Ikon Pass

[s_curran]

I'm also looking for some suggestions, got ikon passes, I've never skied outside of the northeast (except Chamonix), and we have a ton of credit card miles. Dolomites are high on the list outside of NA. But have no idea in the US/Canada. SLC might be a good start? any regions that would have shorter lift lines than the popular hyped areas?

[Fofo]

We'll be there Feb 2-9. Spent some time digging up beta, let me know if you want to share notes.

That would be fun! Here's my Dolomites notes. It's basically cut/paste from a few sources on the internet, the majority of them are from this forum.

Sorry if anyone sees their comment in there without attribution, this is wasn't meant for publication, just as a clipboard for ourselves, we'll use these comments to help us pick a spot to stay (now we'll check flight prices and driving distances but most likely we'll fly intro Treviso and drive) and put together ideas of itineraries.

[DanoT]

I'm also looking for some suggestions, got ikon passes, I've never skied outside of the northeast (except Chamonix), and we have a ton of credit card miles. Dolomites are high on the list outside of NA. But have no idea in the US/Canada. SLC might be a good start? any regions that would have shorter lift lines than the popular hyped areas?

Whitewater, near Nelson, B.C. gets the most snow in western Canada at 39ft average/season and no crowds, no on hill accommodation, 3 fixed grip chairs, as it is the anti-Whistler.

[skaredshtles]

Whitewater, near Nelson, B.C. gets the most snow in western Canada at 39ft average/season and no crowds, no on hill accommodation, 3 fixed grip chairs, as it is the anti-Whistler.

To be clear, though - I do *not* believe Whitewater is on the Ikon pass...

[Shredhead]

Schweitzer, Red and Revelstoke all are and it probably wouldn’t kill some Ikoners to drop a hundy skiing WW.

[Brock Landers]

I'm also looking for some suggestions, got ikon passes, I've never skied outside of the northeast (except Chamonix), and we have a ton of credit card miles. Dolomites are high on the list outside of NA. But have no idea in the US/Canada. SLC might be a good start? any regions that would have shorter lift lines than the popular hyped areas?

Tahoe. Tough to go wrong in Tahoe. Snow is unpredictable in slc/Utah and the lift lines and traffic unbearable. 2 hour drive from Reno isn’t bad and you can gamble at the airport.

[thefrush]

Tahoe. Tough to go wrong in Tahoe. Snow is unpredictable in slc/Utah and the lift lines and traffic unbearable. 2 hour drive from Reno isn’t bad and you can gamble at the airport.

On a good day the drive from Reno to Palisades is less than an hour.

[El Chupacabra]

On a good day the drive from Reno to Palisades is less than an hour.

Like non peak rush hour, starting from Somerset, in July.

[Lvovsky]

Whitewater, near Nelson, B.C. gets the most snow in western Canada at 39ft average/season and no crowds, no on hill accommodation, 3 fixed grip chairs, as it is the anti-Whistler.

It’s like the Wolf Creek of Colorado…

[old goat]

Tahoe. Tough to go wrong in Tahoe. Snow is unpredictable in slc/Utah and the lift lines and traffic unbearable. 2 hour drive from Reno isn’t bad and you can gamble at the airport.

Hard to tell if you're being sarcastic. Given the temps the last few years the snow in Tahoe is very unpredictable, and when it does snow it's increasingly high wind events that shut most or all of the lifts. Traffic isn't bad on a midweek day when it hasn't snowed in a while. Big Sky wasn't bad for lines when we were there in so so snow conditions, except for the tram. What the tram surcharge will mean for lines and whether you want to pay it is an open question. That was by far the most interesting skiing when we were there; with more fresh snow there would be a lot more options.

[MakersTeleMark]

It’s like the Wolf Creek of Colorado…

Wtf?

[Lvovsky]

Wtf?

Most snow, no on hill accommodation, anti-Vail/Aspen/etc… no?

Meant as a compliment to WC

[jhyatt]

It’s like the Wolf Creek of Canada…

There.

[Shredhead]

WW has better food.

[Lvovsky]

There.

Ah… English is not my first language

Learn something every day

[DanoT]

Anyone doing Red and Revy on an Ikon pass, if it is snowing, needs to stop at Whitewater on the way. Off the 2k' vert Morning Glory chair there is outstanding black diamond tree skiing that 3/4s of the way down one encounters a cat track option or continue and it becomes double black diamond trees. Adult lift tickets: $115CAD.

Edit: On second thought, if it is snowing, stay put. If it is raining at Red, which it sometimes does, then head to Whitewater as it is one of the higher elevation ski hills in B.C. while Red is one of the lower elevation and gets similar weather to Stevens Pass.

[raisingarizona13]

WW has better food.

And steeper terrain. If you want some pitch to turn and burn WC comes up short, very very short.

[hatchgreenchile]

^^Flat benches, short pitches and dead trees. I never understood the hype, but I snowboard, so what do I know?

[s_curran]

Holy shit lodging is expensive at the mountains in SLC / any of these mountains. Banff seems a bit better. Or, Dolomites or Zermatt seem to be totaling up to be a much cheaper trip for us.

Thanks for the help so far though.

[oftpiste]

WW has better food.

Still good same folks running the food service show? Went there 10+ years ago and it was the best ski lodge food I'd ever had. Great mountain.

[Toadman]

Holy shit lodging is expensive at the mountains in SLC / any of these mountains. Banff seems a bit better. Or, Dolomites or Zermatt seem to be totaling up to be a much cheaper trip for us.

Thanks for the help so far though.

I was noticing that too. Canada looks to be a good option with the exchange rate. However, still not a lot of flight options from my neck of the woods to Canukistan though.

[skaredshtles]

Holy shit lodging is expensive at the mountains in SLC / any of these mountains. Banff seems a bit better. Or, Dolomites or Zermatt seem to be totaling up to be a much cheaper trip for us.

Yup. Much cheaper lodging, light-years better food (while also being cheaper than here), drop-dead scenery...

For not having much freedumb, the Euros sure do seem to be living right. Strongly considering becoming an ex-pat in Western Europe if I can just get these goddam kids off the payroll.

[Benny Profane]

Know how to speaka that Italian talk?

[skaredshtles]

Know how to speaka that Italian talk?

Si.

[Mudfoot]

Holy shit lodging is expensive at the mountains in SLC / any of these mountains. Banff seems a bit better. Or, Dolomites or Zermatt seem to be totaling up to be a much cheaper trip for us.

Thanks for the help so far though.

Skiing IKON in SLC is one of the cheapest deals there is. Just don't stay up in the mountains. You can stay in a cheap motel with tons of low cost food options around town, and I believe the ski shuttle bus to Big and Little CC is still free with an Ikon Pass. You have free tickets at Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, Brighton and Deer Valley and are not subjected to resort prices for anything else. Yeah, the transportation can be a hassle at times, but you are an easy day trip from the four Ikon areas plus Snowbasin. It is a dirtbag's dream vacation, For the cost of one night at an Alta or Bird lodge and a Fast Pass you can ski for a week if you stay and eat in town and play your cards right. Dealer's choice.