Paedde’s US Snow Safari 2006 – Trip Report and Pics

[sculhane]

Just can't believe how incredibly lucky you have been with the weather. Amazing. When I did my 8 week trip in '04, I had maybe 5-6 real good powder days out of 45.

At least, you didn't blow the sunscreen budget on this trip

Now you need to come to SA with us this summer to bring the snow...

Steve

[MTT]

Hey what did you Utards do with Paedde?

No post today? Paedde recovering from Hookers and Blow?

[paedde]

Sorry very busy day yesterday. Travel, Powder day and Travel again.

Today Zion Canyon, drive to Vegas and home. Report will follow and some of the best pics!

[paedde]

Day 54 Travel and Powder day at Brain Head

At 6 am I checked the reports as always. No resort had any significant new snow. That’s it! I decided to drive to Bryce Canyon spend the afternoon there bla bla bla

At 7:30 I checked again and Brain Head corrected the report from 0” to 16” of new snow. Can you imaging how fast I put all my stuff in the car? By 8:10 I was driving on I-15 speeding like hell and at 11:30 I made it to the parking lot.

How nice to see untracked powder right from the parking lot. Not more then about 120 cars. Day pass for U$ 40. On the way up I could see waist amounts of untracked powder and just nobody on the slopes or the chairs. First run was not bad but the sun did work hard on the powder. There had to be better. Right away to the left side of the resort and yes there it was. Untracked boot deep powder. Some sports like Devo’s Pitch had knee deep light powder.

The resort is rather flat and there isn’t any challenging stuff expects of some 150 feet long steep spots. Some of the black runs are not more then blue at other resorts. I would ski there again if I had to spend half a day to or from the Airport but only on a powder day. A great family mountain and beginner to intermediate. They have only slow triple chairs. Catskiing was not open but this could make it even interesting for advance and experts but I’m not sure about this. There’s backcountry access but I have no idea how good it is.

I met two guys from Las Vegas and we skied together till 4:30pm. Both where into big air and therefore I’ll post some different pics today. Thanks guys for the great time and see you next year!

After skiing I drove all the way to Zion Canyon where I’ll stay for the night and spend some time tomorrow morning before heading to the airport.

[Cirquerider]

Unbelievable. Way to cap the trip hitting Brian Head on a powder day. Never been south of LCC myself. Considering the lack of people scrubbing the powder, it looks like not too many get south.

[RootSkier]

Absofuckinglutely amazing.

[soul_skier]

i need to do a trip like this sometime

[cdlv]

nice those pics of brianhead have sealed the deal on me heading up there this week for the tues/wedsday storm

[paedde]

Day 55 Zion Canyon and travel to Las Vegas

After a few hours at Zion Canyon I had to drive to Las Vegas. It’s about a 3h drive.

I’m very happy after more then 7 weeks of powder skiing and a bit sad as well. Had to check snow reports this morning (I’m used to it now) and I think no resort got any snow last night. I even checked the 10 day forecast just to see what I would do if I had another week or two. No sure but I think it would be a lot of driving. Northwest and BC Canada as well as Tahoe in a few days. Utah on Sunday and then again mid next week. That wouldn’t be an easy decision.

Car back at rental station with 7’753 miles more (12’404km). Paedde/Alamo 1:0 and Paedde /Gas station 0:1

Flight from Las Vegas to LA and LA to Zurich. Both on time.

[paedde]

Day 56 Arrival in Zurich

LA to ZRH just over 11h. Dinner, 8h sleep, breakfast, landing. That’s how it should be. Quick shopping, drive back home, phone calls….

Day 57 Back to reality

I still have the weekend before going back to work but it already feels like reality.

Looking back I can still not believe how good it was. How could anyone have so many powder days….

What’s to come next: Summary with details like

Facts and figures
What I would do again
What I wouldn’t do again
Links for planning
Links for accommodation
Tips

Day 58 Last day

It’s Sunday and in just 21h I’ll be back at work. Checked US Snow reports and forecast. It’s going to be a real great powder day at Tahoe. Mr. Rose got 10” yesterday and 1 to 2 feet are expected. We got some snow in Switzerland but only above 2800m. It’s all about spring skiing right now and that’s why I decided to stay home today. Would have been great to go for a powder day today (it’s been a long time) but I better shut up right now. There’s some snow in the forecast this week but I have to work till next Saturday morning. However there’s a change for one or two more powder days this season and for sure some great spring skiing till 28th of May.

That’s it for now. Summary will follow in April or latest May.

Thanks for all your feedbacks, comments and PM’s

Special thanks to all the guys I could ski with. Mark102, Ron (I know “I’m disgustingly spoiled”, Jay, Volantaddict, Rio, Justin and Shad and all the locals I met.

Decision of the day: I have to do it again…. Next year.

[Hicks]

Amazing, and I almost forgot what Zion looks like.

You, Sir, are a really lucky bastard.

[Nohillsnearby]

Standing ovation. What a great trip and great write-up!!!

[Camboselecta]

Yo Paedde do you know where would be best to try a working season in the U.S??

It looks like youve been to most of it!!

[paedde]

What are you looking for?

Small and quite
Big and busy
Nightlife
Other resort within a short drive or in the middle of nowhere
Backcountry important or not
Black runs ok or do you need double black
With or without own car
What kind of job

[paedde]

A bit late but finally I have the facts, figures, summary, tips, links….

Fact and figures

All resorts by state and # of days at resort

Kirkwood, CA, 1
Alpine Meadows, CA, 4
Sierra at Tahoe, CA, 6
Homewood, CA, 1

Mt. Rose, NV, 1

Jackson Hole, WY, 4
Grand Targhee, WY, 1

Snowbird, UT, 1
Alta, UT, 2
Solitude, UT, 2
Snowbasin, UT, 2
Brain Head, UT, 1

Big Sky, MT, 1
Moonlight Basin, MT, 1
Bridger Bowl, MT, 2
Big Mountain, MT, 2
Montana Snowbowl, MT, 2

Schweitzer Mountain, ID, 2


Days of travelling incl. flight 56
Days of sight seeing 3
Days of sight seeing and driving 1
Days of skiing and driving 1
Days off 5
Days sick 2
Days driving only 9
Days of skiing 35
# of different resorts 18
# of resorts “been there done that” 2 Moonlight Basin, Homewood
# of epic powder days 8
# of powder days 20
# of days with some powder 4
# of great skiing days but no or almost no powder 2
# of poor skiing days 1
# of days with rental car 53
Miles / km with rental car 7’753 / 12’404 (4WD Grand Cherokee Jeep incl. unlimited miles, full CDW, EP, CPP, one tank of gas, additional driver and local tax



Total pictures a lot
Total after 1st review 2161
Total after 2nd review 1800
Total for webshots.com 200 http://community.webshots.com/user/paedde31


Total U$ spent ~ 10’000 (excl. flight)

Total U$ for rental car 2’150
Toatl U$ for gas 1’150
Total U$ for lift tickets 1’575
Total U$ for accommodation 3’775
Total U$ for food, beverage and various stuff 1’125
Total U$ for flight: frequent traveller Points only tax paid 225

Tips

Hotels (great value, large rooms, good location):

Jackson Hole, WY, Jackson Hole Lodge http://www.jacksonholelodge.com/
Heavenly, CA, Ambassador Motor Lodge http://www.ambassadorcapritahoe.com/
Bozeman, MT, Royal 7. Reservation highly recommended. http://www.royal7inn.com
Motel 6 great value and very clean. http://www.motel6.com/
Studio 6 great value with kitchen! (SLC + Seattle only) http://www.ambassadorcapritahoe.com/

If you travel on your own: Deal regarding hotel, motel rates. Tell them you are on you own. Discounts of up to 70% are possible after a few minutes of very respectful discussion. Not possible at Motel 6 or Studio 6 but rates are already great.

Links to Highway info
Nevada: http://www.nevadadot.com/traveler/roads/winter/
California: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/hi.htm

How to check driving distance:
http://www.mapquest.com/directions/m...?bCTsettings=1
or even better install “Microsoft Streets and Trips” up to date construction and long term closures are included.

Links you need to make your own forecast
http://twister.sbs.ohio-state.edu/mo..._sfc_loop.html
http://www.weather.gov/radar_tab.php
http://www.weather.com/

How to get cheap tickets (season pass)
Sierra at Tahoe U$ 199 season pass
Kirkwood U$ 199 season pass

Lake Tahoe discounted tickets at most sport shops
Utah discounted tickets at most sport shops
One shop used to have 12U$ discount voucher for Jackson Hole. Can’t recall the name and place

Where to ski on a busy weekend or public holiday
• Grand Targhee instead of Jackson Hole
• Kirkwood, Mt. Rose, Alpine Meadows and Homewood instead of Sierra at Tahoe, Heavenly
• Solitude instead of Alta, Snowbird

4x4 or chains when ever it is snowing:
• Hw50 at Meyer towards Sierra at Tahoe
• Hw88/89 towards Kirkwood (89 around Kirkwood sometimes closed for avalanche control) Hw 89 often closed due to avalanche Hazard at Emerald Bay Tahoe City to South Lake Tahoe. Detour Hw50/28 but it’s only 10-15min more for all resorts expect of Homewood which is more like an extra 20 min.
• Little Cottonwood (Alta and Snowbird)


Speeding 10miles are always ok (at least not expensive or only a warning) slow down when you see the cops. If they get you tell them a nice story why you are speeding and be very friendly.

Out of boundary rules are different at each resort; make sure you read that stuff. It could be bloody expensive. Some resorts are going towards the European way. Go if you wonna kill yourself others put you in prison or fine you with up to U$ 1000.

Critical roads during heavy snow (passes are on the way)
I-5 Portland to Sacramento
I-80 Sacramento to Reno at Donner Summit
I-90 Bozeman to Spokane and Spokane to Seattle

Things I would do again

Follow the storms

Things I would never do again

Skiing Moonlight Basin (with combined ticked Big Sky – Moonlight eventually but it’s too expensive.
Travel with a fix plan regardless of the weather like I did in 2005. You will miss too many powder days.
Decide to drive to the next gas station with less the ¼ in the tank….. Just made it but really just.

Things I might do again

Drive in one day from Seattle to Sacramento
Drive in one day from Lax Vegas to Jackson Hole
Drive in one day from Bozeman to Seattle.

But only for a great powder day


Links to Snow reports:

Kirkwood, CA, http://kirkwood.com/winter/inside.php
Alpine Meadows, CA, http://www.skialpine.com/winter/conditions/snowreport
Sierra at Tahoe, CA, http://www.sierratahoe.com/winter/snow-report.asp
Homewood, CA, http://www.skihomewood.com/tahoe/SIT...835/direct?c=1
Squaw Valley USA, CA, http://www.squaw.com/winter/snoreport.html
Heavenly, CA, http://www.skiheavenly.com/conditions/
Sugar Bowl, CA, http://www.prance.com/iprance/sugarbowl/snowreport.asp
Northstar, CA, http://www.northstarattahoe.com/snowreport.asp
Diamond Peak, CA, http://www.diamondpeak.com/conditions/snow_weather
Mammoth Mountain, CA, http://www.mammothmountain.com/?season=winter#

Mt. Rose, NV, http://www.mtrose.com/snow/snow_report.php

Jackson Hole, WY, http://www.jacksonhole.com/snowreport.asp
Grand Targhee, WY, http://www.grandtarghee.com/the-moun...ions/index.php

All Utah resorts at once: http://www.skiutah.com/snow_report/
Snowbird, UT, http://www.snowbird.com/ski_board/snowreport.php
Alta, UT, http://www.alta.com/pages/report.php
Solitude, UT, http://www.skisolitude.com/mountain_report.cfm
Snowbasin, UT, http://www.snowbasin.com/winter/mtn_report.asp
Brain Head, UT, http://www.brianhead.com/snowreport.html
Brighton, UT, http://www.skibrighton.com/main.html
Powder Mountain, UT, http://www.powdermountain.com/
Deer Valley, UT, http://www.deervalley.com/skiing/daily-conditions.jsp
Park City, UT, http://www.parkcitymountain.com/wint...ns/snow_report
The Canyons, UT, http://www.thecanyons.com/otm/snowreport.aspx

Big Sky, MT, http://www.bigskyresort.com/ontheslo...ch_ots_srp.asp
Moonlight Basin, MT, http://www.moonlightbasin.com/ski/snow-conditions.html
Bridger Bowl, MT, http://www.bridgerbowl.com/snowreport/
Big Mountain, MT, http://www.bigmtn.com/index.php?a=sr/main
Montana Snowbowl, MT, http://www.montanasnowbowl.com/
Discovery, MT, http://www.skidiscovery.com/snow.htm
Lost Trail Powder Mountain, MT, http://www.losttrail.com/snowreport.asp

Schweitzer Mountain, ID, http://www.schweitzer.com/content_report.php
Silver Mountain, ID, http://www.silvermt.com/SnowReports/Default.asp
Lookout Pass, ID, http://www.skilookout.com/ski/snow_report_view.php



Vail, CO, http://vail.snow.com/mtn.report.asp
Beaver Creek, CO, http://beavercreek.snow.com/mtn.report.asp
Breckenridge, CO, http://breckenridge.snow.com/mtn.conditions.asp
Keystone, CO, http://keystone.snow.com/report.asp
Copper Mountain, CO, http://www.coppercolorado.com/mounta...port/index.htm
Winter Park Resort, CO, http://www.skiwinterpark.com/mountai...port/index.htm
Silverton Mountian, CO, http://www.silvertonmountain.com/snowreport.php
Telluride, CO, http://www.prance.com/iPrance/telluride/snowreport.asp
Loveland, CO, http://www.skiloveland.com/snowrep/snowrep.asp
A-Basin, CO, http://www.arapahoebasin.com/?page=site/snow_report

Mt. Bachelor, OR, http://www.mtbachelor.com/mountain_services/


Mt. Baker, WA, http://www.mtbaker.us/snowreport/index.html
Crystal Mountian, WA, http://skicrystal.com/1578.html?page...c1e9569856&s=0
Stevens Pass, WA, http://www.stevenspass.com/snowreport/index.aspx


Taos, NM, http://www.skitaos.org/MOUNTAIN/snow_report.php
Angle Fire, NM, http://www.angelfireresort.com/plan_weather.php

[Rasputin]

Dude! That's one heck of a travel guide. Hopefully I'll see you again next year at The Bowl, because where you are there tends to be powder.

[sculhane]

Ok, now go do some reasearch on South America

Steve

[Rasputin]

Hmmm......some unmangled neuron just fired in my brain, and I recalled seeing a pic you took at Lookout Pass ID, but it isn't on the list, did you just lookout at it and hurl, instead going for the slow slide?

[XtrPickels]

that is all

[paedde]

Hmmm......some unmangled neuron just fired in my brain, and I recalled seeing a pic you took at Lookout Pass ID, but it isn't on the list, did you just lookout at it and hurl, instead going for the slow slide?

Only a 15min lunch stop and no skiing. Looks more like a beginner to intermediate resort. I did add the link to the summery anyway.