January Cross-Country Roadtrip Pre-Post

[Dromond]

So in less than two weeks my girlfriend and I will be packing up my subaru with all of our gear for a month long cross country roadtrip. We'll be packing many skis, including some fat and touring stuff. Only I have AT gear but we'll both have avy gear and some very basic knowledge of avy terrain. Having not skied outside of new england for 3 years now and never in the western US I am STOKED. I thought I'd give a brief rundown to solicited some maggot advice. I hope to ski with a few of you along the way. The idea is to go a bunch of places that neither of us have been (and might not get to visit otherwise) and do a bunch of skiing along the way. We will be pretty much dirtbagging it since she still in college and I'm a recent graduate. i.e. we're both somewhat poor and have been saving our pennies for months. Luckily we have people to stay with most places and a large cooler for food, but we're also bringing outdoor sleeping stuff and will likely do some car camping along the way. We're going to try to keep things flexible based on snowfall and what we feel like doing. Here's the tentative plan. More tentative dates are marked with a ~

Dec 27th - depart Mass. for BoulDenver via Ann Arbor.

~ Dec 29th-31st stay with friends in Boulder and do some CO skiing. Maybe A-basin?

~ Jan 1st-3rd drive to SLC and ski a day or two at Alta. I just found out that and old highschool friend of mine may be working there. Don't know much more than that.

~ Jan 4th drive to Tahoe and ski

Jan 6th-13th stay at a place another friend rented for the week near Alpine Meadows. (This was the original impetus for the trip.)

~ Jan 15th drive to Bend. Ski at Bachelor and stay with friends.

~ Jan 17th drive to Seattle and visit friends. I've never been to the PNW and can't wait to check it out. Luckily I love rain and fog

~ Jan 18th ski at Mt Baker. I don't know anyone up there and would love to check out the Bellingham area. I know that there are some maggots in them thar parts.

~ Jan 19th drive to Rossland and ski Red Mtn.

~ Jan 21nd drive to Big Sky and ski.

~ Jan 23rd drive to Jackon and ski. Oddly enough Susan know's someone from school who's from Jackson. What are the chances? Also, from my knowledge the route from Big Sky to Jackson in the winter is roundabout and to the west of Yellowstone?

~ Jan 25 depart for home.

Jan 27th arrive home.

[Dromond]

No love?

Looking at snow reports across the country it's becoming apparent that we'll have to play things by the ear on this trip. Like, very much so.

[AsheanMT]

If snow continues like it is you might want to hit a couple of the "smaller" NW Montana ski spots. Lookout pass is on I-90 at the Idaho/Montana state line. Not the biggest mountain but its had amazing snow this year. more than any place in Montana. 76" on top last time I checked. Snowbowl is also on the way through to Bozeman/BigSky. Lost Trail is about an hour and a half out of your way but they always have legendary pow. check out www.skimt.com for current info for the state. Who knows maybe the wife and I might join ya if you're coming through?!?

[Dromond]

Thanks for the info! I've never heard of that place. I actually love smaller ski areas, especially when it means escaping crowds and/or better snow. I'll keep an eye on the conditions as we near MT. It will likely be in the 3rd week of January. We'll see how it goes

[AsheanMT]

this is only about 20-30 min drive from missoula. Great little place for some mild BC. current live shot: http://rwis.mdt.mt.gov/scanweb/SWFra...atus=&Camera=1

[Dromond]

this is only about 20-30 min drive from missoula. Great little place for some mild BC. current live shot: http://rwis.mdt.mt.gov/scanweb/SWFra...atus=&Camera=1

Mellow BC might be the ticket, especially at that point in the trip. Something tells me we might stay in UT a bit longer and some fundage will have been spent on lift tickets. I'm hoping that things in Tahoe turn around a bit

[mnflyfish]

Well, you should have easy passing through the midwest if this weather pattern continues. I assume you'll be on I90 through our lovely, brown state. When did MN turn into Missouri? PM me if you have a day to kill on you're way back through and I could meet up with you and show yousome good trout water, skiing is pretty limited in this part of the world but we have some great fly fishing.

Good Luck,
Jay

[The Dad]

Barring the unforseen, I'll be at Alpine at least through 1/8, and maybe on the tail end of your stay as well. I think Sinecure will be up for the weekends too. I'll PM you contact info.

[Dromond]

mnflyfish: I guess an easy drive will be the upshot of crappy ski weather!

alpinedad: I look forward to making some turns with you. Hopefully that will limit the possibility of me into any rocky jaws of death

[The Dad]

alpinedad: I look forward to making some turns with you. Hopefully that will limit the possibility of me into any rocky jaws of death

For that, you should turn to StormDay, who really knows the hill like the back of his hand.

[Dromond]

For that, you should turn to StormDay, who really knows the hill like the back of his hand.

Fair enough. I'll send him a pm.

cheers!

[RootSkier]

ILost Trail is about an hour and a half out of your way but they always have legendary pow.

Interesting theory. Wish it was true. Plus, it's two hours and beyond rare for them to ever open the good terrain.

Do I sound bitter?