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Give this aspiring ski bum some advice!!

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D-40
Posts: 6050 - Karma: 100

So here is the deal.  I am taking a year off of school to go out West and ski.  I am from Minnesota, and I'm really trying to get into the big mountain, backcountry freestyle scene.  I'm in serious need of some good pow, nice cliffs and hopefully some steeps.  Park doesn't mean doodly squat to me.  I have narrowed it down to a few spots; Steamboat Springs, Squaw Valley, and Mammoth. 

Please share any info you have on any of these resorts.  I have a few buddies going to CMC in Steamboat, so I have been leaning that way.  However, I don't know if Steamboat really has the terrain I'm looking for. 

I just watched Benchettlers personal edit, and I was blown away by the terrain Mammoth has to offer.  Yet I looked up Mammoth on yahoo maps and it doesn't look like there is a town within 2 hours of the place. 

Squaw was my first choice after watching G.N.A.R. about 400 times.  After checking that place out, I don't know if I want to wait in 2 hour lift lines no matter how sick KT-22 is.

Jun 7 2011 3:13PM
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BskiP
Posts: 1369 - Karma: 223
All I have to say is come to Alta.
Jun 7 2011 3:22PM
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phreshpow
Posts: 834 - Karma: 133
Squaw is the sickest terrain wise, maybe check out Jackson too.
Colorado may not have the best pow, cliffs or steeps, but you do get to ski in the sun a lot
Also have you looked into like Bridger Bowl in MT or Mt. Baker in WA? Both are sick mountains with sick terrain, cities fairly close and will almost definitely be cheaper than living in any of the mountains you mentioned, plus the crowds there are much smaller. good luck deciding man!
Jun 7 2011 3:22PM
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EmperorKuzco
Posts: 6660 - Karma: 254
Steamboat is awesome, but I'm not sure it's the best place if you only want to ski BC and powder. They have limited terrain that would interest you. Don't get me wrong I had the time of my life at Steamboat but I would rather do a year in Mammoth because of the terrain.
Jun 7 2011 3:24PM
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ScuffDUFF
Posts: 2027 - Karma: 143
I spent a winter at squaw and that place is the shit. I only rode on weekdays and never really had a problem with liftlines. It doesnt get tracked out nearly as fast as some people seem to thnk. So if you can ride weekdays, squaw is the shit.
Jun 7 2011 3:25PM
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EmperorKuzco
Posts: 6660 - Karma: 254
Oh and I would also recommend Jackson Hole, place is bomb!
Jun 7 2011 3:25PM
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chuck_testa
Posts: 1469 - Karma: 52
Alta??????
Jun 7 2011 3:26PM
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casual
Posts: 6712 - Karma: 6,748
My advice to you would be this:

Make your decision based on something other than the skiing. I'm not saying skiing shouldn't be your first priority....it's mine....but, coming from MN, you're going to have a blast at any of the resorts/regions you're considering. You can have the ski experience/lifestyle you're looking for at any of those places. So, look into the towns themselves, the surrounding areas, other outdoor opportunities, schools/jobs, make-up of the people, etc.

Have you visited all of the places you've considered? I recommend it, if not.

Making the choice to sort of abandon a traditional lifestyle in favor of chasing snow is a really brave one. People always see the glamour or allure of living at a resort, and they often overlook the sacrifices that it requires.Go for it, man and best of luck from a fellow skibum.
Jun 7 2011 3:36PM
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Toasty.
Posts: 6197 - Karma: 2,309
come to germany and do the ski instructor internship at garmsich. get all your shit paid for to teach kids for 3 hours a week. its through the us army.
Jun 7 2011 3:53PM
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D-40
Posts: 6050 - Karma: 100

That is extremely intruiging.  Do you have any additional information I can check out?  Do you have to be enlisted for this opportunity?  Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for all the comments boys, keep em coming!

Jun 7 2011 3:56PM
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forum10
Posts: 421 - Karma: 2
if park doesn't mean anything to you and you want to do BC then why the fuck is jackson hole not on your list, or snowbird and alta for that matter?

you're a fucking terrible ski bum.
Jun 7 2011 4:03PM
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D-40
Posts: 6050 - Karma: 100

Well buddy, I'm obviously not a ski bum yet.  Please note the title where it says "Aspiring".  My list is my list.  I explained a reason for each on the list.  Squaw and Mammoth are quality mountains.  Steamboat I'm not too sure about I haven't been there since I was about 12.  I was ASKING FOR OPINIONS.  Please take your negativity elsewhere.  Ignorant prick.

Jun 7 2011 4:29PM
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847

Some people will hate me for this, but I would not go to Steamboat.  If you want a great mountain, there are other choices.

I lived in Squaw for 5 winters, with the first one coming during my 5th year of college.  I blew my knee out during my 5th winter, so I left and went to grad school.  You don't need to stay 5 winters, but I would try to do at least two.

Keep in mind that I have not lived in Squaw for 5 years,so some things might be different.  The fact that they are now selling cheap passes has led to more crowded weekends than when I was there.  The storm days are supposed to be more crowded too.  When I lived there, I never waited in a 2 hour KT line.  On normal days, you could do a million KT laps, and just basically walk on .  I'm sure it is still that way during the week.  On the normal(non pow) weekends I would not think the lines would be all that bad, as the mountain is big enough to spread people out. 

I absolutely love Squaw.  The terrain is insane, and they get a lot of snow.  I do miss my time there, but I am not going to go back to being a ski bum.  Keep in mind that anyhwere can have a bad season, but I would whole-heartedly recommend Squaw.  I miss the awesome terrain.

I now live in socal, and have an office job.  I ski Mammoth about 3 weekends a month, and hit little Mt. Baldy when I don't go to Mammoth.  I love Mammoth.  It gets a ton of snow, and has lots of good, steep terrain.  I like Squaw better though.  I ski Mammoth because it is a 5.5 hour drive from Orange County, making it doable on weekends, while Squaw is too far.  If they were the same distance, I would choose Squaw.  Mammoth is great though, some of the best terrain in the country, wind which smoothes the snow, making for great conditions even long after a storm, and an elevation which ensures snow on the days Squaw gets rain.  The town of Mammoth Lakes is right there, so I'm not sure what you are getting from Yahoo maps.  Mammoth also has a great terrain park.

I would choose Squaw to ski bum, but you can't go wrong with Squaw or Mammoth.  Either way, if the snow is good, or even just average, you should have a great year.  Both places get around 400 inches in a normal season, so you should have a good time.  There is certainly a chance you will have a bad year, but the snow is usually pretty consistent.

Good luck with whatever you choose.  Like I said, both Squaw and Mammoth give you good chances of living the ski bum dream.

Jun 7 2011 4:50PM
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Static
Posts: 8557 - Karma: 4,112
those places suck

Mammoth and Tahoe have thick ass wet snow
Steamboat is small



if you want to ski big mountains with good snow

go to REVELSTOKE or JACKSON
Jun 7 2011 4:55PM
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3mania
Posts: 2613 - Karma: 10,361
Listen to these guys' ^^. Don't come to Steamboat. Flat hill, lousy snow, and huge lift lines.
Jun 7 2011 5:08PM
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D-40
Posts: 6050 - Karma: 100
Thanks for the tip Dan, and the rest of you.  This thread is in not going to make my decision but hopefully it will influence it a little bit.  Like it has been said, I am from MN so anything is an improvement.  I feel Steamboat is a great town which adds points.
Jun 7 2011 5:11PM
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tall_pants
Posts: 663 - Karma: 446
Mammoth is a town.
Jun 7 2011 5:51PM
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yes.
Posts: 467 - Karma: 59
tahoe in gernral, even if you dont ski squaw everyday.

squaw for dope mountain and ski scene
northstar for an amazing park
alpine for park and backcountry.


TAHOE IS THE SHIET MAN.
Jun 7 2011 5:57PM
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lanny94
Posts: 1374 - Karma: 165
wat bout bumin in B.C.
Jun 7 2011 6:14PM
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SKI.ING
Posts: 2695 - Karma: 2,535
Yeeee budddy!
Jun 7 2011 6:21PM
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forum10
Posts: 421 - Karma: 2
yes, yes you are... very much so.
Jun 7 2011 7:00PM
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RIP_leos_shack
Posts: 712 - Karma: 3,211
Jackson Hole should be near the top. There's all sorts of killer backcountry and it's a great town. Also Big Sky/Bozeman would be on my list. Insane terrain and it's never crowded period.

Just a thought about Tahoe though, after such an amazing it could be a drought next year.

Good luck!
Jun 7 2011 7:59PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
North shore tahoe is pretty much impossible to beat...its only competition is with SLC, and SLC's best park was blown out of the water by tahoes best park this year, while comparable terrain wise, tahoe IS better...its true. while both places get epic amounts of snow, SLC gets much dryer snow...which can mean dust on crust whereas wet snow means 6" of cream cheese. there might be a little bias here lol, but everything here is true.


Basically, if you dont go to SLC, go to north shore tahoe...and vice versa.

Alpine is many peoples favorite mountain for a reason though, so i would def check that out a few times even if you get a pass to squaw.

mammoth is out in the fucking boonies, and close to nothing, while tahoe is 1/2 hour from reno(shitty but the biggest little city in the world), and 1ish hour from sacramento(Kings, shopping, culture). I know nothing of the area steamboatt is in, but i hear its pretty rural too.
Jun 7 2011 8:15PM
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SPskier543
Posts: 2413 - Karma: 324
Why not consider Utah. Alta/snowbird is fucking sick, and jobs can be easily had around there, or so i have heard. Or even Park City, you can get jobs at one of the many restaruants there, ski all day, be a waiter at night, and Park City has some access to pretty good skiing, both inbounds and BC stuff, and your close to alta/snowbird and SLC
Jun 7 2011 8:34PM
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Shlobby
Posts: 1665 - Karma: 303
Mammoth has Bishop which is like a 45 minute to an hour drive south of it which isnt that big at all but mammoth as a community is pretty decently sized
Jun 7 2011 9:23PM
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UncleGerry
Posts: 1291 - Karma: 1,377
Tahoe, trust me.
Jun 7 2011 9:34PM
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Flacko
Posts: 1495 - Karma: 788
fuck steamboat and manmoth, and skquaw is now cursed so that leaves alta and hood id chose hood cus its my home moutain and its got summer skiing but alta is pretty dank too
Jun 7 2011 10:33PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
but hood is flat...including meadows.
Jun 7 2011 10:43PM
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FreeWilley
Posts: 464 - Karma: 134
Tahoe tends to get heavy wet snow and Utard gets the nice light stuff. I'd really consider Utah dude."The type of snow that falls in the Sierra is directly related to the amount of moisture that the storm taps into. This type of snow is known as "Sierra cement," and while it's not so great for snow sports, it is exactly the kind of snow we need to replenish our snowpack. A winter storm that doesn't draw this moist air northward will drop snow that's more fluffy or powdery, which is what the skiiers and snowboarders love to see. Powdery snow is more common in drier climates, like the Wasatch Mountains in Utah."
Jun 7 2011 10:58PM
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Inline.
Posts: 4424 - Karma: 432
I heard Alta is really good for big mountain pow
Jun 7 2011 10:59PM
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FreeWilley
Posts: 464 - Karma: 134
Quote from: examiner.com/weather-in-sacramento/sacramento-weather-what-is-sierra-cement?do_not_mobile_redirect=1
Jun 7 2011 11:01PM
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squawshredder
Posts: 129 - Karma: 15
Squaw's the shit because the sierra cement everybody loves to knock on sticks to all the really cool lines. Having skied in california and colorado, I know that while CO has sick pow, its to dry to stick to anything worth skiing.
Jun 7 2011 11:10PM
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m-ruta
Posts: 160 - Karma: 168
Head north. Kicking Horse and Revelstoke are where it's at. No dealing with overgrown tourist traps like Steamboat Springs and the entire interior of B.C. is your playground.
Jun 7 2011 11:14PM
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PattyC
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 35
Steamboat for the deep light powder
Jun 7 2011 11:52PM
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Holte
Posts: 10741 - Karma: 7,818
If you're looking for great snow, don't go to Mammoth. Personally, I'm from WA, so I don't mind heavy powder, but I'll admit it doesn't compare to Teton ego pow. Steamboat is in Colorado, which is flat, so if you're looking for steeps don't go there. Squaw wouldn't be bad, Snowbird wouldn't be bad, Alta wouldn't be bad, Whistler wouldn't be bad, and Jackson or Targhee wouldn't be bad. In fact, most of them would probably be really awesome. I'd go with Whistler.
Jun 7 2011 11:53PM
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Scott0_robot0
Posts: 3291 - Karma: 212
you can live in mammoth it a small city with the mountain like a 10 minute drive away.
Jun 8 2011 12:34AM
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Fuknhipster
Posts: 283 - Karma: 133
Just got back from alta. highly recommend and with snowbird ski in ski out its very practical and wicked terrain.
Jun 8 2011 12:40AM
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snowbombz
Posts: 2456 - Karma: 96
Washington! we have a longer ski season then Utah! (just ignore the cascade concrete)
Jun 8 2011 1:34AM
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PattyC
Posts: 1047 - Karma: 35
No just no
Jun 8 2011 1:52AM
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MikeWeinerONE
Posts: 501 - Karma: 1,215
Squallywood, although, you can't really go wrong with Alta/Bird or Jackson if you're looking for Big Mountain terrain. Jackson/Grand Targhee/Tetons has some amazing BC and guide books to help you, but you would probably want to have a little bit of experience before venturing out to a lot of the areas. Alta/Bird is you can't go wrong with. Right up the Canyon from SLC, lots to do, and some amazing snow. The only thing about Utah though, is the predominantly sandstone rocks, which erode and cause flat landings. They also are a bit grabby, more so then granite, which is found in Squaw. Squaw's snowpack, Sierra Cement some call it, although much heavier, is super good for landing big drops, it sticks to everything (look at Tram Face, McConkeys, The Fingers, etc.) and we still get plenty of 5% water content snow. I love Utah pow, but I rode the Bird a few days this year and had some of the gnarliest conditions underneath 6" of pow. Not that you won't find that anywhere, but I'd rather land on steep's when you have dust on crust. Squaw also is right next to Alpine, which has some sick sidecountry access, a sick park with my favorite jump line anywhere, and word on the street is that Squaw may have bought Alpine. Good luck dude, I'm sure you'll make the best decision for you!
Jun 8 2011 1:58AM
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brf726
Posts: 91 - Karma: 15
TGR is based out of Jackson. If you're looking to get into big mountain, it seems like the most logical place to be.
Jun 8 2011 2:21AM
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jimmer
Posts: 3586 - Karma: 80
mammoth lakes is a good sized town right at the base of mammoth. it's actually pretty sick there. there is cerro coso community college. they call it the harvard of the west coast.

but i'd look into alta/bird. this is coming from a tahoe skier relocated to utah
Jun 8 2011 2:23AM
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ScuffDUFF
Posts: 2027 - Karma: 143
word. It JMI sells to Squaw, shit will be crazy.
Jun 8 2011 2:24AM
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jblaski
Posts: 5566 - Karma: 1,078
Honestly, if I were you, I'd make my number 1 choice Alta/Bird. Some of the best powder in the US. Absolutely fun terrain. And the cost of living in SLC is very reasonable. Basically, you get all the great positives of great skiing, without the retarded high prices of mountain towns.

My next choice would be the Tetons. But instead of Jackson, go to Targhee. 100" more snow a season, and less crowded.

I live in Colorado now. For big mountain riding here......well, go someplace else.
Jun 8 2011 2:36AM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
unless you are going to be touring a bunch, and even then i would still go to Jhole. targhee is fun, but the main mtn, freds, is really mellow and gets boring after a few days. Peaked is super fun but short.
Jun 8 2011 3:17AM
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D-40
Posts: 6050 - Karma: 100

Really appreciate all of the comments, except from forum10 (why are you still posting again?).  Utah isn't really a place I want to live in.  I have skied there, understand the snow is second to none, but Utah as a place to live...ehhh I'm a little skeptical (no disrespect). 

So, is there any process to moving up to Canada for the ski season?  I haven't really thought about that.

The rents are kinda pressuring me to go to Colorado because I have a lot of family there.  I don't really care tho I wanna just find the right place for me. 

Jun 8 2011 12:42PM
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simplesteezy
Posts: 99 - Karma: 10
Steamboat is a pretty sweet town and they have good light pow and some sweet tree runs. Plus you are only about 1-2 hours away from summit with good snow every so often (this spring was the shit) and you can get the 5 mountain pass which is around $400 which isn't too bad. But there are no steeps unless you go south to Telluride, Silverton, or Crested Butte which i went to this past season and was pretty sweet, I got 2 pretty solid pow days in and its a cool vibe being up there. I mean you could go to squaw but G.N.A.R. is probably going to bring in half of the world next season because of the radness it portrays. Or go to Bozeman, they have Bridger Bowl and Big Sky which are pretty much vacant and have some sweet fucking lines and good pow.. Hope that helps!
Jun 8 2011 2:18PM
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D-40
Posts: 6050 - Karma: 100
Squallywood is looking more and more likely.  Just a note to all the skiers out in the woods of squally, although I am from MN, I am better than you!!!
Jun 8 2011 2:42PM
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
Are you disagreeing with the fact that sierra cement sticks to steeps?  Because it clearly does.  I love skiing in Utah, but it takes more snow to cover stuff up there.  I do like Utah face shots though.
Jun 8 2011 7:54PM
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
I should add that although Jackson is insane, from what I have heard, it is not an easy place to ski bum.  I could be wrong, and I'm not an expert, but I would seek out advice from folks there before I chose to relocate.
Jun 8 2011 7:55PM
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DaysToCome
Posts: 1601 - Karma: 86
scratch steamboat and add crested butte. you will love it. super steep technical terrain and lots of it
Jun 8 2011 8:53PM
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