Skiing 19-20

GoJeff!

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Anyone started planning for this winter?

I just booked a week at Icefall Lodge in British Columbia near the northernmost section of Banff National Park. It's a week of guided backcountry, and the terrain looks amazing:

25816

Now I need to get in shape. I'm usually exhausted from one day of backcountry, let alone 7.

Kids are also racing again this year at the local LA mountains, and we'll probably do one big vacation up at Mammoth, but that's currently in negotiations with my wife.
 
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fairlee76

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Oct 9, 2005
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jp
Anyone started planning for this winter?

I just booked a week at Icefall Lodge in British Columbia near Jasper National Park. It's a week of guided backcountry, and the terrain looks amazing:

View attachment 25816

Now I need to get in shape. I'm usually exhausted from one day of backcountry, let alone 7.

Kids are also racing again this year at the local LA mountains, and we'll probably do one big vacation up at Mammoth, but that's currently in negotiations with my wife.
That looks like an absolute dream trip!

I am buying the IKON pass again this season. Will do a week in MT/WY in February and a bunch of local-ish trips near Denver (Steamboat, Taos, Aspen, SLC) before and after. As for getting in ski shape, September 1st was the day I resumed nightly spin classes. I have found doing that for the two months before ski season gets me to the point where skiing 4 or 5 days in a row is do-able. Need to get back into leg lifting, but have been absolutely awful about that these last 5 or so years.
 

FlexFlexerson

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I've historically been on an Epic pass but am likely ditching that this season. For various personal reasons, I haven't picked up a new pass yet - not sure whether it'll make sense for me to get an IKON or a just a local pass to, say, Arapahoe Basin (west of Denver) and maybe pick up a Gems card or a 4-pack somewhere else.

I'm afraid my January-May is gonna be crazy with work this year, so I gotta cross my fingers for good early and late snowfall.
 

GoJeff!

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I see that a basin and keystone are open, although neither looks particularly good.

Was up at mammoth at the end of September in very cold temps and was hoping to luck into a super early day, but the storm underperformed and only brought about an inch. Projected opening day is about 3 weeks out.

Anyone see the film of Hilaree Nelson and Jim Morrison’s Descent of Lhotse? Looks insane. Cody Townsend’s 50 series is also going biweekly again on YouTube.
 

FlexFlexerson

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I see that a basin and keystone are open, although neither looks particularly good.
Yeah, I've taken a few runs at each - typical early season white ribbon of death stuff but with the cold weather and snow we've been getting they should both be getting more open fairly quickly. Helps get the stupid legs back in gear when the the real snow starts hitting.
 

petefungtorres

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Jul 31, 2006
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Jeff that trip looks amazing. Good for you!

Last weekend I made a road trip to Burlington with my eldest kid to hit the J Skis sidewalk sale. He destroyed his last pair of skis towards the end of last season - the top sheets, core and base completely separated at the tips from repeated landings. Picked up a pair of whip-its and metals to replace them. It's about time he had some really good skis and I'm pumped for him. Middle kid is a snowboarder and doing a competition program again this year. Youngest is not in any programs but will still ski plenty. I'm very thankful for a standing desk and the ability to do one leg squats while on calls at work, I feel like I'm in decent shape to start the season, though we're probably still at least three weeks out from opening day here in Maine.

I'm hopeful Preacher is still in Europe and can post skiing pics to make me salivate again this season.
 

Devizier

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With young kids and living in Western PA, my best hope is Blue Knob, a surprisingly not terrible resort in central PA. A vertical of 1000 feet is something to get excited about over here.
 

petefungtorres

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Blue Knob looks like plenty to get the kids comfortable on skis, and it's great to get them out there when they are young and fearless. We find that skiing is a great family activity - outside and away from screens. Some of the best conversations with my kids take place on ski lifts.
 

GoJeff!

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First big storm hitting Socal now. Local mountains got a foot today, more coming tomorrow. Mammoth is also getting hit hard.

Hoping to hit local backcountry powder on Sunday after it settles a bit. Don't think I've ever seen a November/Socal/Powder combo.
 

GoJeff!

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Got up to local mountains (Bear) on Friday with my eldest. Drive up was pretty brutal, but they closed the road after we got up so the mountain was empty. Was about 4 feet of pretty light pow on zero base. Great fun although you had to be light on your skis to avoid buried trees and rocks.

Climbed Baldy today for some backcountry powder. It must have lightly rained since the big storm, because the snow was much heavier than expected, but it still skied great.

I’m happy to get two great days in this early. Hopefully the storm hitting New England brings some fun for you all.
 

Devizier

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Central PA has about 2 feet of base in the mountains, promising for this time of year. Hoping it holds up through the inevitable December warming periods.
 

DukeSox

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Dec 22, 2005
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Skiied Stowe on Saturday. Good base going and hopefully this storm helps. Get up there if you’re in New England.
 

Preacher

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Just booked three days in Snowshoe, WV the weekend before Christmas. Going to have to live with what skiing is available in the central VA area. At least for this year.
 

petefungtorres

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I'll echo missing the dolomites pictures from Preacher. I'm sure the WV pics will be a decent substitute.

We ski at Sunday River and the snow has been decent for this time of year. Last Thursday passed for a powder day on the east coast and they dropped ropes on some of the glade trails, which is way early. Unfortunately it looks like this storm is just the coast - not much fresh stuff for the mountains. My middle kid does a comp program for snowboarding and his brothers just ski, mostly in the park. @GoJeff! - thanks for the recommendations on videos and movies, I will be checking those out with the kids (who have a seemingly insatiable appetite for ski movies and videos). If anyone is into park skiing, the kids are way into SLVSH and the Line Traveling Circus.
 

Preacher

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If anyone is looking for another ski movie, I caught Dog Days of Winter (on Amazon Prime) about the early free style skiiers of the 1960s. It was pretty interesting how they were putting on competitions and outdrawing the traditional downhill guys. The stuff they did back then was insane and with no helmets.
 

petefungtorres

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Watched Dog Days of Winter Friday night and then saw the new Warren Miller movie on Saturday. Fun to see Glen Plake in both. Dog Days of Winter was better, in my opinion.

Notched a couple more days on the hill over the weekend and the conditions were pretty good for this part of the season. There were 280+ racers at Sunday River over the weekend, but because they were all taking the new surface lift it did not impact the lift lines - just the parking lots.
 

Preacher

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Snowshoe was pretty decent conditions for December in WV. It was really the first time my wife skied in the US and so it was a bit different for her. Obviously, she knew it would be smaller but the little things like the trails having names (instead of numbers) and the color convention for trail difficulty. The biggest adjustment for her was how the lift lines are done in the states. In Europe, most places have subway turnstile type setups that scan your ticket while it’s still in your pocket (assuming it’s on your left side) and then it’s basically a free for all to lift with everyone kind mashing together. You might have 6-8 across for a 4 person lift and it becomes a bit of a game of who can slide in front of whom. That annoys me but if you’re aggressive it can work in your favor. Also, people don’t walk across your skis in lift lines in the states. She seems to think it’s less efficient here.
 

petefungtorres

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Interesting perspective on the lifts. I would be annoyed by the process too.

Well over a foot of fresh snow in the Maine mountains from last night through today. Should finally be getting in the woods this weekend. I think Vermont and New Hampshire also got a good dump so should be good conditions everywhere in New England.
 

GoJeff!

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Got up to Mammoth over New Years with decent wind buff but nothing spectacular. Unfortunately I utterly destroyed my Volkl Confessions. I hit a rock at high speed, crushing the sidewall, ripping out 18 inches of edge and rippling the base.

The kids are getting really good. My oldest (13) isn't yet doing anything I can't do, but he's definitely doing stuff (jumps, mostly) that I don't want to do. It makes me feel proud but a little depressed at the same time.
 

DJnVa

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. In Europe, most places have subway turnstile type setups that scan your ticket while it’s still in your pocket (assuming it’s on your left side) and then it’s basically a free for all to lift with everyone kind mashing together.
Wintergreen has this---RFID card in your pocket. It's not a free-for-all after the turnstile though as, in theory, you've been grouped by workers as you approach the turnstile. Half the time those groups don't last as some kid is too slow or whatever and your 6 person group is now 4 people on the lift.
 

Devizier

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The RFID pass is common at larger resorts, particularly out west.

As for conditions, it’s been brutal out here in PA, just springlike for weeks on end. Lots of places are closing (temporarily).
 

DJnVa

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Dec 16, 2010
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The RFID pass is common at larger resorts, particularly out west.

As for conditions, it’s been brutal out here in PA, just springlike for weeks on end. Lots of places are closing (temporarily).
We were at Wintergreen here in VA a few days after Christmas. None of the big slopes open (which was fine, we were shepherding kids around) but it was 55 degrees the first day and the second day was very foggy. Which was actually kind of cool...see the skiers come out of the fog, go past you, then disappear back into it.

It Is snowing there today though, first relatively significant snow, so hopefully PA gets some soon.
 

DukeSox

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Dec 22, 2005
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Going to Breckenridge this weekend - looks like they are light on snow. Any Denver area folks have advice?
 

fairlee76

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Going to Breckenridge this weekend - looks like they are light on snow. Any Denver area folks have advice?
If you can move the location, Steamboat is doing a better snow-wise than the I-70 resorts so far this season.

If you can really move locations, I was in Jackson for a few days last week and conditions were great. And it looks like they've received another 18 inches over the last few days, with more to come.
 

Preacher

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We were at Wintergreen here in VA a few days after Christmas. None of the big slopes open (which was fine, we were shepherding kids around) but it was 55 degrees the first day and the second day was very foggy. Which was actually kind of cool...see the skiers come out of the fog, go past you, then disappear back into it.

It Is snowing there today though, first relatively significant snow, so hopefully PA gets some soon.
My wife is going to school in Charlottesville and she said it was snowing pretty heavy there. People were having trouble getting out of the parking lot by 1pm. Of course, it's supposed to be 50 there tomorrow so it'll be gone quickly. We're just getting rain in the Richmond area now. Hopefully, we get some decent snow this season since next season, I'll have to fly somewhere to ski.
 

bigq

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Jul 15, 2005
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Tonight I went night skiing at Wachusett as a chaperone for my daughter’s ski club. It was the first time I have night skied in close to thirty years. It was a lot of fun and conditions were pretty good (a lot of man made snow) but oh my goodness half of the middle schoolers from the state of MA were there. What a zoo. But it brought back a lot of fond childhood memories.
 

DukeSox

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Dec 22, 2005
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If you can move the location, Steamboat is doing a better snow-wise than the I-70 resorts so far this season.

If you can really move locations, I was in Jackson for a few days last week and conditions were great. And it looks like they've received another 18 inches over the last few days, with more to come.
Thanks - appreciate it. Unmoveable unfortunately but the Jackson tip is great.
 

Preacher

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Tonight I went night skiing at Wachusett as a chaperone for my daughter’s ski club. It was the first time I have night skied in close to thirty years. It was a lot of fun and conditions were pretty good (a lot of man made snow) but oh my goodness half of the middle schoolers from the state of MA were there. What a zoo. But it brought back a lot of fond childhood memories.
That’s where we did our ski club when I was in high school. Once a week, we’d load the bus after school and head to Wachusett. I haven’t been night skiing since then.
 

GoJeff!

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That’s where we did our ski club when I was in high school. Once a week, we’d load the bus after school and head to Wachusett. I haven’t been night skiing since then.
Used to train nights there in college when Nashoba Valley didn’t work out for one reason or another.

I’d estimate that 90+% of the non-racers there were drunk.
 

gtmtnbiker

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We were at Jay Peak, VT the week of Christmas. About 1/3 of the mountain is open. Conditions are definitely worse than the last couple of years.
 

bigq

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That’s where we did our ski club when I was in high school. Once a week, we’d load the bus after school and head to Wachusett. I haven’t been night skiing since then.
Lost Valley was where I did my ski club night skiing growing up. I haven’t been back there since.
 

petefungtorres

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Lost Valley was where I did my ski club night skiing growing up. I haven’t been back there since.
My 16yo likes to joke that Lost Valley has 1000" of vertical.

Anyone going to Mad River on 1/28? They are celebrating their 71st birthday by selling lift tickets for $3.50 (at least, according to Ski The East).
 

FlexFlexerson

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Going to Breckenridge this weekend - looks like they are light on snow. Any Denver area folks have advice?
I live up here in Summit County. We're in pretty much an average year. Snowpack at Breck is 111% of average for this time of year and the 44 inch base is fine, if unspectacular. Depending on your plans for the weekend (i.e. if you're with kids and skiing mostly groomers), you may not even notice a difference. The upper mountains stuff is mostly skiing well, but you probably need to keep an eye out for rocks still (it's honestly been a couple weeks since I've been at Breck, I mostly ski the other side of the county and then I was just in Park City for a few days). We're at the start of a snow cycle - it's lightly snowing out my window as I type this - so you should be getting fresh snow all weekend. Breck reported 7 inches new last night and the forecast calls for a couple more inches every day. So, no giant pow but enough to keep everything refreshed, hopefully. If you want to venture to Keystone one day, I think North Peak and the Outback are actually skiing the best anywhere in Summit County at the moment. If you're going to go over the pass to Vail or Beaver Creek, I'd recommend the latter as Vail Mountain has been one resort truly getting a bit skunked this year (98% snowpack vs 108% at Beaver Creek). In any case, it should be fun. The crowds have died down slightly since the holidays so there's a bit more breathing room on the slopes and in the towns.

If you're looking for a fun place for lunch or dinner, the Breckenridge Distillery has pretty good BBQ and (obviously) good drinks; they do tours too. For stuff right in town, Aurum has a great happy hour 4-6 with good, somewhat upscale (for breck) food and drinks. Fatty's is a favored local pizza place, although if you just want a slice I'd go to Giampetro's. All within a block of Main Street. If you're looking for a breakfast place, Mom's Baking Company has good food and coffee and never has the waits that everywhere else does. Don't know how the stay in business, but you can save like 15 minutes by heading there vs most of the other coffee shops on a Saturday morning. Enjoy the weekend and remember, as Warren Miller says, "the best place in the world to ski is where you're skiing that day."
 

Zososoxfan

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I booked a trip to SLC recently for 1/31 - 2/3. Was probably a bit overambitious but bought a 3-day pass to Snowbird for Saturday-Monday. Planning on going to Solitude on Friday to get legs under me. One guy is on Ikon pass, so that rules out PC. We're staying in suburban SLC (Taylorsville). Right now I'm dreading the traffic a bit--best advice I've heard is to be at the LCC mouth by 8am and make it 10 minutes earlier for each 2 inches of snowfall. Any other tips or tricks are welcome!

Also, I'm likely going to be looking at getting new snowboard boots once the end of season sales start. I'm fairly sure I want to get into a double BOA or speed lacing boot, but I'm open to all suggestions. My style is probably freeride/all mountain--I rarely go to the park and only do side hits and small cliffs. I love moguls and trees and POW whenever I can. FWIW, I have Union Force bindings and a Rossignol XV deck (159).

TIA!!
 

DukeSox

absence hasn't made the heart grow fonder
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Dec 22, 2005
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I live up here in Summit County. We're in pretty much an average year. Snowpack at Breck is 111% of average for this time of year and the 44 inch base is fine, if unspectacular. Depending on your plans for the weekend (i.e. if you're with kids and skiing mostly groomers), you may not even notice a difference. The upper mountains stuff is mostly skiing well, but you probably need to keep an eye out for rocks still (it's honestly been a couple weeks since I've been at Breck, I mostly ski the other side of the county and then I was just in Park City for a few days). We're at the start of a snow cycle - it's lightly snowing out my window as I type this - so you should be getting fresh snow all weekend. Breck reported 7 inches new last night and the forecast calls for a couple more inches every day. So, no giant pow but enough to keep everything refreshed, hopefully. If you want to venture to Keystone one day, I think North Peak and the Outback are actually skiing the best anywhere in Summit County at the moment. If you're going to go over the pass to Vail or Beaver Creek, I'd recommend the latter as Vail Mountain has been one resort truly getting a bit skunked this year (98% snowpack vs 108% at Beaver Creek). In any case, it should be fun. The crowds have died down slightly since the holidays so there's a bit more breathing room on the slopes and in the towns.

If you're looking for a fun place for lunch or dinner, the Breckenridge Distillery has pretty good BBQ and (obviously) good drinks; they do tours too. For stuff right in town, Aurum has a great happy hour 4-6 with good, somewhat upscale (for breck) food and drinks. Fatty's is a favored local pizza place, although if you just want a slice I'd go to Giampetro's. All within a block of Main Street. If you're looking for a breakfast place, Mom's Baking Company has good food and coffee and never has the waits that everywhere else does. Don't know how the stay in business, but you can save like 15 minutes by heading there vs most of the other coffee shops on a Saturday morning. Enjoy the weekend and remember, as Warren Miller says, "the best place in the world to ski is where you're skiing that day."
A delayed thank you for this! Snow was as you described but the groomers were great.
 
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Spelunker

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Jul 17, 2005
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I live up here in Summit County. We're in pretty much an average year. Snowpack at Breck is 111% of average for this time of year and the 44 inch base is fine, if unspectacular. Depending on your plans for the weekend (i.e. if you're with kids and skiing mostly groomers), you may not even notice a difference. The upper mountains stuff is mostly skiing well, but you probably need to keep an eye out for rocks still (it's honestly been a couple weeks since I've been at Breck, I mostly ski the other side of the county and then I was just in Park City for a few days). We're at the start of a snow cycle - it's lightly snowing out my window as I type this - so you should be getting fresh snow all weekend. Breck reported 7 inches new last night and the forecast calls for a couple more inches every day. So, no giant pow but enough to keep everything refreshed, hopefully. If you want to venture to Keystone one day, I think North Peak and the Outback are actually skiing the best anywhere in Summit County at the moment. If you're going to go over the pass to Vail or Beaver Creek, I'd recommend the latter as Vail Mountain has been one resort truly getting a bit skunked this year (98% snowpack vs 108% at Beaver Creek). In any case, it should be fun. The crowds have died down slightly since the holidays so there's a bit more breathing room on the slopes and in the towns.

If you're looking for a fun place for lunch or dinner, the Breckenridge Distillery has pretty good BBQ and (obviously) good drinks; they do tours too. For stuff right in town, Aurum has a great happy hour 4-6 with good, somewhat upscale (for breck) food and drinks. Fatty's is a favored local pizza place, although if you just want a slice I'd go to Giampetro's. All within a block of Main Street. If you're looking for a breakfast place, Mom's Baking Company has good food and coffee and never has the waits that everywhere else does. Don't know how the stay in business, but you can save like 15 minutes by heading there vs most of the other coffee shops on a Saturday morning. Enjoy the weekend and remember, as Warren Miller says, "the best place in the world to ski is where you're skiing that day."
Speaking of Breck, is it better to stay on mountain or on/around Main st? I know there are shuttles, but I've never been there and I'm not sure whether it's best to do it morning/night to/from the mountain, or stay on the mountain and have to take it to/from downtown at night.
 

FlexFlexerson

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Speaking of Breck, is it better to stay on mountain or on/around Main st? I know there are shuttles, but I've never been there and I'm not sure whether it's best to do it morning/night to/from the mountain, or stay on the mountain and have to take it to/from downtown at night.
Definitely stay in town if you can. The free bus system is easy and comprehensive in terms of getting you to the base area portals, and if you're staying near main street you're probably (depending on stamina and comfort walking with gear) in walking distance to the gondola. Your evenings out on the town, etc. will be significantly more enjoyable staying in town vs up on the mountain and it's easy getting to and from the resort that there's not a huge advantage to staying slopeside or ski in/ski out (also, there are a bunch of condos up in the mountain area that advertise themselves as ski-in/ski-out but will still require a bus ride or hefty walk to get to a lift. Contrast with staying in town, where there's a bus stop within a couple minute walk just about wherever you stay, and it's a pretty clear winner imho).
 

Spelunker

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Definitely stay in town if you can. The free bus system is easy and comprehensive in terms of getting you to the base area portals, and if you're staying near main street you're probably (depending on stamina and comfort walking with gear) in walking distance to the gondola. Your evenings out on the town, etc. will be significantly more enjoyable staying in town vs up on the mountain and it's easy getting to and from the resort that there's not a huge advantage to staying slopeside or ski in/ski out (also, there are a bunch of condos up in the mountain area that advertise themselves as ski-in/ski-out but will still require a bus ride or hefty walk to get to a lift. Contrast with staying in town, where there's a bus stop within a couple minute walk just about wherever you stay, and it's a pretty clear winner imho).
Great - thanks!
 

BaseballJones

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Oct 1, 2015
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Anyone here ever skied Corbett's Couloir at Jackson Hole? I'm a good skier - raced in high school, can handle pretty much every black diamond in the east (hiked up and skied Tuckerman's on Mount Washington)*, but when I saw that at Jackson Hole a number of years ago, I was like....NO. WAY. IN. HELL. But I'm curious if any skiers here have done it and if so, what was your experience?

*Obviously I haven't tried all of them, but I have handled all the ones I've tried pretty well. So there may be one that's too much for me.
 

graffam198

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Dec 10, 2007
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Reno, NV
Inbounds Avalanche Alpine Meadows Has been a pretty average year here in Tahoe for snowpack. After large storms in November/Early December, we have been blocked by high pressure ridges. Some piddly inch/2 inch storms over the past week opened up to a normal 12-24" event last night. Super cold, so snow has been lighter than average this year. That being said, due to light snow, avalanche danger has been similar to continental snow pack. Lots of poor bonding in a region that is generally very stable.
 

GoJeff!

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May 30, 2007
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Anyone here ever skied Corbett's Couloir at Jackson Hole? I'm a good skier - raced in high school, can handle pretty much every black diamond in the east (hiked up and skied Tuckerman's on Mount Washington)*, but when I saw that at Jackson Hole a number of years ago, I was like....NO. WAY. IN. HELL. But I'm curious if any skiers here have done it and if so, what was your experience?

*Obviously I haven't tried all of them, but I have handled all the ones I've tried pretty well. So there may be one that's too much for me.
Yes, many times.

I think part of the reputation of Corbett's is the huge drop from the center of the trail to the couloir below. Although there are certainly people that huck that, it's basically a pro level move and not something I would do unless there was a lot of money involved.

The normal entrance is on the left. If you point your skis to the left and then immediately do a jump turn to the right, you descend a very steep ramp but basically do not get any air. You hit the couloir with some speed, but it's pretty flat and wide in there and it's not hard to bleed it off. It's honestly not that hard. It's bad if you try to stop while anywhere above or on the ramp--then you are falling.

There is a huge increase in difficulty between any tough eastern trail and hard stuff out west. I mostly ski at Mammoth and would put at least a couple of trails (real trails, stuff on the map) well above Corbett's in terms of difficulty.
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Oct 1, 2015
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Yes, many times.

I think part of the reputation of Corbett's is the huge drop from the center of the trail to the couloir below. Although there are certainly people that huck that, it's basically a pro level move and not something I would do unless there was a lot of money involved.

The normal entrance is on the left. If you point your skis to the left and then immediately do a jump turn to the right, you descend a very steep ramp but basically do not get any air. You hit the couloir with some speed, but it's pretty flat and wide in there and it's not hard to bleed it off. It's honestly not that hard. It's bad if you try to stop while anywhere above or on the ramp--then you are falling.

There is a huge increase in difficulty between any tough eastern trail and hard stuff out west. I mostly ski at Mammoth and would put at least a couple of trails (real trails, stuff on the map) well above Corbett's in terms of difficulty.
Yeah when I skied Jackson their mid range stuff was as hard as anything out east. What a frigging blast of a mountain though. But Corbett’s is above my pay grade I think. At least the drop off entry. Might have to try the other way next time I’m there. Good tip.
 

GoJeff!

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Inbounds Avalanche Alpine Meadows Has been a pretty average year here in Tahoe for snowpack. After large storms in November/Early December, we have been blocked by high pressure ridges. Some piddly inch/2 inch storms over the past week opened up to a normal 12-24" event last night. Super cold, so snow has been lighter than average this year. That being said, due to light snow, avalanche danger has been similar to continental snow pack. Lots of poor bonding in a region that is generally very stable.
That's terrible. One dead, one injured. Sounds like they got swept into the trees near Promised Land.

The wind scouring over the past few weeks makes for terrible bonding. Scary conditions right now.
 

Preacher

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6,411
Pyeongtaek, South Korea
We’re back at Snowshoe, WV this weekend. It was warm during the week but it got cold yesterday and today so they’ve been making snow. Looks like we’ll get a few inches tomorrow which would be nice. I sprung for season passes since we’ll be back for the holiday weekend in February (wish I did that when we came in December instead of paying for daily tickets back then). Anyways, conditions were better than I was expecting and there weren’t many people on the mountain. We never had to wait in a lift line. We even did some night skiing over in Silver Creek tonight. My wife asked me the last time I went night skiing (she’s never skied at night). It was 20 years ago, give or take a few weeks. Planning a Colorado trip for April when she’s on spring break but no idea where we want to go yet.
 

Burn Out

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
282
Probably in Traffic
Yes, many times.

I think part of the reputation of Corbett's is the huge drop from the center of the trail to the couloir below. Although there are certainly people that huck that, it's basically a pro level move and not something I would do unless there was a lot of money involved.

The normal entrance is on the left. If you point your skis to the left and then immediately do a jump turn to the right, you descend a very steep ramp but basically do not get any air. You hit the couloir with some speed, but it's pretty flat and wide in there and it's not hard to bleed it off. It's honestly not that hard. It's bad if you try to stop while anywhere above or on the ramp--then you are falling.

There is a huge increase in difficulty between any tough eastern trail and hard stuff out west. I mostly ski at Mammoth and would put at least a couple of trails (real trails, stuff on the map) well above Corbett's in terms of difficulty.
Curious how you think Corbett’s compares to Cornice.