Christmas skiing

I have to plan a trip for this comig xmas break... and was looking for suggestions based on these criteria (no partcular order). I have to make plane reservations now though :(
-Reasonably reliable xmas snow levels
-Maggots in the area
-Reasonable off-hill town and tolerable intermediate terrain (for family that doesn't ski all day)
-Good terrain (d'oh)
-Reasonable transportation to/from SF

Already on the list are the weed, alta, jackson hole, and crested butte (been to everywhere but crested butte)

Ideas?

Thanks
-Seldon

Whistler?

I'd say JH and CB are a little iffy. However, Targhee has very good early season reliability, so that could save your bacon if Jackson lacks coverage.

Other good choices are Whistler/Blackcomb (very high probability of good conditions, BUT crowded and expensive over Xmas), Mount Bachelor (less crowded, maybe less appeal for you, but good appeal to the intermediates, no slopeside lodging), Summit County CO (lots of places within striking distance so you can pick wherever the best coverage is).

Well, Crested Butte may not have the good stuff (Extreme Limits area) open by Christmas. It takes a season of accumulation for good coverage. Well since I live in Colorado, I would suggest Breck to meet all the requirements you've listed - it has easy access, it's a great town, loads of intermediate terrain. The snow is pretty reliable - most everything should be open by Christmas. I know I am new to this board, but I know there are maggots from around this area. It doesn't have the terrain of an Alta or a Jackson Hole, but there are some good spots if you know where you are going. I'm sure that's why you want some Maggots around, to show you the spots. The hiking to the top of Peak 7 and Peak 8 is, I think, is the best in that area. Plus, you've got Copper only 25 minutes away, Vail about 45 minutes away, and Abasin is very close for some gnarly, steep tree runs. The lift tickets at Breck are good at any Vail Resort (Vail, BC, Keystone, Abasin). I guess Alta would be closer and still meet all your requirements.

This just in: Breck sucks!

Don't forget Mammoth. You're pretty much gauranteed enough snow to have some fun, and it has a history of giant storms in late December. It's relatively close, but not so close that you will have skied there a lot. The only downside is that the town isn't the most exciting place for non-skiers. Oh, and there are tons of Maggots there.

\Welcome, BZ. What's up.

What about Salt Lake City? The Canyons is not crowded around Christmas and has decent terrain (we're talking family here, not the real stuff). My friends have all gone for Christmas break and have been satisfied with the coverage. Hell you might get a freak pounding like they had last year and end up riding waist deep shit for 3 days straight. I remember during break last year while a crew of my friends were up there, I was just watching Park City's mountain cams, watching the fat flakes slam the ground without mercy. It was cool.

Look into Park City or The Canyons. They might be a nice family destination at Christmas time. The shopping and food in Park City are really good. If you go, you have go to the Bangkok Thai for their duck salad. But that's later.

Edit: no maggots outside LCC or BCC, I wouldn't think. If that's the least of your factors, then have at it. :)

If I'm going to SLC, I'm going to Alta. Case closed there. Just no debate.

I'll look into the CO solution :).

I've had bad experiences with Whistler at xmas... to early for their season it seems?

Mammoth could be good- but it's a bitch of a drive from where I live (7+ hours on dry roads).

I would stay away from Summit Co. at Christmas, too crowded for my blood. In Colorado I would try Steamboat or Aspen. Steamboat generally has better snow then but Aspen has much better terrain and Highland Bowl is alway open by Christmas.
I think both have direct flights from SF.

Targhee is alway a good bet, but its a bit of a haul from Jackson.

Big Mountain might be a good call. Whitefish is a nice town and Fernie is only about two hours away.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Shredhead
Aspen has much better terrain and Highland Bowl is alway open by Christmas.

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[knocks on wood to prevent Shredhead jinx :D] knock, knock, knock!


Aspen would be the call - no crowds compared to most others. But, then again, you can just believe the myths and stay away, which is why the place is empty to begin with...

Quote:

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Originally posted by seldon
I've had bad experiences with Whistler at xmas... to early for their season it seems?

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Maybe you just got lucky :) Usually conditions are pretty good by Christmas. Typically in the PNW we start getting the big storms rolling in around Thanksgiving or the start of December. Things can really pile up by Christmastime and there's a good likelyhood of a major dump while you're there.

Have you seen this link before? Some useful info:
http://webpages.charter.net/tcrocker818/early00.htm

I think this is basically a rehash of the one above from Skiing:
http://www.skiingmag.com/skiing/trav...328638,00.html

Quote:

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Originally posted by seldon
If I'm going to SLC, I'm going to Alta. Case closed there. Just no debate.

I'll look into the CO solution :).

I've had bad experiences with Whistler at xmas... to early for their season it seems?

Mammoth could be good- but it's a bitch of a drive from where I live (7+ hours on dry roads).

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Last two Xmas's have rocked at WB. Xmas eve day and Xmas day are super quiet on the hill even though the village is busy.

Two years ago they had what some of the locals were calling the best day in 30 years on Xmas day, snorkle city! I got mine on boxing day (phoned the snow phone on the way up and nearly soiled myself- 1.4 meters in last 36 hours!). Last year Xmas eve day kicked ass with over a foot of new snow and nice quiet crowds. Come on up!

Quote:

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Originally posted by Karl Stall
[knocks on wood to prevent Shredhead jinx :D] knock, knock, knock!


Aspen would be the call - no crowds compared to most others. But, then again, you can just believe the myths and stay away, which is why the place is empty to begin with...

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Yeah, but Aspen over Christmas is REALLY expensive. I looked into going there last Christmas, but the lodging was like 50% more expensive then anywhere else (we ended up going to Whistler, so it's not like we were trying to be super-cheap either).

Quote:

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I've had bad experiences with Whistler at xmas... to early for their season it seems?

[/B]

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Are you on drugs?

Quote:

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Originally posted by seldon
I've had bad experiences with Whistler at xmas... to early for their season it seems?

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I'll be there - 24dec - 7 jan. - skiing out of creekside.

of course so will everyone else, but skier slalom is part of the fun.

Here's a local's site. His take on snow levels


Dec. 25'03 08:00 AM Overcast, Ltd.Vis. Wind NE 45 k/h
Peak -10c Alpine -5c Valley 0c NewSnw 39cm Base 183cm


Merry Christmas! Santa delivered 39 lovely centimeters in the Alpine. Can't be here? Why? You haven't been good? Shoulda been nice? Sorry dude, too late now. You know what to do next year.

Dec.26 '02 10:00:AM Overcast, Var.Vis. Wind NE 35 k/h
Peak -10c Alpine -6c Valley -0c NewSnw 42cm Base 200cm


Who'da thunk it? 2 Meters by Christmas, less than 3 weeks ago I wrote that locals were staying off the hills in order to leave some for our visitors. Guess what, we're up there now. Last one on top is a rotten egg.

Dec.25 '02 06:00:PM Overcast, Var.Vis. Wind N 25 k/h
Peak -7c Alpine -3c Valley -0c NewSnw 99cm Base 197cm


Merry Christmas! Obviously Santa did not forget about us and just as obviously we've all been Véry good. After almost meter of fresh pow it's still falling. This can go on for a while so if you like it fluffy get down here now!


Dec 25 '01 11:00:AM Clear, UnLimited Vis., Light Wind
Alpine 1c Mdmtn -3c Valley -6c NwSnw 0cm Base 206cm


Welcome to an inverted Christmas. Go into the alpine and work on your tan, stay down here and make sure you've got a hot toddy close at hand. I hope you're all having an excellent one.