What are the best SoCal ski resorts ?

hey all,

i've been mostly a summit co. + tahoe skier for my long 5 year skiing career, but have found the socal resorts to be closer to LA that any others are to a major airport and i'm in Houston, so i need a plane to get to any mountain.

so, my questions to you guys for socal resorts are:
1. what places have the most trails that are worth hitting(decent blues or better) ?
2. what places have night skiing ?
3. what places have some cheap stays near the base so i dont have to hock organs or drive back to LA every night ?
4. what places have at least 2 decent bars at the base ?

any help, comments and insulting statements of things that i couldnt physically do to myself are appreciated.

Baldy and Bear are OK but the best resort nr SoCal for backcountry access and big vert is definitely Marshall Peak. Nine lifts, 2,400 of lift served vert and an ungroomed backside makes it well worth the trip to Kramer Junction for.

here are better airports:

reno
vancouver
slc
jackson
denver
shit, laguardia

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

... but have found the socal resorts to be closer to LA that any others are to a major airport and i'm in Houston, so i need a plane to get to any mountain...

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Whatever you do, do NOT consider SLC a major airport... :rolleyes:

I've only skied at baldy. very laid back place. looks like it would be fun w/good snow.

I might have to move from Boulder to LA this spring. Should I give up all hopes of skiing anything good with out driving to Lake Tahoe?

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I might have to move from Boulder to LA this spring. Should I give up all hopes of skiing anything good with out driving to Lake Tahoe?

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call us in the spring.

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Originally Posted by Lurch

I might have to move from Boulder to LA this spring. Should I give up all hopes of skiing anything good with out driving to Lake Tahoe?

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Yes, because Bullet has proven time and again with his pictures that Mammoth sucks and is overrated, and spring skiing in the Eastern Sierras really blows.

And yet again, I'm embarassed to be a native Texan.

In contrast to my past behavior, I'm not even going to attempt to defend Big Bear in this thread, because as a destination resort, it is completely and totally overrated.

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And yet again, I'm embarassed to be a native Texan.

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-now, what the heck is that supposed to mean ? my post maybe the most coherent and the only post free of expletives so far today.

getting this thread back on point, any more info. on socal resorts +/- would be great.

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

-now, what the heck is that supposed to mean ? my post maybe the most coherent and the only post free of expletives so far today.

getting this thread back on point, any more info. on socal resorts +/- would be great.

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I'm embarrassed to be a Texan, because you're picking a destination resort based entirely on the distance to a major resort. There are plenty of places better to ski than Big Bear, Mtn High, and Baldy. There are even places that are just as cheap and easily accessible. Go do some research and then come back and ask us about the relative merits of Salt Lake City vs Seattle vs Burlington.

Lets see if we can clear the confusion up here.....

S. Cal ski resorts aren't worth flying to (with the exception of Mammoth which is closer to Reno's airport than the LA area).

If you want skiing close to a major airport try: SLC, Denver, Seattle (and maybe Sacramento).

actually, i'm asking about the socal resorts because of their closeness to the LA airports, as i have yet to have more than 10 vacation days since graduating college; so every minute i can ski, i try to ski. i know all the great places and have been to most of them, but most dont offer night skiing or are at least 2 hours away from an airport.
i am no longer worried about the best powder, best steeps. been there, done that. my goals now are to find mountains that are easy/quick to get to and are open from morning to nite. i'll worry about hitting the great mountains again when i'm retired and time is not an issue.

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

actually, i'm asking about the socal resorts because of their closeness to the LA airports, as i have yet to have more than 10 vacation days since graduating college; so every minute i can ski, i try to ski. i know all the great places and have been to most of them, but most dont offer night skiing or are at least 2 hours away from an airport.
i am no longer worried about the best powder, best steeps. been there, done that. my goals now are to find mountains that are easy/quick to get to and are open from morning to nite. i'll worry about hitting the great mountains again when i'm retired and time is not an issue.

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So, SLC is out because it is only an hour to 4 kickass resorts? Think first, then post.

dude, you been to SLC? BCC and LCC are a 40 min drive away....same with Park City....with traffic in LA, by the time you got your rental car @ LAX and made the drive you old be looking at closer to 2+ hours.....land in SLC, grab rental car (or shuttle van even better if going to LCC and staying @ Alta/Bird - ya don't need a car) and you are an hour away from stepping into your binders.....and UT areas blow away SoCal resorts...clue in my man.

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

actually, i'm asking about the socal resorts because of their closeness to the LA airports, as i have yet to have more than 10 vacation days since graduating college; so every minute i can ski, i try to ski. i know all the great places and have been to most of them, but most dont offer night skiing or are at least 2 hours away from an airport.
i am no longer worried about the best powder, best steeps. been there, done that. my goals now are to find mountains that are easy/quick to get to and are open from morning to nite. i'll worry about hitting the great mountains again when i'm retired and time is not an issue.

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Then you've come to the right place. Bear Mountain and Snow Summit are next door to each other. There are relatively cheap places to stay in the town of Big Bear. Lift tickets aren't too expensive. There are plenty of bars. Are you coming for a weekend? It's usually not too bad. :fmicon:

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

actually, i'm asking about the socal resorts because of their closeness to the LA airports, as i have yet to have more than 10 vacation days since graduating college; so every minute i can ski, i try to ski. i know all the great places and have been to most of them, but most dont offer night skiing or are at least 2 hours away from an airport.
i am no longer worried about the best powder, best steeps. been there, done that. my goals now are to find mountains that are easy/quick to get to and are open from morning to nite. i'll worry about hitting the great mountains again when i'm retired and time is not an issue.

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If I was paying all that money to fly some where, stay in a hotel and maybe a rental car I would definitely want quality and not quantity. After full day of steep and deep pow the last thing I would be looking for is skiing under the lights but hey that's just me.

I have just the area you are looking for. It's in my home town I grew up skiing 100+ days and nights there under the lights with 14+ hours of skiing on Saturday and Sunday. It's called Montage it’s 15 minutes from the local airport and the skiing sucks. But hey it's open from 8:30 till 10 on the weekends and 9 till 10 on the weekdays.

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So, SLC is out because it is only an hour to 4 kickass resorts? Think first, then post.

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i know all about SLC. flights to SLC can get pricey vs. LA and so can close lodging. a few hundred bucks saved is worth missing utah if i can turn it into a 2nd ski trip later in the year. dont know what you call that, but i call that thinking first.
however, i still do not know all about socal; which is why i'm asking and i have skied serious stuff non-stop from 9 to 4 many times with a lot left in the tank. you guys getting worn out by 4 need to get in shape.

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

i know all about SLC. flights to SLC can get pricey vs. LA and so can close lodging. a few hundred bucks saved is worth missing utah if i can turn it into a 2nd ski trip later in the year. dont know what you call that, but i call that thinking first.
however, i still do not know all about socal; which is why i'm asking and i have skied serious stuff non-stop from 9 to 4 many times with a lot left in the tank. you guys getting worn out by 4 need to get in shape.

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GRRRRRRRRR!!!!!
ONLY ONE THING PISSES ME OFF MORE THAN NNNNEEEERRRDDDDS:

ARROGANT, POMPOUS, TEXAN JACKASS HILLBILLY REDNECK NERDS!!!!

STAY IN TEXAS, ASSHOLE HICK!

FYI:

Houston-Hobby/SLC Round flights from $99 each way on Southwest.
Comfort Inn - Sandy, UT: $54/night

=Not expensive.

actually, i listen to KTRU, am ex-army and run a 5 minute mile; so watch who you call

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JACKASS HILLBILLY REDNECK NERDS!!!!

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; but i am arrogant.

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STAY IN TEXAS, ASSHOLE HICK!

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-and despite that i like to save money on ski trips, i pull down some serious jack; so i'll go where-ever i want.

i should have know better than to actually ask a question about skiing on TGR.

thanks bad roo, bullet, telenater and tippster for the help !

Reno/Tahoe.

Cheap hotels in Reno (some with Ski and Stay packages less than $100 a day including a lift ticket). Or a cheap motel room can be had for $40-60 and some shiny beads.

In SL-Tahoe, you practically fall out of the hotel on to the gondola up the mountain.

I can't see the benefit of flying to LA instead of somewhere else with better/closer snow and accomodations just as cheap.

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

actually, i listen to KTRU, am ex-army and run a 5 minute mile; so watch who you call ; but i am arrogant.

-and despite that i like to save money on ski trips, i pull down some serious jack; so i'll go where-ever i want.

i should have know better than to actually ask a question about skiing on TGR.

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GRRRRRRR!!!! IT MAKES SENSE NOW. YOU AND TJ HAD A SORRRRRRDID LOVE-AFFAIRRRRRR IN THE MILITARRRRRRRY AND GOT KICKED OUT.

DON'T MAKE ME KICK YOUR ASS!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! I BENCH PRESS 300 POUNDS!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!

SLC, dude. Why anywhere else? I live in New Orleans, so don't give me that "it's cheaper to fly here" nonsense. You can get cheap flights from Houston. TRUST ME.

When there was a nonstop to Salt Lake, I could leave my house at 5 am and be skiing by 11ish in Park City. I could ski until the lifts closed at 9 (yes they DO have night skiing) and then, if I wanted to, drive to the other side of the hills and ski Alta, Brighton, The Bird, or anywhere else the next day. And I did it all for cheaper than any trip I have taken since (DEN rapes the southerners in the ass).

Sorry to surface, but I thought it needed to be said by someone who flies to Houston all the time...

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

i am no longer worried about the best powder, best steeps. been there, done that.

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Yeah, I went through that phase too. Didn't really like it much.

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

actually, i listen to KTRU, am ex-army and run a 5 minute mile; so watch who you call ; but i am arrogant.

-and despite that i like to save money on ski trips, i pull down some serious jack; so i'll go where-ever i want.

i should have know better than to actually ask a question about skiing on TGR.

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You're a Blurred alias, aren't you?

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

where-ever

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"wherever", hill-billy

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Originally Posted by Lone Star

You're a Blurred alias, aren't you?

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Good call...

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

I have skied mostly Summit for my 5+ long years.... and I have found Socal to be closer to LAX than any other resort is to any major airport

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Even I know better...

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

actually, i'm asking about the socal resorts because of their closeness to the LA airports, as i have yet to have more than 10 vacation days since graduating college; so every minute i can ski, i try to ski. i know all the great places and have been to most of them, but most dont offer night skiing or are at least 2 hours away from an airport.
i am no longer worried about the best powder, best steeps. been there, done that. my goals now are to find mountains that are easy/quick to get to and are open from morning to nite. i'll worry about hitting the great mountains again when i'm retired and time is not an issue.

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Brighton has 200 acres of night skiing open from about mid-December on. If your legs can stand it, you can ski 12 hours straight from 9 AM to 9 PM. Great snow, laid back vibe, empty midweek and fun terrain.

Oh, and don't bother with SoCal resorts. They blow goats for quarters. I learned how to ski and ride at Snow Summit and Mt. High, and this is what you can expect: extremely crowded slopes, hardpack manmade snow, and small vert. Not worth the flight.

SkiCougar - I hope you're someone's alias, because.... I mean.. c'mon... a ski vacation in Los Angeles??? What are you smoking, because I want some of whatever it is. It must be awefully strong to warp your sense of reality that much! If you've been skiing anywhere else west of the Mississippi, you'll be sorely disappointed. Period.

Eh... I could spend my time explaining in more detail why a ski trip to L.A. would suck terribly, but I don't care enough to do it. Go ahead and burn your dollars in the San Bernardino or San Gabriel Mountains, and then come back here and tell us if you still think it was a good idea.

Wow, being right across the border from Mexico must be giving Texas some nice drugs right now. Because those are some fuct up posts, mr. Cougar.

Its the facking

PARADE OF JONGS

this week only on TGR!

What Ogre said.

Go anywhere you like, Cougar, just don't come to SLC.

skicougar, you make me want to poop :fuckyou:

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Originally Posted by SkiCougar

i am no longer worried about the best powder, best steeps. been there, done that. my goals now are to find mountains that are easy/quick to get to and are open from morning to nite. i'll worry about hitting the great mountains again when i'm retired and time is not an issue.

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Musta been a slow day on Epic, not that that wouldn't describe any day on Epic.