BarbaraKobzik 0 #1 February 20, 2007 Hi folks - I guess a good amount of you go skiing from time to time, and hopefully can give me some good hints. I live in Orlando, FL now, which obviously is not the best place for skiing. So, what would be the best place to go for a ski weekend? Here are the things I am looking for: - direct flight from Orlando - fast access to the slopes from the airport - not too crowded, so probably a place with many ski areas - the obvious, like nice snow, beautiful landscape - affordable places to stay / eat / lift tickets The plan is to fly on a Thursday evening, from Orlando most likely to the West somewhere, then go skiing Fri, Sat, and maybe half Sun, fly back Sunday early afternoon. What I heard so far is: - Salt Lake City would be good - Denver Airport is too far from the slopes - There are some nice places in the Northeast, but nothing specific yet So, friends of the cold and white, please come up with your recommendations, experiences, hints, it will be much appreciated. Thanks a lot, Barbara--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's nice to be important, but it's much more important to be nice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #2 February 20, 2007 Ski or Board?? If Ski... Salt Lake definately!! Head up to Alta. Best Skiing in the world in my opinion.. And best part is they dont even allow Boarders on the slopes at all thus helping keep the slopes in better condition. Alta would meet all your requirements excpt for maybe Affordable place to stay.. If you are renting a Car, Just stay off mountian somewhere and dont worry about it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazon 7 #3 February 20, 2007 Alaska Airlines has a direct flight to Seattle Daily out of Orlando. Sea Tac is just an hours drive from ALL of the ski areas in Snoqualmie Pass..... White pass is two hours to the SE and Stevens Pass is 90 miles to the NE One out of the way place you will not hear abou t too much nationinally is Mt Baker.. its about 2.5 hour drive from SEA TAC.. and has more snow than any place I can think of.. a few years ago.. all time record in the US.... OVER 120 Ft. Some of the ski lifts were running in troughs in the snow. I prefer Baker... less crowded than the others... and great snow. Nice thing about the area here is its not as cold as the eastern Mts...and we have a LOT of snow. http://www.summitatsnoqualmie.com/ http://www.stevenspass.com/ Conditions Base Top Snow Depth 104" / 264cm 119" / 302cm Temperature 24°F / -4°C 22°F / -6°C Wind Moderate w/gusts Moderate w/gusts Visibility Limited Limited New Snow Depth Since 4am 1" / 3cm Last 12 Hours 10" / 25cm Last 24 Hours 20" / 51cm Last 7 Days 29" / 74cm This Season 324" / 823cm http://www.mtbaker.us/ New Snowfall : 14 in 36 cm 24 hour Snowfall : 24 in 61 cm Temperature : 27°F -3°C Weather : Snowing Slope Conditions : Powder Base at Heather Meadows : 181 in 460 cm Base at Pan Dome : 192 in 488 cm Operation Info : Normal midweek operation out of White Salmon Lodge. Hours : 9:00 - 3:45pm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BarbaraKobzik 0 #4 February 20, 2007 Ski, no board. "Board free zone" actually sounds good... (sorry, no offense, but I don't like hybrid jumps neither, sometimes it's just better to keep things separated, you can mix them later at the bar) Any website you could recommend for Alta? Any certain ski area / ski pass you would recommend?--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's nice to be important, but it's much more important to be nice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BarbaraKobzik 0 #5 February 20, 2007 Thanks, but I am afraid Seattle is a bit far for the weekend, Salt Lake City is probably the max, even though skiing in warm weather sounds nice. I did that a lot in Switzerland, next to the Matterhorn, when I still was living in Germany. Great to ski on the glaciers, in t-shirt, in the sunshine, loved that.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's nice to be important, but it's much more important to be nice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos340 1 #6 February 20, 2007 http://www.alta.com/ Alta and Snowbird are Side by Side.. (Snowbird allows those pesky Boarders) You can get one pass for both Resorts But Personally I usually just stay with Alta. Snowbird does have alot more Double Blacks if that is your thing but Alta has plenty of Challenging slopes as well. the Slopes at Alta have been perfectly groomed and the lightest Dryest Powder I have ever seen everytime I have been there. I love that mountain. Slopes are exactly 33 miles from the airport. Rent a Car, Find a Cheap place to stay just outside of SLC on the way to the slopes, Buy just the Alta Lift Ticket (About $50 a day) and have Fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chris74 0 #7 February 20, 2007 Here at home near Chamonix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gene03 0 #8 February 20, 2007 Yup Snowbird or Alta. Go to the Red Iguana restaurant near the airport for some good chow.“The only fool bigger than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him. Stanislaw Jerzy Lec quotes (Polish writer, poet and satirist 1906-1966) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
davedlg 0 #9 February 20, 2007 QuoteDenver Airport is too far from the slopes Define too far? If you dont try to drive up to the slopes on a weekend morning, or when there is a big storm, it only takes an hour and a half to two hours to get to the slopes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billeisele 122 #10 February 20, 2007 Salt Lake would work, all kinds of hotels with good rates, discount lift tickets at www.canyonsports.com , if you need a 4-wheel drive get ready for sticker shock Reno would work - quick access to Lake Tahoe area, Squaw Valley has good snow now can't think of anywhere in the northeast that is easy to get to but not crowded on the weekends - too many big city folks taking quick trips if looking for something other than a hotel try vacation rentals by owner www.vrbo.com remeber that college spring breaks start soonGive one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ncfitzge 0 #11 February 21, 2007 I got to DeerValley. It is just outside of Park City. A little more expensive, but it has two mountains and great snow.#148 Sonic Scrat "Have you ever kissed a rabbit between the eyes?" Woodpecker pulling out his pants pockets to the waitress Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny1488 1 #12 February 21, 2007 My girl works at Deer Valley and i just learned how to ski there. Very nice. I went to Park City one day and it was nice but i like DV better. Gonna try Alta when i go there next. They are all within 30-40 minutes of each other os you can't lose, except it looks to be getting very war there this week. DV park city and the canyons on one side, alta and snowbird on the other. Just skiid my first day on the east coast today at a baby mountain near me. Utah sure was sick! Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snowslider 0 #13 February 21, 2007 I live in here in SLC, Utah. PM if you want any help or have any questions. I snowboard and ride mostly at Brighton but I do have a Tram pass to the Bird as well. As far as renting a car, I would save money and not go with the SUV. It's been a fairly tame winter and they keep the canyon roads very clear so anything front will drive will do just fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BarbaraKobzik 0 #14 February 21, 2007 Thank you all very much. SLC it is. Just turned my frequent flier miles into tickets, leaving tomorrow night in 2 weeks for a long weekend. Car rental was excellent via Priceline (72$ all incl for 3 days), got a hotel (Sleep Inn) for 49$ per night in South Jordan, so that should be quick to get to Alta. Have all my ski equipment still in Germany, so need to rent. Any recommendations? Thanks again - Barbara--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's nice to be important, but it's much more important to be nice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnny1488 1 #15 February 22, 2007 Give your self a day to go to Park City. Again I am partial to Deer Valley, but the whole town is pretty cool. Every resort has easy access rentals. I paid $45 a day before I got my own gear. Johnny --"This ain't no book club, we're all gonna die!" Mike Rome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BarbaraKobzik 0 #16 March 15, 2007 Hi there, thank you all very much for the great hints. We went to Alta and had a blast. 3 days of super snow and blue sky, everything was absolutely fantastic. The area is beautiful, great runs (pretty cool with all the powder snow and "nature" runs), access was easy (yes, our 72$-for-3-days-car didn't have any problems to get up there, the road was in great condition, thanks for the hint to save the money for an SUV). And no snow boarders !! Beautiful! We definitely want to go back there, thanks again folks, that was a great recommendation. Barbara--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's nice to be important, but it's much more important to be nice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billeisele 122 #17 March 16, 2007 Barbara - We probably crossed paths. I had my crew from South Carolina there last week. We skied Alta, Solitude, Deer Valley, Park City and the Canyons.Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BarbaraKobzik 0 #18 March 16, 2007 Hello Bill, We definitely plan to go back, it was all very convenient for a long weekend, no long distances to drive. Could you please compare all the ski areas (runs, atmosphere, environment, people,...)? We just skied in Alta and liked it very much, but I would love to hear more about the different areas. Where did you fly out of? Direct flight? Thanks a lot, Barbara--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It's nice to be important, but it's much more important to be nice. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
