Where to ski from Vegas?

**DEVO** · 10-22-2006, 04:23 PM

A friend and I might be in Vegas the first weekend in January. Where is the closest good skiing to Las Vegas? We are willing to drive and won't be staying in Vegas while we ski, so looking for somewhere to drive to then stay somewhere cheap to ski for a couple of days. Looks like Alta might only be 6hrs away??

**dfinn** · 10-22-2006, 04:27 PM

mammoth is just a bit further of a drive than alta, might be worth a consideration also. i know there's a ski area pretty close to vegas but I can't remember the name of it. I think it's small and doesn't get much snow.

**FigureEleven** · 10-22-2006, 04:36 PM

Brian Head is pretty close to Vegas i think... not sure if it is any good though.

**Jumper Bones** · 10-22-2006, 07:55 PM

Search Brian Head, it was discussed recently. Skiing-wise, I'd call BH average, a better option if you're a competent BCer and willing to do a little hiking (around the Bryce Canyon area). BH is 3 hours away.

I've also been told that the MtCharleston/Lee Cayon area has some good BC stuff too...that's 45 mins.

the LCC is just about 5 or 6 hours away...

**Cyber Cop** · 10-22-2006, 07:58 PM

Didn't a resort near Vegas have an inbound avy last year? Can't remember the name...

**MOHSHSIHd** · 10-22-2006, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by Cyber Cop

Didn't a resort near Vegas have an inbound avy last year? Can't remember the name...

Pretty sure that was Charleston, and it was 2 or 3 seasons ago and they have been closed since.

**funkendrenchman** · 10-22-2006, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by MOHSHSIHd

Pretty sure that was Charleston, and it was 2 or 3 seasons ago and they have been closed since.

It was last year I believe. A teenager was killed right under the lift.

**MOHSHSIHd** · 10-22-2006, 08:09 PM

It was actually early 2005.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_ho.../25638169.html

**cdlv** · 10-22-2006, 08:11 PM

Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort is the name, the avalanche was 2 years ago
during the record wettest winter here. they have never gotten that much snow up there(475+ inches) and were not prepared.
the resort is somewhat of a joke but has good access to backcountry from the parking lot and the gate at teh top of the one lift.

Alta is 400 miles- 5 hours away and Mammy is 385 miles and 5.5 to six hours away( 4 lane highway vs 2 lane interstate makes the dif) Big Bear is 3 hours away and Brian Head is also.

**sandytheskier** · 10-22-2006, 08:17 PM

Yep. Go to Brianhead Resort. It sits pretty high up (starts at 8500' I think) and got alot of snow out of the last storm system. It is pretty cool to ski with the red rock in the background too. Be careful not to get altitude sickness. My friend teaches kids skiing there and always gets thrown up on.

**ANON-505** · 10-22-2006, 08:24 PM

If el nino comes through, Arizona Snowbowl is about 4 hours. pretty ok inbounds, fantastic lift accessed b/c.

And the kid who died two season's ago, it was a crazy story, he got ripped off the lift by the slide.

here it is:
http://www.avalanche.org/proc-show.php3?OID=5406924

FWIW, reading avalanche.org accidents is fully addictive, but also is a great learning tool.

**sea2ski** · 10-24-2006, 01:31 AM

So is the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort now closed because of the avy?

Too bad, I thought that was a fun little mountain.

**PTracy P1** · 10-24-2006, 01:58 AM

made a trip to Brianhead 2 years ago. pretty cool little area, and enough fun for 3 days tops. ask for a dude named "Shadillac". he works everywhere.

**ak_powder_monkey** · 10-24-2006, 03:40 AM

I seem to remember a powder article about las vegas ski area, it looked pretty cool

**SkiingBear** · 10-24-2006, 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by sea2ski

So is the Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort now closed because of the avy?

Too bad, I thought that was a fun little mountain.

They had 2 avys that year. The first took the kid out of the chair. That one was started out by skiers/boarders out of bounds and it slid back in through the area boundary. May have been a closed area for that reason, but I don't remember. The second slide happened overnight and moved the top station of their other chairlift. I believe they were down last year because neither chair was in great shape from the 2 slides. Maybe they'll be back this year?

**cdlv** · 10-24-2006, 08:00 AM

LVSS only closed for a few weeks after the avy , area is still open

**qruddick** · 10-24-2006, 08:43 AM

Not sure where you normally live/ski and if you have previously skied Mammoth or Alta. But my choice (if you are willing to make the drive and plan on skiing inbounds) would be mammoth (slightly) over Alta & Brianhead . I dont believe Brianhead's inbounds terrain comes even remotely close to Alta or Mammoth ( which both have great terrain). While Alta is absolutely outstanding, I think I would pick Mammoth simply because Alta is a little easier (less than 1 hr from SLC) to get to if you want to ski it on another trip. Mammoth is simply not as easy to get to as Alta - I believe the best scenario for a future trip is to fly into Reno & then drive to Mammoth ( about 150 miles, I think).

On the other hand, Mammoth tickets will be $78 per day versus $52 for Alta, which might make the decision between the two very easy.