Advice on early Dec trip?

[Markhpnc]

This is going to at least be a semi-annoying post, but I would really value any advice/tips you have. I will give a detailed explanation of the situation so that hopefully you will see where I am coming from. Also here is an attempt at some stoke (from JH last march during a snow drought) just for looking...
Tower 3 icy as hell

Not sure, but maybe Dick's Ditch

Bad picture quility in Rendevous

Obvious (and closed all week)

Off the back of Targhee


Here's the real treat, some shots from one of NC's huge mountains (Beech)



I have a weeks vacation to use either Dec 3-10 or 10-17 both are Sat to Sat. I took my first trip out west to JH last march and loved it even though there was no new snow in weeks. I am going to attempt 3 trips out west this year. This Dec trip, a trip to Utah in late Jan, and Big Sky and Jackson Hole (gotta ride the tram again before it's gone) in early March. The question is in regards to where I go this Dec. I am looking at Tahoe, Utah, or Mammoth (and Tahoe maybe?) Altough it seems Utah is always a good choice expecially for snow (and maybe the mini-summit will be around then?), I am already going there this season, and I have a few places I want to get to on my list (for the sake of variety) before I start going to the same places again. These are the deals I have found: plane tickets for Dec 3-10 Raleigh to SLC for $234 and flights plus 7 night hotel for $570. As far Mammoth and or Tahoe, flying into Reno/Tahoe is about the same at $244. Flight and Hotel in Reno $433 or Flight and Hotel in South Tahoe for $568. I didn't check lodging in the Mammoth area yet though. Would I have to rent a car to get to Mammoth or is are there shuttles/buses? Also, are there shuttles or buses from Reno to Tahoe if I were to stay in Reno, or would I need to pay the extra money to stay in South Tahoe? The places I want to go in Tahoe are Squaw, Kirkwood, Heavenly, and maybe Alpine Meadows. I will not be 25 untill Jan, so renting a car may be problem and thats why I am asking about the shuttles and transportation. I know I can get around on the buses if I go to Utah. So do these look like good deals or no? I know my ticket to SLC in Jan is higher at $300 so I thought $433 sounded pretty good for a flight + week at Atlantis casino hotel in Reno. Another thing I was wondering and I know this is the worst kind of question, but how is early season snow in these areas Utah/Mammoth/Tahoe. I know as well as anyone that snow is impossible to predict, but maybe there are some very general trends? Like how much terrain is usually opened at this time? Maybe snowmaking ability factors in the early seasons or not? I am going to go ahead and stop now, but seriously any info would be really cool. If you need more info or clarification just let me know.

[MOHSHSIHd]

pierre's project for 2010

[Max Gosey]

pierre's project for 2010

^^^^
Jaimie...


Very funny, mang.

[The AD]

Tahoe is more risky for early season than Utah. Another place to consider is Whistler. Yes, last season sucked bad, but there's a pretty good history of big dumps occurring around Thanksgiving and early December.

[AltaPowderDaze]

I am not 25 untill after Jan., a car can thus rent the problem

that just changed. most auto rental dropped the req to 21 but i heard some are at 18 now.

[ill-advised strategy]

You should take greyhound and sleep in the Magna Walmart employee break room. Then you can hitchhike up and catch the free hour on the Sunnyside chair. That's how I'd do it.

[Mcwop]

I will be hitting Utah during early December. Alta/Bird. There was plenty of base the past two years in early Dec in UT, but the conditions kinda sucked when I was there (Two years ago I missed an interlodge by a day - I blame Karl Stall for that). My luck is bound to change one of these years.

[Big E]

Don't plan anything. Decide on which week you're going to take off, then wait, wait, wait, waaaaiiiiittttttt, okay, it's 3 or 4 days out, now decide where to go. Early December is even more of a crapshoot than mid-season. You'd be surprised how relatively little you save booking months in advance, or how little you care if you wait until the last minute and score tits-deep snow.

[Markhpnc]

It seems like everytime I wait for plane tickets out of NC, I end up paying out the a$$. I am especially worried with gas going up the way it is. So does anybody know if there are shuttles/buses between Reno and Mammoth, and Reno and Tahoe and how far the drives are?

[bagtagley]

Two years ago I missed an interlodge by a day.

We drove into SLC just as that storm was hitting. It took us almost 12 hours to get there from Boulder where we stopped for a short nap after driving from WV. By far the best week of skiing I've ever experienced.

I'm with Big E. Doubtful you'll save more than $100 by booking early. That's a small price to pay for good conditions (vs. "wasting" your money on crappy conditions and/or poor coverage).

[Markhpnc]

So does anybody know if there are shuttles/buses between Reno and Mammoth, and Reno and Tahoe and how far the drives are?

So nobody can share any info on ^^^^?

Okay one more noob question then. Should there be a difference between either Dec 3-10 or Dec 10-17 as far as crowds (closer to Christmas) or jacked up holiday prices?

I had seen this thread http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...e+early+season with all the picks of great snow in October(?!?) and I heard a lot about the epic snows there last Dec so Tahoe seemed like a good choice. The first issue of Snowboard Journal this season had sweet pics and stories about last years early storms as well. Pretty good stuff it was. So I guess this was out of the ordinary then? I am not at all opposed to going to Utah then if conditions end up being better there, so maybe I will wait and see if the airfair goes up much.

[maddog]

You are on the right track. Tahoe or Utah (one or the other) will have snow in early Dec. but you never know which until early Dec! If it were me I'd veto Mammoth, not because of the snow, but because of the drive. Why drive hours to Mammoth when you could drive minutes to Snowbird or Squaw?

[Markhpnc]

I know Mammoth is way out there, but it's high up on my "places to go" list, so I hope to go there sooner than later. It is not as high as Utah (Snowbird) and Tahoe (Squaw, Kirkwood, Heavenly) though so it can wait if the need arises.

[tarkman1]

1) Wait until the right before you have to leave and see where the snow is best.
2) Then call for summit within a day road trip of....Salt Lake.

Someone is bound to be able to grab you on the way to the Summit. Plus, you'll have people to split lodging.

[nachos supreme]

I know Mammoth is way out there, but it's high up on my "places to go" list, so I hope to go there sooner than later. It is not as high as Utah (Snowbird) and Tahoe (Squaw, Kirkwood, Heavenly) though so it can wait if the need arises.

Mammoth is a bit of a bastard to get to,
My advice would be to fly into Reno and rent a car then you can do the 'Wood etc too.
If you wanna go bus it try these guys
Mammoth Shuttle (760) 934-6588

Or

Sierra Express (760) 924-8294

Haven't used them myself,I come in from the LA side but it's prolly worth a call right?