though.  It's supposed to be El Nino year too, that could mean lots of snow for us.
Sep 20 2009 11:44PM
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fLyInG-liNeS
Posts: 1562 - Karma: 223
LOL you make a FUNNY, but really bogus isn't that bad
Sep 20 2009 11:49PM
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omnomnom
Posts: 1280 - Karma: 73
the boat.
Sep 20 2009 11:52PM
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A_Zuck
Posts: 565 - Karma: 57
VAIL! no one likes vail. its hella expensive but worth it i think. real sick runs if you know where to go
Sep 20 2009 11:53PM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
hurricane ridge washington
Sep 20 2009 11:53PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
dude all it does is rain at baker. dont you know that? oh and i also ughed when i saw big sky lol
Sep 20 2009 11:56PM
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BootySpunk.
Posts: 8148 - Karma: 84
hey it's the best place I have ever skied!
Sep 21 2009 12:26AM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
yeah. and i love the sky. after all its my home hill. but i def dont think its the best skiing in the world. i have at least 3 resorts ahead of it that i love even more.
steamboat (just overall vibe) my favorite mountain. where i learned how to ski
snowbird - pretty obvious. the most snow ive ever skied in my life, i thought i was gonna drown
breck - awesome park, and honestly i like a lot of other stuff there too. lake chutes are fun. windows is a good time with good snow.
Sep 21 2009 12:31AM
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DrStrangelove
Posts: 1948 - Karma: 3
this will be my 2nd season living in vail and this year im doing patrol 4 days a week

i LOVE it, but i can understand why people would hate on it because it CAN get crowded...but if youre willing to study the trail map and listen to some advice and plan your day pretty carefully you can hit some super sick shit even on a crowded day...there's just soooooo much in vail. and if you get tired of it, you can ski beaver creek with your vail lift ticket, and beaver creek has pretty much everything vail doesnt, including park...and yeah, vail's park is pretty lacking, esp compared to most of the places nearby.

also, dont forget that vail pass gets snowed in a ton, so on big pow days it usually keeps most of the denver people from moving past breck/key, so whoever's there gets to shred, and most of the tourists avoid the real real good stuff

but im just defending vail before anyone hates, i wont deny that some of these other places people have mentioned are also AMAZING, particularly jackson and whatnot


Sep 21 2009 12:38AM
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Spacekroft
Posts: 1332 - Karma: 41
in January, February
Sep 21 2009 12:38AM
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DrStrangelove
Posts: 1948 - Karma: 3
primary problem with breck is that it's windy as fuck and can be cold as fuck and they have a tendency to shut down a lot of their lifts because of high winds...ive had a few miserable days there, but also quite a few really fun ones, you just have to get lucky.

and the only problem with steamboat is that it's way the fuck off the beaten path, kinda like telluride...except i would almost pick telluride over steamboat for my favorite CO spot outside of the summit/vail corridor
Sep 21 2009 12:40AM
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murs
Posts: 1684 - Karma: 109
i know who can answer this hit him up

hes called THE SEARCHBAR

no hate
Sep 21 2009 12:45AM
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skiminnesota
Posts: 9093 - Karma: 429
true. in my experiences at breck the imperial was shut down so much because of wind..

however. the Tbar is an experience in and of itself. IMO riding the Tbar is a skiers right of passage. haha especially  if you ride it with your snowboarder buddies.

the Burn is pretty good too at Breck.

had my first real pow day at breck. shedding a tear as i type just thinking about it. haha
Sep 21 2009 12:49AM
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factory81
Posts: 3967 - Karma: 63
I am not sure how many NS'ers actually have to flip their own travel bills. But I travel out west....on my own dime, not my parents. So like you I want the same things in a trip on a budget.

SLC is the ONLY location that is feasible for a budget. Here is why

1) Non-Stop flights from a brazillion cities with many carriers
2) Dozen ski resorts within a 1 hour drive from the airport.
3) Since SLC is right there and close...you can stay in SLC for $50 a night
4) They have a transit system that is low cost and included in the Salt Lake Super Pass
5) The Salt Lake Super Pass = ski Alta, Brighton, Snowbird, Solitude and get free transit on UTA from many locations in the city at a cost of only $56 a day, and right now they have a buy 4 days get 1 free even (booked my trip before this deal, damn)
6) As people have said the snow is pretty plentiful
7) Tons of terrain
8) SLC is cheap compared to Aspen and Tahoe

You think about Whistler....well you gotta have a passport....thats another $100. Canada has mad taxes, so your trip might only cost $1200 for lift tickets and transportation, after taxes it is like $1500

You think about Denver, but I-70 is a shit show and you are practically forced to stay in or around Dillon, and you might pay a premium for those hotels. And you are basically required to rent a vehicle.

Go ahead and price a trip out......but I got 9 nights / 10 days in SLC, December 25th - January 3rd for $501 per person non-stop flight. American Airlines, so ski bag is considered normal checked luggage. This is with 2 people before lift tickets. Hotel + airfare out the door. So for $1000 you can go skiing for 8 full days, afford food, lift tickets, transportation.....per person. You can find round-trip flights for as low as $219 out the door from Chicago to Salt Lake literally all the time.

Apres-ski lacks, but are you a gaper tourist who has to have a madd overpriced ski-town at the bottom of the hill? Yeah it looks cool, but you can go to Park City for that in Utah if you feel the need for that vibe

Best ski resort, or most cost effective trip.....I dunno I haven't been to enough to say which is the best. But I know that Utah will give you tons of terrain and snow and do it for cheap.


Every resort has its ups and downs, but I think if I had to pick a dream ski resort....from what I read and see Whistler would look the best on paper. They are hosting the 2010 Olympics also so everything is getting pimped out for that I imagine.

Planning a trip out on your own can be a little intimidating. There are a lot of costs you have to factor in that you might not plan. Want to rent a vehicle? Oh you are under 25? Thats a 30% hike in your bill (as much as $25 per day fee for being underage)

Good luck with your trip planning.
Sep 21 2009 12:50AM
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factory81
Posts: 3967 - Karma: 63
And if you are from Europe cost shouldn't matter to you, the euro is kicking the dollars ass. You can buy a cheap as fuck trip.

Sep 21 2009 12:52AM
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mozzy
Posts: 1034 - Karma: 60
As someone in Europe, the last two posts were more or less correct.

I've done SLC on a budget. And arguably, if the OP is looking for powder powder powder til you puke, that's probably the best place in the U.S. to do it.

The deals are there, and means are there. What I do:

1. Take the bus from the airport downtown.
2. Stay downtown, you can get reasonable, but basic digs at places like Super 8.
3. It's a block or two walk to the public transit to the Cottonwood Canyons.
4. The ski rental shops have discounted tickets.
5. Don't bother with the Snowbird tram, IMHO not worth it. Peruvian takes you nearly there.

So, you don't need a rental car (that's what, 200-300 per week).
The ski bus is easy to use, if you don't mind adhering to a schedule, and getting up a bit early to catch it.

There you go.


Sep 21 2009 1:00AM
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factory81
Posts: 3967 - Karma: 63
Rental for someone under 25 for a full size 2wd vehicle is no cheaper than $400 per week unless its a last minute kinda deal. Want an SUV? Yeah those start out at like $1000 for a week.....
I have a corporate account through my work so I can get the under-25 fee waived, so I managed to get a full size 2wd for $313 out the door. These prices are for the time period of December 26th - January 2nd though.

Salt Lake Super Pass includes Snowbird tram if you the original poster was going to consider SLC.

Sep 21 2009 1:05AM
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mozzy
Posts: 1034 - Karma: 60
Haven't used the SuperPass, actually. I found a very slight savings just winging it and making last minute decisions on where to go, but the SuperPass would probably be more convenient.

I think the only time you'll need a car is if you're going to hit the resorts further away from SLC, like Snowbasin and I'm not sure if the Park City resorts are accessible by public transit. They do run those airport shuttles, though.


Sep 21 2009 1:09AM
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DrStrangelove
Posts: 1948 - Karma: 3
yah t-bar is a blast when it's the right weather, lotta lotta fun...last time we went up there was just perfect too, zero wind but kinda foggy with about 5 inches of fresh so you could bounce through it on park skis and fly around and jump all over the place kinda like being in a bouncy castle full of snow

i have mixed emotions about imperial cause i went up there like my 3rd day after moving to CO last year and my fatties werent mounted yet and my legs werent quite in skiing shape so i was skiing tired and i broke off a slab and almost blew my knee out and ended my season before i even moved into my house...but it's definitely a sick spot on the right day

but the conditions are so variable, that's why i cant just overtly recommend it to everyone unless all they wanna do is ski park...but even then the wind shuts the park down a lot
Sep 21 2009 1:10AM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
haha yeah it does get windy as fuck. i remember riding the tbar and feeling like i was on some sort of antarctic expedition.


and as for steamboat. thats why i love it. it doesnt get so damn crowded, but also doesnt feel like dead/empty like moonlight and even big sky do some times. i just love the vibe there.
Sep 21 2009 1:38AM
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epic_line
Posts: 929 - Karma: 32
POWDER KING, Revalstoke
Sep 21 2009 1:47AM
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murs
Posts: 1684 - Karma: 109
trueee ^^^^^^
Sep 21 2009 2:07AM
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BootySpunk.
Posts: 8148 - Karma: 84
Perfect North Slopes Indiana is my favorite place to ski :)

Learned to ski there and the people there are fuckin' sick

But can't wait to slay some real shit at Big Sky.
Sep 21 2009 2:21AM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
werd. dont let it get you down, youll have an awesome time at the sky. i cant fucking wait. preseason is so much fun when all thats open is mr k. with just a few little rails.
Sep 21 2009 2:23AM
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BootySpunk.
Posts: 8148 - Karma: 84
haha little rails are fun as hell for preseason since I somehow forget how to slide rails during the summer.
Sep 21 2009 2:30AM
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armada317
Posts: 302 - Karma: 28
hell yeah
Sep 21 2009 2:50AM
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