Long crusiing blue runs: Northstar or Squaw?

[fayewolf]

Planning on a short trip with some friends. I like long green or gentle blue runs (Perfect = mountain run at squaw except for those 2&*#@)@($^*@ cat tracks that are nightmare for me!)

Friend is a beginner (been with her once and she refused to get on the ski lift at squaw in the bunny hill area). But she really want to try again.
Her two kids are are skiers, I don't know how good they are, but they will be in ski school all day.

Other friends are beginner skiers.

I've been to both northstar and squaw, but I stayed at squaw for 3 days (working technically, so I was only able to board about 2hrs/day), but felt like I progressed alot, so i might be delusional, I was under the impression that north star's blue runs are steeper than squaws? I could be completely wrong because when I went to northstar, it was only the 3rd time boarding.

I absoutely love squaw when I went, the blues were very long and even it was a saturday, lines weren't long. Friends want to do northstar instead (they will probably just stay on the bunny hill) but I wonder if the blue runs are as gentle as the ones I did in squaw?

Anyone been to both enough times to compare?

[hellside]

Originally Posted by fayewolf

Planning on a short trip with some friends. I like long green or gentle blue runs (Perfect = mountain run at squaw except for those 2&*#@)@($^*@ cat tracks that are nightmare for me!)

Friend is a beginner (been with her once and she refused to get on the ski lift at squaw in the bunny hill area). But she really want to try again.
Her two kids are are skiers, I don't know how good they are, but they will be in ski school all day.

Other friends are beginner skiers.

I've been to both northstar and squaw, but I stayed at squaw for 3 days (working technically, so I was only able to board about 2hrs/day), but felt like I progressed alot, so i might be delusional, I was under the impression that north star's blue runs are steeper than squaws? I could be completely wrong because when I went to northstar, it was only the 3rd time boarding.

I absoutely love squaw when I went, the blues were very long and even it was a saturday, lines weren't long. Friends want to do northstar instead (they will probably just stay on the bunny hill) but I wonder if the blue runs are as gentle as the ones I did in squaw?

Anyone been to both enough times to compare?

In reality, the real blue runs are Gold Coast (easiest one), Red Dog, Far East Express, Solitude and Shirley Lake. These are harder and will be called black at Northstar. The groom runs on Red Dog and Far East Express are probably what you call cat tracks because they are like traverse with a many switch backs. If you go off-piste any where on these chairs it instantly becomes steep. We never really ride these trails. When we ride them, it is just a route for us to go from one off-piste area to another or to chair lift

One thing to consider is Northstar lines are long during weekend.

[fayewolf]

Originally Posted by hellside

In reality, the real blue runs are Gold Coast (easiest one), Red Dog, Far East Express, Solitude and Shirley Lake. These are harder and will be called black at Northstar. The groom runs on Red Dog and Far East Express are probably what you call cat tracks because they are like traverse with a many switch backs. If you go off-piste any where on these chairs it instantly becomes steep. We never really ride these trails. When we ride them, it is just a route for us to go from one off-piste area to another or to chair lift

One thing to consider is Northstar lines are long during weekend.

I did the Golden Coast, Emigrant, this run that takes me back to my hotel from the squaw creek lift, and of course the long ass mountain run. Do you think the blues in North face is easier?

[cocolulu]

Originally Posted by fayewolf

I did the Golden Coast, Emigrant, this run that takes me back to my hotel from the squaw creek lift, and of course the long ass mountain run. Do you think the blues in North face is easier?

Hi Faye,

I just got back from Mt. Rose. We went there because my friends wanted to stay in Reno and Mt. Rose was the closest resort.

It's small, but I think the resort is really beginner friendly. The bunny slopes are incredibly wide, and they're longer than they are in other resorts with a consistent gentle slope. Even when there's crowds, there so much space that it's not really packed.

There are medium and long blue runs too, and they're fun because they're wide and spacious.

Just an alternative...

[fayewolf]

I'm with you Coco, I much prefer smaller resorts and beginner friendly ones. I just dont' understand why they insist on going to larger resort when all she does is to stay on the bunny hill.
For myself, I'll definately consider Mt Rose next time! Thanks for suggesting!

They also wanted that damn ice skating thing for the kids

[hellside]

Originally Posted by fayewolf

I did the Golden Coast, Emigrant, this run that takes me back to my hotel from the squaw creek lift, and of course the long ass mountain run. Do you think the blues in North face is easier?

Northstar is definitely easier. Some people call it Flatstar for a reason. The forecast for this Friday is a stormy day. In this case, Northstar is better because Squaw won't be able to open upper mountain that has most of the easy runs. You need to rethink if you want to drive on I80 in this case. It could make a long drive. These two resorts have a village and that may be why your friends want to go there. Mt Rose is a good choice. I will consider Dodge Ridge if I80 is closed or if I want to avoid driving on I80 in a storm.

Squaw Creek will be considered black at Northstar.

[fayewolf]

Oh no.... well, the trip with the above friends are not till late March, but I was planning to go up this friday with 2 friends... I was planning to leave at 5:30am... i do not want to drive if it will have a snowstorm!!
We picked northstar this friday because the kid has a season pass, and there is one first timer going with us, and she is a college student, with the REI lift ticket, she could exchange for all day lesson ($70!!) and we don't have to worry about her at all!

May have to post pone the trip if there is a snowstorm.

[SHREDDER97]

Ya man cause snowstorms are so bad. Dont even want to touch that powder. IMO you should just wait till the place is and ice sheet . U will have way more fun . God damit i mean im sorry for acting like a dick but from your posts you seem like a beginner to intermediate. Why dont u go when there is powder and really step up your game. The consequences for falling will also be less. And u will probably start to really enjoy powder. Just my 2 cents

[fayewolf]

Originally Posted by SHREDDER97

Ya man cause snowstorms are so bad. Dont even want to touch that powder. IMO you should just wait till the place is and ice sheet . U will have way more fun . God damit i mean im sorry for acting like a dick but from your posts you seem like a beginner to intermediate. Why dont u go when there is powder and really step up your game. The consequences for falling will also be less. And u will probably start to really enjoy powder. Just my 2 cents

No worries, I am a beginner that's why i ask. Of course I want to try that powder so I won't worry about falling. it is driving through a snowstorm that I'm worried about. This is really the first year ive ever gone up to the mountain, don't know what to expect when there is a snowstorm.

[SHREDDER97]

I see. Will you be driving? If so do you have 4 wheel drive? You should be fine if u have it inless it really gets bad