kri$, I think you are dead on. For SLC I was definitely looking at take 3-5 days off. For one, I would probably drive out, which is a full 8 hours. I can leave early enough to get a half day tour in at the Cottonwoods or Eden backcountry. I would want 4 solid days of riding, if not 5 for the journey though.
As far as LL vs Pow Mow goes. Loveland is steeper. Wide open alpine turns on a lot of the terrain. The chair 8 area is like a natural terrain park in some seasons. A lot of fun stuff in that area. Chair 9 takes you to the top of the continental divide from which you can hike to some pretty killer terrain or just drop in. There is something to be said about riding off of the divide. I don't know what it is, but some of my most memorable days are from starting off on this ridge.
Pow Mow, well it's a hell of a lot bigger. Even though Loveland is kind of a local's stash, less people use Powder Moutain and it's big. Their inbounds terrain is bigger than Vail and that says a lot. It also does record more snow on average. That doesn't necessarily mean more powder days. The mountain does have a fair amount of North facing slopes which helps with snow quality.
Powder Mountain is in close proximity to Wolf Mountain (small little hill) and Snobasin (steep, scary lines, great sidecountry, plenty of everything else).
Loveland is in close proximity to all Summit county areas, A Basin, Breck, Keystone, Copper. Quantity doesn't always equal quality so keep that in mind. Out of those resorts, Copper, A-Basin, and Loveland are really the only ones I enjoy riding. Breck has always been a pita to get around, though I hear the new Horseshoe bowl is quality. I haven't been there since they added it. Keystone just sucks, imo. It does have night riding though.
As far as lift tickets go. If I remember correctly in Utah we were getting Pow Mow tickets for $49 and Snobasin for $59. Loveland would probably fall somewhere in that range. With season pass deals at Copper and Winterpark I can probably pick up tickets for somewhere in that range at the resort. I am limited to 4 a day, + Dina's pass. So eight total I should be able to get. I have other friends who have that pass so I might be able to get more. Otherwise window prices at those places are going to be well north of $80 a day. Boo hiss. Transfour cards can be bought and they average about $50 a day I think.
Carmen, I doubt it's too late to get a house around Powder Mountain. If they are looking at early season booking, that generally ends by next weekend.
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