Need some trip planning advice---

[KinsMan]

Once a year me and my EC BROS go out to do some skiing on the other side.
We are trying to make this years trip not only steep and deep, but also cheap. Our plans are for the third week in February.

We would love to find some ski hostels a la Grandpa Grunts style (place at Jay, cheap as dirt, dirty as cheap, very green, etc.)This place is like $30 bucks a night, breakfast is cooked for you. None of the sheets match, its old as hell. Booking a room means knocking on this guys front door and waking him up from bed, etc. Most of you probably know it if from the East, may have heard of it if from else where.

Does anyone have any info on some places like this out west. We were looking at Baker as a possible destination. But we are open to all possibilities.

Basically I'm asking you people if you know of anything that wouldn't necessarily be easy to find via the normal vacation planning routes.

Thanks for any info or suggestions.

[dre66]

cant beat baker for cheap skiing, especially if you aren't staying a long time, want a lot of snow and/or posses backcountry skills.
think $40 lift tickets instead of $65-85 elsewhere.
personally i can only speak about whistler, which is expensive as hell. if you do come here there are a few hostels that you can stay at for $25-35 a night, but everything else (skiing, drinking, eating etc.) is expensive as hell. if you come for a week take a look at the "edge card" for discounts. i'm not sure but i think other places on the west coast have similar discounts.
also you could fly out to wherever the snow is at the time.

oh... and try doing a search on some of this stuff, a lot of people have had similar questions in the past.

[MakersTeleMark]

Breakfast not included (but served and really good if you like green chile), and you sure won't find it on any tourist literature, but:

Turntable Restaurant and Hotel
1-970-827-4164

The absolute Cheapest place to stay in the Vail Valley, if your traveling alone, is in Minturn. The Turntable was run for years, as a dormitory for Denver and Rio Grande Train Crews, that "laid over" in Minturn. Now that the Railroad has discontinued service through Minturn the rooms are open to the public. Although there is nothing fancy about these accommodations they are very clean and safe and secure.All rooms have one double bed and a private bath. There are 2 TV rooms and pay phones. For the serious ski bum it doesn't get any better than this.

$3 bus into Vail or BC. Ski right back to it. Around $30 a night.